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How to Organize a Laundry Routine

Contributor
By Jessica Felix
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

When laundry is done quickly, folded, and put away, the whole household seems to run more easily. When you are staring at growing piles of dirty laundry and baskets full of clean, wrinkled laundry, the task of organizing it all can seem like an undertaking. Having a laundry routine builds habits that make this task more efficient.

From Quick Guide: Laundry Hints and Help
Difficulty: Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Start by organizing your laundry space. You may have the advantage of an entire laundry room or just a small closet with your washer and dryer inside. Either way you can organize your detergent, bleach, and laundry aids quickly with a shelving system. Purchase a portable set of shelves meant to go in between your machines, or install shelving above your machines for quick access.

  2. Step 2

    Keep an extra supply of detergent, bleach, and fabric softener at all times. When you use up the first container of a product, add it to your shopping list. This way, you will have a rotating supply of products.

  3. Step 3

    Give everyone in your house a laundry basket. Children can keep theirs in their bedrooms or in the bathroom, depending upon where they change clothes.

  4. Step 4

    Keep one laundry basket for folding clean clothes.

  5. Step 5

    Designate different days of the week for each family member's laundry. If you have a small amount from different people than combine their days and do their laundry together. This kind of designation makes folding and putting away much faster because the laundry ony has one or two places to go instead of sorting it all over the house.

  6. Step 6

    Do two loads at a time. When the first load is ready for the dryer, start a second load. Knowing that, after you've done those two loads, you will be done for the day will keep you motivated. If you decide you can handle more laundry that day, then you can start another load as the second one dries.

  7. Step 7

    Fold and put away clothing as soon as you take out the first load of laundry. Gather everything you'll need such as hangers to make putting away go quickly. Put away the second load as soon as it is dry. Even if you are doing something else at the moment, you can take five minutes to put away this small amount of laundry.

  8. Step 8

    Return your clean laundry basket to a closet out of the way. Stick with your new system for three weeks. This will form a habit and make your routine go even faster.

Tips & Warnings
  • You can make the task of putting away laundry less tedious by watching television or listening to the radio while you do it

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