Moms do lots of laundry. Here are some strategies to make the task a little bit easier.
No one loves doing laundry, but do it we must. Here’s how to make the duty a little less daunting.
Shorter is Better
Almost always, the shortest, lightest setting on your washer will be enough. Even with messy, grass-stain-magnet kids, use the right detergent and even a shorter cycle will get the job done (and save you time and money).
Pre-treat
Pre-treating immediately after the mess happens is best; but even if you can’t, pre-treating spots on your clothes is one of the simplest ways to make laundry easier. When the items come out of the washer, check to make sure the stain is gone before you put it in the dryer.
Air Dry Before You Tumble Dry
Wash any of your heavier, thicker items first. When they’re done washing, hang them up to air dry while you start the next few loads. Once those heftier items aren’t quite so sopping wet, throw one or two of them in with each new dryer load as you go. This will help you save time, energy and money. And don’t forget the dryer sheets.
Dry Erase Your Washer/Dryer
It’s nice when your partner or older children want to help out with the laundry – or have been assigned to do it and they actually do it – but you want to make sure they do it right. Put up a little whiteboard (or write directly on the washer or dryer with a dry erase marker) and call out which articles specifically can’t go in the washer and which can’t go in the dryer, to hopefully avoid any ruined garments.
The Sooner the Better
Right when the dryer finishes – or even several minutes before – is the best time to grab those items you really don’t want to get wrinkled: blouses, shirts, dress pants. Pull them out, hang them up and then you won’t have to worry about ironing them. Leave the sheets sitting in the dryer for hours if you’d like. No one will be there to judge you for wrinkly sheets.
Stop Folding Socks
Seriously, you don’t have to fold them. You spend half the folding time just trying to pair socks. Separate them by owner and let them pair their own when they get dressed in the morning.
Now’s your chance to take a moment to yourself, call that old friend or just sit and do nothing for a moment. So happy laundering!
What do you do to make laundry easier? Let us know in the comments.
