I used to LOVE laundry day.

Yep.

In fact, BEFORE we got married I ACTUALLY INITIATED A DEAL with Tim that I would do the laundry if he would kill all of the bugs. At the time, laundry took me a few minutes every other week, and I found it, kind of, relaxing.

But not anymore.

No. Not relaxing.

Now, laundry is coming out my ears and we moved to a state with practically no bugs.

Laundry has become a full-on nightmare.

As in, my dreams are actually littered with inside-out unicorn costumes and tights that don’t have a tag on them (JUST TELL ME WHAT SIZE THEY ARE) and dozens of singleton socks without a mate, and then…*gasp*…our favorite bows that accidentally get put in the basket and will now never be the same.

It’s laundry.

And a couple of months ago, I decided that something…something BIG needed to change. So I started making some little changes to add up to that big change. I’ve changed the supplies, the schedule, and the support, which is making all the difference for us, and it could for you, too!

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Laundry Day Supplies: It’s Time for an Upgrade!

We’ve had all of our baskets for years, most of which were second-hand, or the wrong size or style (chosen to match the decor instead of considering functionality). So it was time for a supplies overhaul. Here’s what we got (and I actually own and use them all):

See through basket | Collapsable basket | Single hanging | Double hanging | Sturdy rolling basket

1. My first (and favorite) purchase has been THIS sturdy rolling basket (approximately $65)! We now have hardwood floors in most of the house, so instead of carrying a too-full laundry basket all across the house and back, I can push the clothes in this extremely sturdy rolling cart. (BONUS: it has a bar on the bottom which makes it easy to lift and tilt to dump out your clothes). Highly recommend. Definitely worth the price!
2. We got THIS double hamper for our gals who share a room! It also rolls and is super sturdy! It comes in one, two, three, or four bag versions! And different colors, too!
3. THIS rolling hamper is what we went with for a laundry hamper in the master bedroom! It has a removable bag and is a nice large size, which is perfect for our adult-sized clothes.
4. THIS see-through laundry hamper is very cool! You can easily find items you might want to remove after initially tossing them (gross, I know, bt we all do it 😉). It has little poles you put on the sides, so it can be collapsible if you’d like to have that option. It’s oh so cute! Don’t get this one if you are hoping for something super sturdy, however!
5. THIS collapsible laundry basket is unexpectedly awesome. It collapses down extremely thin for when not in use. Perfect for a tight laundry room space. Another thing I love about it is that it’s not too big, so it’s impossible to fill it so full that carrying it becomes unmanageable (something I’ve struggled with in the past). It loosens up with use!

Laundry Day Schedule: It’s Time for an Update!

Until recently, I did laundry every other week, making it take 5-8 hours on “laundry day” (we have a family of five). I finally caved to the suggestions made by my buddies and started doing laundry every other day, and I’m glad I did (which I can’t believe I’m saying!)

Even though this new plan was recently implemented, I can already tell it’s going to make the whole ordeal, well, LESS of an ordeal. I know I won’t be perfect at my new schedule, but it’s going well.

Would one of these schedules work for you?

1. Daily laundry, but with a schedule, for example: towels on Monday, kids clothes on Tuesday, scrubs Wednesday, sheets Thursday, parents clothes Friday, etc.
2. Laundry twice a week
3. Laundry every other day, either with a set schedule or not.

It may be worth considering a trial period of a new schedule, if you, too feel overwhelmed on laundry day!

Laundry Day Support: It’s Time for a Re-evaluation!

When I posted about this on my Instagram, I heard the many ways that others are making laundry more manageable by getting the rest of the family involved. Here are some tips I’ll be slowing implementing:

1. Kids can learn, even at a young age, how to move their own clothes especially with the rolling carts and hampers I listed above, from their rooms to the laundry room.
2. Have the kids get involved in folding. THESE fun folding helpers may be of use!
3. Ask the kids to put away their own clothes! They can do it! Individual bins or baskets for each child may be helpful!

Think Outside the Box

I know it may sound crazy, but here are some other strategies to consider (from some creative mamas who inspire me!)

1. Consider NOT folding your kids’ laundry. I haven’t tried this yet, personally, but it makes so much sense to me, as there have been countless times that I’ve put nicely folded laundry away, only to find the drawer a disaster the next day because a gal of mine had been on a mad-hunt for a beloved tutu. Just put them in the drawer messy unless it’s an item that needs not be wrinkled.
2. Rethink dressers. One mama I talked to uses an ikea cabinet (like THIS one) to store her whole family’s clothes. One bin for pants, one for shirts, one for bathing suits/accessories, etc. (see her story highlights: @fiftystickyfingers). I’ve also heard about mamas who use bins under beds for clothes (simply sort each family member’s clothes into a bin and have each family member just slip their bin under their bed).
3. Do a laundry room refresh, where you have a spot for each family member’s basket. Then after sorting or folding, they take their basket, put away their clothes, and return it to the laundry room. I will definitely be considering this for when we tackle our laundry room. Meanwhile, check out our master bathroom update (HERE) and our basement update (HERE). We recently moved and there are so many more projects ahead.

Thanks so much for being here, friend! I hope you find that you’re able to put these suggestions to good use as you tackle laundry day this week.

Thinking of you!

(By the way, that little deal I made with Tim? Do. Not. Recommend. Ha. If you want to check out one of the BETTER deals we’ve made, read this one: The Contract: An Ultimate Doctor’s Wife Compromise).

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