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
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..1. Teach your children to use an alarm clock or... Read More
1. Divide big jobs into smaller jobs. Make a list... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More
Decide When And Where To StartDecide when and where to... Read More
We are in a society where people are applauded for... Read More
Every day I find junk mail waiting for me, whether... Read More
I gathered some things you can do this spring while... Read More
A lot of us grew up with Mom taking care... Read More
I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More
Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More
Parenting is always a challenge, but particularly so if your... Read More
Chances are, most of you have a lot you need... Read More
Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More
If you look at any major organisation, there is this... Read More
The true definition of an organization is one that is... Read More
Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More
In part 1, we discussed a system you could use... Read More
Color-There Is No SubstituteIn anatomical illustrations you see the brain's... Read More
What do you do with those special items that have... Read More
In a speech entitled "Organized Living in a Disorganized World"... Read More
There is nothing worse then spending ten minutes looking for... Read More
Cindy looks at the calendar and sighs. Ah, the end... Read More
I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar... Read More
Helping people clean out their closet is something I love... Read More
custom home cleaning Arlington Heights ..How to do keep track of all you have to... Read More
One of the hardest things for most individuals working from... Read More
If you look at any major organisation, there is this... Read More
Parenting is always a challenge, but particularly so if your... Read More
Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More
1. Teach your children to use an alarm clock or... Read More
After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More
Spring is such a refreshing time- we are filled with... Read More
Technology has given us the tools to reduce routine tasking,... Read More
Home organization isn't just for neat-nicks or those drawn toward... Read More
Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More
My mother is one of the most productive people I... Read More
Do you use to-do lists? Do you find it satisfying... Read More
EVERY HOME NEEDS AN OFFICEYes, it is true that every... Read More
When I tell people what a FREEING experience moving is,... Read More
Spring is here and the garage door is open. This... Read More
Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More
When the things in your home start crowding in around... Read More
Home organization means being able to find your stuff when... Read More
In most homes, paper causes clutter. And it seems to... Read More
Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes... Read More
Life with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) can be a constant... Read More
Today you have almost as many choices of spice racks... Read More
From time to time I hear this question from an... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your home? Start... Read More
		            Get Organized - Organization |