Swamped by laundry!

[justlemonade]

Just as the title says really. I find I am doing at least one wash every day and often two loads. Then there is the ironing...(I am loathed to use the tumble dryer for 'green' reasons at this time of year).

There is only me, Dh and DD who is 3yrs in our house. In July we expect another DD to arrive and I want to sort out our routine before baby washing starts too.

Anyone got any pearls of wisdom?

I keep on top of things like you, 1-2 washes per day, never more than I can dry outside or on airer if weather bad. Main difference for me is that I iron nothing, nada, not a thing!! Couldnt even tell you where iron is!! Life is short enough ...

What mumtofergus said. DP irons his shirts and my method of folding and smoothing carefully suffices for the rest.

M + S non iron shirts are great if DH needs them for work.

Like you I do 1 or 2 loads most days. Iron the bare minimum.

A load a day at least in this house too. Various things help.

Kids can rewear stuff if it's not stained and filthy. Rarely happens but always a bonus.
Wash goes on first thing in the morning to get it over and done with for the day.
Shake and fold from line if can be bothered.
Iron used rarely, mostly work clothes for me that would look awful if left.
Routine for putting stuff away is usually when one of us is doing bath. Clothes sorted into baskets for each kid, then quickly put away before stories.
Feels never ending though.

So maybe I iron too much. I will make an effort to get things put away faster hence less ironing to do.

I get DH to iron. Otherwise, as above, one or two loads a day, in the morning etc.

A load a day... I can cope with that! It's the putting away I suck at!

You need to cut the ironing down to a minimum. Your DP does his own shirts, you iron nice clothes of your own, and that's it.

Do you and your DS change into messy clothes that are kept specifically for messy activities? Then you change back out of them and put them somewhere appropriate for re-wearing the next day. I find that can really cut down the amount of laundry that needs to be done.

When the weather is good, I switch to a low spin. The clothes are pretty wet when they come out but the weight of the water seems to pull the creases out on the washing line so zero (or only light) ironing necessary. Needs a good drying day though.

Iron the minimum, there must be loads of stuff that can be smoothed out and folded. I agree with getting our DH to iron his own shirts, although mine would have me iron the tea towels if he could control me. I went on strike so now he pays someone to do the ironing, would that be an option for you?

Put a load on every other day (make sure it's a full load not half one). Only iron what is necessary. You won't have the same amount of time to keep on top of it all once DC2 arrives!

If there are only three of you, what are you washing on your two load day?

Stop wringing your hands about using the dryer. You have it, and you should use it.

Iron the minimum of clothes and if you find you have a lot of clothes that need ironing, give them away gradually and buy non-iron items instead. Get your DH to iron his own or send his work shirts to be dry cleaned.

Get some mess clothes for your DD -- larger T-shirts form boot sales for instance are perfect for painting, digging and eating.

I find it much more efficient to hang all possible clothes on hangers. Shirts, t shirts, skirts and dresses are all on a hanger on the washing line (or shower rail if it's raining). Then straight into wardrobes.

I don't use a dryer at all and iron only rarely.

Yes, what exactly are you washing? Do you wash everything after wearing?

and your dh can iron his own shirts

Yes, definitely lower your standards . I only iron the bare minimum now.

In terms of what I am washing...
I wash bedding and towels once a week. I only iron the pillow cases (maybe this is one to stop)?
My DH has a sport related job where his shirts don't need ironing, but trousers do. In summer he needs to wear a new pair ever day.
I am going to take a smooth out and fold approach to DD's clothes a bit more. I iron her t-shirts etc at the moment. She is really messy though, often going through 3 outfits per day plus PJs at night.

I am resolving to do more hanging wet clothes on hangers to dry and put away immediately.

I don't iron any of DS's clothes. I only iron clothes that I would definitely not wear if they hadn't been ironed. Careful hanging to dry reduces the amount that need ironed. MN taught me most of these things .

Don't iron pillowslips or your DD's T's.

Don't change DD out of clothes that are merely messy unless they are soaked also. Dab at them with a sponge and stain remover to remove stains if you're worried. Cover her up with cheap Ts for activities she is guaranteed to mess in. They can be put on over her nicer clothes like a bib.

When I had dd1 I changed her clothes when grubby. But now with dd2 I just keep her in the same outfit until bed unless wet. I put a jumper or coat over the top if popping out. Wearing a new pair of trousers every day seems a bit much to me

lol @ ironing pillow slips!! My MIL irons towels, facecloths, and pants! How on Earth do people find the time to do all this? Really??

I only iron outer clothing garments (trousers, tops, skirts, etc). Bedlinen gets put straight on off the line once it's dry. No one see it but DH and I.

I wash my own jeans about once a week, maybe more depending on if there's stains on them.

There are plenty of ways to cut down your washing load each week! My own mum has a clean pair of trousers on every day - why?! It's so ridiculous how people carry on yet complain about having so much washing to do...

Right, so I understand. Less changing of DD. put her in scruff clothes when I know she will be getting messy and stop ironing bedding.

I think the point about clean trousers each day has been mis understood though. DH is a sportsman so has to have his clothes washed after each day. I will wear the same trousers for a few days as I am not so foolish to exercise so often!

Thanks for the advice. I have put the washing out today and been very careful to hang it without creases. I work FT, have 3 yr old and am a few weeks away from the next DD arriving. If I get a grip on washing now it'll help in the future months.

I have 3 DCs and an endless pile of washing. I never iron either (glad I'm not the only one!) DH does his own shirts, DS's school shirts are non-iron and he wears a blazer all day and all his uniform ends up in a heap on the floor anyway so whats the point

I remember my mum telling me that the key to happiness was to lower her standards. She'd been really houseproud before we were all born and the midwife told her that she needed to stop being so bothered about the house so that she didn't wear herself out. Wise words by which I live my life!

I'm also convinced my DCs are all so healthy because my house is a pig-sty not sterile

Does your H have a full outfit for each weekday or does he need his clothes washed every day in order to have something to wear the next day?

And if you both work FT, how come you are doing his washing/ironing/putting away? Does he pull his weight at home?

Yes, he has different clothes every day. There's absolutely no need to have stuff washed over night (i don't), so I suppose I could leave them all until the weekend.
He does shit all around the house. It drives me a bit mad! But I try to put his domestic needs at the bottom of the pile after DD's. He's pretty respectful and grateful of the fact that I do it all, and would never dare to comment in standards or such like. It's the way it's always been since we met and I don't really know how to change things 10 years down the line.