Laundry. You sort, you wash, you fold, you blink ? and the pile of dirty clothes has grown all over again. Laundry is a fact of life, but approaching the task in an organized way can make it more manageable.
Preparation is Half the Battle
If you have a large family (or lots of clothes!), sorting the laundry can be a daunting task all on its own. Sorting as you go not only ends the need for this part of the project, but also may encourage you to do laundry more often because it's all sorted and ready to go! Use a multi-compartmented hamper or several laundry baskets and as you throw in your dirty clothes just drop them in the appropriate section (even kids as young as pre-schoolers can learn to do this -- make it fun for them, give them a small reward (an extra 15 minutes of TV? staying up 10 minutes later?) each time they get everything in the right spot!)
Toss items that need dry cleaning into a special basket or bag as soon as you take it off. This way, when you are ready to go to the cleaners you can just grab them, rather than having to hunt for them in all the dirty laundry (ugh!)
Make a habit of always keeping a spare of laundry detergent, dryer sheets and whatever else you use regularly. That way you never have to drop everything and run to the store to complete your laundry (or use that as a reason to not complete the laundry...)
Put Away the Clean Clothes in a Flash!
Keep hangers and a folding hanging rack near the dryer. Save steps by putting hanging items directly on hangers rather than folding and toting them first. As you fold clean laundry, place items in baskets by person to simplify the process of putting it all away. Get everyone in on the act. Even small children can help put away some of their own clothes -- socks, underwear, etc. Older kids can put it all away. If you share the burden, it's not so overwhelming.
We know it's hard, but go through your drawers and closets and purge things that are never worn. Putting laundry away is much faster and more pleasant if you don't have to struggle to cram the clothes into an overstuffed space.
Set a side a small drawer or basket for socks that have lost their mate in the wash. Sooner or later the other sock will turn up and the pair can be put away with all the others.
Other Laundry Tips
Consider sprucing up and organizing the laundry area. A clean and well-organized space makes any task more enjoyable. Schedule set laundry days and stick to them. It's amazing how much more you can get done when you have a schedule.
Short of inventing disposable clothes, laundry is here to stay, but these tips should make it quicker and a little more manageable and you will never have a morning with nothing to wear.
Copyright 2004 Bridget Messino
About the author: Bridget Messino is a Professional Organizer and co-owner of Clutter Free Living, Inc. Her work frequently appears on many Internet sites and on her own organizing site clutter free living as well as in her monthly Home Organizing Newsletter How to Be Clutter Free. Subscribe to the FREE monthly e-newsletter by sending a blank e-mail to clutter free living
efficient cleaning crew Lake Forest ..The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More
(This is the third in a series of three articles... Read More
Decluttering is a simple-to-learn process, once you break it down... Read More
I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More
There are 3 kinds of clutter: Inner (between our ears);... Read More
What do you gain if you SIMPLIFY?Dictionary* says:to reduce to... Read More
I gathered some things you can do this spring while... Read More
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Have a to-do list a mile... Read More
You really can have a successful business and a great... Read More
'A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view... Read More
Remember when you charged into the office that first day,... Read More
Often we are in overwhelm because we are holding too... Read More
Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At... Read More
The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your... Read More
I talk about the mail a lot in my newsletter,... Read More
De-Cluttering our lives can be an extremely liberating exercise. There... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Clothes. Check. School supplies. Check. No doubt you've got to... Read More
I recently read an article that had some interesting but... Read More
Take time to declutter this summer...Writing can certainly consume the... Read More
Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More
Here's a little lesson I experienced while packing boxes for... Read More
Each area of your home has a symbolic meaning with... Read More
Getting Things Done (GTD), is a productivity methodology designed by... Read More
green cleaning service Deerfield ..Do you like storing your papers on top of your... Read More
Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More
In your quest to get 'up and running' so to... Read More
Every day I find junk mail waiting for me, whether... Read More
Take a look around you right now. Look away from... Read More
What do you do with those special items that have... Read More
(This is the third in a series of three articles... Read More
1. All or nothing thinking/taking on too much." I'm going... Read More
Finish each day and be done with it. You have... Read More
There is nothing worse then spending ten minutes looking for... Read More
'A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view... Read More
Worried because you're moving soon? This really doesn't have to... Read More
I gathered some things you can do this spring while... Read More
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know... Read More
Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More
When the things in your home start crowding in around... Read More
The summer is flying by for Cindy and her family.... Read More
Color-There Is No SubstituteIn anatomical illustrations you see the brain's... Read More
What do you gain if you SIMPLIFY?Dictionary* says:to reduce to... Read More
There are eight distinct steps to constructing and executing an... Read More
Dennis is working as a factory worker during the day... Read More
I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More
The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your... Read More
I talk about the mail a lot in my newsletter,... Read More
Do you use to-do lists? Do you find it satisfying... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |