Housework is never fun.
At least I don’t think so. Some
are born for it. I definitely am
not. Laundry is one of those necessary
tasks that I find a complete waste of time.
All I do is wash the same clothes over and over again week after
week. As tedious as it is, though, it is
necessary. And having an organized
laundry room makes the task easier – not pleasant, but easier. Here are eight steps to an organized laundry
room so you, too, can have an easier laundry day (or days).
- Use divided hampers for easy sorting – Purchase hampers with at least two divisions-one for and darks and one for lights. Train the family to sort as they remove their dirty clothes. Come laundry day, the sorting is already done before you even start.
- Separate your delicates – Set aside delicates (hose, lingerie, washable silk, etc.) from the rest of your laundry. Either hand wash or use the delicate cycle on your washing machine. If you use your machine, place the delicates in a mesh bag to protect from snags and tangles.
- Hang/fold as you go – As you take clothes out of the washer, immediately hang up those items that need to drip dry. As you take clothes out of the dryer, fold them immediately so they don’t wrinkle in the basket, or hang them up on an appropriate hanger. Use felt hangers for tops with wide necklines or silky fabrics. Use plastic hangers for knit tops. Use sturdy wood hangers for heavy items.
- Color code hangers by family member – Plastic hangers come in a wide variety of colors. Have each family member choose their favorite color, then use that color for their clothes. When it’s time to put away clothes, everyone can easily grab their clothes because they’re all on the same color hanger.
- Enlist help – You shouldn’t have to do this yourself. Teach your children at an early age to sort their dirty clothes, and have a specific place designated for clean ones (one drawer for pajamas, one for t-shirts, etc.). They should be able to put away their own clothes early on. Once they are in middle school, they can help fold their own laundry, and by the time they are in high school, they should be doing their own. It’s good training for college dorm life! And your spouse? What’s a load of laundry here or there, or a trip to the dry cleaners? Pitching in will allow for more family time together.
- Treat stains early – As soon as you take off a shirt or pants that have been stained, treat the item immediately. Launder as soon as possible so the stain doesn’t set in.
- Set aside mending – As you find clothing that needs mending, launder it, then put it aside for mending, whether it’s a missing button or a torn seam. Don’t put it back in your closet! You don’t want to grab something as you’re running late, only to discover it has a hole in the seam. Keep a small container or basket in your laundry room to collect buttons or other decorations/fasteners that fall off clothes. You’ll be able to locate them easily when it’s time
to do the mending.
- Maximize storage – Use as much of your laundry room as possible for storage. Slim storage can be squeezed in between your washer and dryer, or against the wall. Install shelving or cabinets above your washer, and add a towel rod under cabinets for extra hangers or clothes.
You spend a lot of money on clothes. Taking care of them will make them last as
long as possible.
