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Original poster

Ok, I have a problem..................laundry related

25 replies

nutcracker · 08/07/2006 09:45

There is too bloody much of it and it's everywhere I look. As I type there is 2 baskets full of clean crumpled washing up the far end of the room, and a pile on top of the toy box.

In the kitchen there is a pile of washed stuff on the worktop and a pile of dirty stuff next to the washer on the floor (washer is on so can't put it in).

Upstairs is another pile of stuff waiting to be washed and a nearly full washing basket.

HELP

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 08/07/2006 09:46

Meant to add, it's not the doing the washing thats the prob, cos I don't mind flinging it in the washer, it's when it comes out the other end and has been dryed that the problem starts.

I have no routine with it at all.

OP posts:
moondog · 08/07/2006 09:47

You need to cut down.
I'm doing a lot less washing these days after reading that washing machines have made no difference to workload in this area.
People wash far more than they did before having machines.

Now,I give myself say 30 mins and see how much I can do in that time.
Divides it into manageable chunks.

eidsvold · 08/07/2006 09:49

I have got myself into a routine - although we have a laundry room so doesn't matter if it is sitting on the floor.

End of the week - usually Frinight/sat morning do washing, peg it out and then bring it in - ironing on hammock in rumpus room and folding - done as I take it off the line.

Ironing done every Tuesday night. Having said that dh was away and so did not need to iron his shirts, dd on school holidays so did not need to do her clothes - huge pile of ironing still waiting to be done!!

That is the only way I can keep on top of it. Having said that - My clothesline can hold four large loads of washing and I have the weather for drying most of the year.

Munz · 08/07/2006 09:50

is it a routein u want?

mine's simple enough (but it's if I stick to it! lol) it comes in and is folded up straight away, ironing in one pile, sheets/towels etc in another and joey's in a third, the towels sheets etc and undies are packed away within a few days and the ironin is ment to be done once a week but at the mo it's more like once a month! lol

Original poster
nutcracker · 08/07/2006 09:50

I'm not sure how I can cut it down as the kids seem to dirty things within 2 minutes of wearing them.

I am lazy when it coms to sorting it out but thats mainly because I don't know where to start.

I am trying though, went to Ikea to get a trolly thing yesterday, the idea being that each person gets there own draw and the washing gets sorted into that then taken upstairs and put away, but they hadn't got any LOL.

OP posts:
moondog · 08/07/2006 09:53

Bibs at meals help.
Doesn't do ANYONE ANY HARM TO WEAR SOMETHING DIRTY EITHER.

Original poster
nutcracker · 08/07/2006 09:53

Yeah i think it is a routine I need.

I hate ironing and leave it ane leave it until sometimes there is such alot that I re wash stuff again so that I don't have to iron it

I have a dryer and 2 washing lines so thats no excuse.

I know i need to decide how many loads I am gonna do each day, whats gonna get done when and whats going to happen to it after but I fall at the first hurdle.

I think I should enlist the kids to put some of their own stuff away too now ? They are 9, 6 and 3 so the eldest can do underwear and pj's at least.

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 08/07/2006 09:55

Ds was threatened with a bib this morning actually Moondog LOL

I don't mind them staying in dirty clothes if we are staying in, but can't do it if we are going out, even to the shop.

Right will think of a routine/plan and start it asap.

Can you hear my brain ticking ?

OP posts:
moondog · 08/07/2006 09:57

i DO MINE DOWNSTAIRS,SORT INTO IRONING/NONIRONIG then take upstairs and sort into separate piles on my bed.
I expect dd (5) to put away her own stuff.
My sister's kids each do their own washing.Her youngest is 8!!!!

Munz · 08/07/2006 10:03

ooh and I don't iron any of joey's bits althou most don't need it anyhow, so it's just tops and jeans for me and DH

yawningmonster · 08/07/2006 10:22

I find this a real issue too, I have the grubbiest toddler around and a dh who is a 'sweater' and goes through a couple of changes of clothing a day, plus towels daily etc etc.

  1. Put wash on at nite and hang first thing while reloading (I will wash slowest drying first so it is on the line first so jeans etc or towels
  2. Put second load out
  3. Mid afternoon, collect loads and fold and put away.
  4. Early evening handwashing and soaking of any items needing it.

Falls down majorly when weather is crap and also at the put away stage of things, generally it is more of a put in appropriate rooms and leave in a pile until worn again stage.

serenity · 08/07/2006 10:30

Nutty, my eldest two are 8 and 6 and are more than capable (with threats of course ) of putting drawer clothes away. I'm just as bad though, I tend to wait until there is a leaning tower of clean washing in the kitchen before I take it into our room. I would say though that you'll find it easier if you fold the washing as you take it off the line/out of the dryer rather than just putting it straight in a basket. Turns two jobs into one.

yawningmonster · 08/07/2006 10:32

Oh and we dont own an iron, it is against my religion to iron

ameli · 08/07/2006 21:09

after procrastinating for days i have put away three loads of washing, jumps for joy. I have learnt and will remember to always;

put a load of washing in hang it out,
meanwhile do another load,
fold and put away the other load,

i put it off for so long thinking that ds who is 1 and a half would make the task almost impossible...however he let me do everything while he watched balamory songs on the comp..ok so i cheated but hey, needs must!

i still have 1 more load to do and will apply my new found laundry tactics from now on. Bring it on. I also found doing iit to music also helps and somehow makes me work a bit faster.

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/07/2006 10:34

Right I got up this morning and cleared all the washing from downstairs and sorted it into piles of stuff that could be put away now and stuff that needs ironing, and made Dd1 and Dd2 put their own stuff away.

All I have to do now is the big basket of ironing but it's not so daunting now i've sorted it out.

Have done 2 loads of washing which is on the line so will get that in later and sort it out as it comes in.

Long may it last

OP posts:
tortoise · 09/07/2006 10:37

I thought I was the only one who hated sorting washing and putting it away.
It ends up in big piles in baskets in my room!
Takes sooooo long to put away then but I still dont learn from it.
I Must put washing away!

spidermama · 09/07/2006 10:41

Laundry takes up far more of my life than is reasonable or healthy. In fact I would be swamped in it so I have a few rules.

  1. NEVER iron anything, ever.
  2. Get the kids to fold up clothes so they can be worn again.
  3. Get kids into good habits (not putting things in basket inside out, pulling socks out etc.)
Original poster
nutcracker · 09/07/2006 10:45

I don't understand how you can never iron stuff really I don't.

OP posts:
spidermama · 09/07/2006 10:49

Easy nutty.
Actually I probably don't spin clothes as fast as most people so they don't get crumpled. Also, if it's shirts etc I fold them wet and leave them in the pile for a bit before hanging them. I'm also quite anal about folding and hanging as soon as stuff comes out of the machine/drier/off the line etc. I don't notice crumples.

Now and again I have to iron linen trousers or dh will iron a shirt for an audition, but it's not even once a fortnight. I don't know where you get the time.

Kenneth · 09/07/2006 10:50

Liberate yourself from ironing. I really can't understand it when people say they have pile of ironing to do. Why? Body heat gets out most creases.

Wash less often. It must be cheaper in the long run to just but a few more (cheap) clothes so do't have to wash as much.

Let your kids wear dirty-ish stuff - it's normal.

Original poster
nutcracker · 09/07/2006 10:51

Well i don't cos it never gets done LOL

Ok I will make a big effort to not iron and not because I have shoved it in a basket

OP posts:
Kenneth · 09/07/2006 10:51

Folding is definitley the way to go.

ameli · 09/07/2006 11:42

oh my god...its horrible out and ive jusrt put a load in...bloodyweather ruining all my good intentions!

MrsBadger · 09/07/2006 11:51

am with spidermama 100% -

  • iron nothing except linen trousers and special-occasion shirts
  • dry shirts/dresses on hangers and put straight back in wardrobe
  • fold everything else nicely once dry so ready to go straight in drawers

and (if you can get it to work) put piles of clean clothes on owner's bed so they can't go to bed without putting it away.

tortoise · 09/07/2006 12:30

I always fold off the line/out of drier but girls dresses look terrible if not ironed.Luckily I like ironing it the putting away I dont like!

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