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Original poster

Drowning in laundry

162 replies

tuliplily · 07/04/2021 12:23

How do people keep on top of their laundry? 2 adults, toddler and baby and I feel like I'm drowning in washing and putting away. Don't even iron! Anyone got any tips?

OP posts:
Bibidy · 07/04/2021 14:29

I feel your pain, there is only 2 of us and we are always overflowing too.

Think the problem is more my DP than me as he either only wears stuff once or leaves it out until he's finished with it because he doesn't want to put it back with the clean stuff...so his jeans etc sit on 'the chair' foreverrrrrrr unless I stick them in the wash.

What does everyone do with stuff that's been worn but isn't dirty enough for a wash?!?!! Hate it cluttering up the bedroom.

Rukaya · 07/04/2021 14:33

Any tips? Yeah, stop washing so much.

Gerla · 07/04/2021 14:39

Any tips? Yeah, stop washing so much.
Agreed!

LookAChicken · 07/04/2021 14:39

Bibidy, I feel that if I knew that I'd have solved one of life's big questions!Wink

Popcornbetty · 07/04/2021 14:40

'2 adults and 2 small children should not generate huge volumes of laundry.'.

Should they not? Blush

Bloodyfuckit · 07/04/2021 14:44

@AllisoninWunderland

I second the person who says have less clothes & wash them less often. My DC have ‘capsule’ wardrobes aka as vey little clothing. It helps immensely. Also towels don’t need washing every day.
Mother of god, if anyone is washing towels daily, then they want their bumps feeling. Just dont even consider doing it.
BackforGood · 07/04/2021 14:46

The key thing is not to wash stuff that doesn't need washing.
There is no way people who are doing as much as some of the posters on here, are only washing stuff that needs washing.

Bloodyfuckit · 07/04/2021 14:50

@StephenBelafonte

Don't do laundry overnight! A fire safety officer said its a small risk but a risk all the same.

A small risk of what @Northernsoullover?

Theres a small clue in there if you look really, really hard for it.......
dotdashdashdash · 07/04/2021 14:50

I don't know where we're going wrong (2 adults 2 smalls) - we use a towel for a week each, bedding is fortnightly, clothes worn until dirty (except underwear etc), 10kg drum washer and 9kg dryer. And yet, I've done 3 loads today and another load is yet to go it! How do we create so much washing!

UserTwice · 07/04/2021 15:06

@dotdashdashdash

I don't know where we're going wrong (2 adults 2 smalls) - we use a towel for a week each, bedding is fortnightly, clothes worn until dirty (except underwear etc), 10kg drum washer and 9kg dryer. And yet, I've done 3 loads today and another load is yet to go it! How do we create so much washing!
That's similar to our washing pattern except we are 2 adults and 2 adult sized teens. And we only do 6 loads a week at most. I worked out it was roughly 2 loads of towels/bedding/miscellaneous things and then 1 load per person per week. I know small children tend to get dirtier more quickly, but equally their clothes are quite a bit smaller!
Mn753 · 07/04/2021 15:09

Our cleaner puts it away

TheFlis12345 · 07/04/2021 15:23

@Bibidy Look up ‘valet stand’, I swear DH’s saved our marriage! Grin

yummychoccy · 07/04/2021 15:23

I have a new strategy which is working really well! We also have two adults and two kids. Main thing is a change in thought process - that the load of washing isn't "done" until it's put away.

(1) Put a load on every day - I put mine on in the evening
(2) Dry in tumbledrier / on washing line in the morning
(3) Put away during bath time in the evening. This (which for me is the worst part) only takes 5 mins and usually less (because there is never a massive load due to doing it daily)

Honestly a game changer.

picklemewalnuts · 07/04/2021 15:55

Another strategy that's working for me is to wash separately. He has his basket, I have mine. There's no sorting out his/hers to be done, it's really straightforward. Especially as he does his!

My adult sons have their own hamper, too. It's so much easier when all the stuff is going to the same place.

CoRhona · 07/04/2021 16:29

This, definitely Grin

Drowning in laundry
Royalbloo · 07/04/2021 16:31

When my life got like this I got rid of anything white and ditched the laundry hamper. Everything dirty goes into the washing machine as it's taken off and I run it when it's full. It's only lobbing a blob in and pressing a button - you don't need to get your washing board and mangle out!

Royalbloo · 07/04/2021 16:31

It's the laundry basket that's the issue here!

PerspicaciousGreen · 07/04/2021 16:35

@Bibidy If it's the children's, it gets worn the next day. If it's mine, I hang it over the landing banisters and either wear it the next day or if there's a particular reason not, then wear it ASAP so there's only ever one or two bits there. DH puts his back on hangers and hangs them on his wardrobe doorknob.

user1471538283 · 07/04/2021 17:10

There are only 2 of us and I wash every day as its the only way I've got a fighting chance to keep on top of it. I didn't wash one day last week and what with changing the bed linen, towels and our clothing I did 5 loads yesterday!

I'm taking advantage of the windy dry days!

Beeme29 · 07/04/2021 17:17

It really is never ending isn’t it op. Basically I have 3 dirty laundry baskets (2 are small). One for normal dark stuff, one for whites & lights and another for towels. I always do a full load of darks every day - this includes everything as long as it’s dark coloured. I do a white wash at least once a week. I love keeping whites white. Towels when the basket is full - once or twice a week.

With whites I usually do on a Friday after school so all school shirts go in together but probably twice a week in the summer as more whites and more stains!

And obviously bedding etc is washed separately when it’s stripped off usually once a week.

I have a 9kg machine. It really makes a difference compared to my old 7kg but wish I got a 10kg.

I dry it ASAP after it’s done either in the dryer or airer if not suitable for tumble drying or outside on the line weather dependent.

I do iron some things but not others. When it’s all dry I separate into things that need ironing and the stuff that doesn’t - which is the bulk of it then I put away.

I used to be pretty good at keeping on top of ironing but I’m not anymore so I only things that are necessary!

I have two dc with additional needs. They create a lot of washing. It’s never ending. I need routine and organisation with it all else I feel stressed out.

Notreallyhappy · 07/04/2021 17:19

Wash one or two loads a day... Fold, tumble dry and put away the next day. Some items need ironing some not so much.
I follow TOMM app so on top of the housework.

Fnib · 07/04/2021 17:23

Most people have too many clothes. Think about what you really need. If washing gets too chaotic you end up not knowing what's clean or dirty and it goes in the laundry pile again. Most people have way too much stuff and end up with so much stress as a result.

SpringTimeDream · 07/04/2021 17:24

@Rukaya

Any tips? Yeah, stop washing so much.
This.

I do mine each night. Morning it goes into tumbler or outside whilst doing breakfast. All away after school run . 4 children.
Get organised then it's easy.

Who the heck wastes a whole day doing laundry 😒...no way weekends/days off are for fun

SpringTimeDream · 07/04/2021 17:26

Ps I never iron. Most things don't need ironing and things that crease are dried on hangers so don't crease

toots111 · 07/04/2021 17:47

My husband does his washing and the kids washing, I do mine and the towels. The bedding gets passed between us as we both hate it :) Works much better to not have to take responsibility for the entire household's laundry! He likes to do small amounts frequently, i tend to wait until i have literally no clean pants left and then do 3 loads in a day.