Why I Stopped Doing Laundry the “Right” Way
Laundry is the never-ending task of real life. And with four kids and a mechanic husband who works out in the Florida sun all day, it’s impossible for it to all be done, EVER 😅
Aside from picking up toys and practicing good hygiene, the very first responsibility I teach my kids is laundry. Because this manic mom needs all the help she can get.
I used to do laundry the “right” way. 🙄
You know… the way most of our mamas taught us.
Separate your lights and darks.
Turn your jeans inside out.
Wash your whites in hot water with bleach.
Hand wash and hang up your delicates.
Blah. Blah. Blah..
Now I’m not saying that’s the wrong way.
I am saying it’s not the only way.
The right way for my mama wasn’t the right way for me. And my way might not be the right way for you.
So, what’s the “right way?”
Whatever works for you, in your home.
So what is my way, you ask? 🤔 💭
Laundry schedule… a real, non-overstimulating laundry schedule based on my actual home and our family’s needs.
And two special baskets in the laundry room. One for delicates & extra TLC and one for items that need bleaching.
Everyone else gets an assigned laundry day.
And Lord help you, if you think I’m washing three loads for one person in a single week. 😠 😂 NOPE!
The night before their laundry day, usually after dinner, they gather their dirty clothes and bring them to the laundry room.
They pull out jeans, hoodies, heavy sweaters, or anything bulky for a separate load. What’s left becomes their everyday clothes load.
I do a quick double-check, and put one load in the washer so it’s ready to start in the morning. By the time I get back from school drop-off, it’s usually time for load number two.
If all goes according to plan… and no daily catastrophe interrupts us… their clean clothes are ready to be folded and put away.
And that is their job!
If I don’t look inside the dresser…
I don’t have to know they stuffed everything in there instead of folding it. 😉
I used to fold every piece of laundry and put it away myself, only to get frustrated the next week when every drawer looked like a tornado had visited.
Letting them put away their own clothes cuts my laundry stress in half.
Teaching them to pre-sort their clothes (even if I still double-check) saves me time.
And making them gather their own laundry gives them a reason to actually put dirty clothes in the basket instead of decorating their bedroom floor.
Of course, I’m still responsible for my laundry, Sawyer’s clothes, and the towels, but even Terry puts his own laundry away.
I may fold it…
…but I still don’t look in his dresser either. 😉😂
For our family, this is what works. Consistency beats overwhelming chaos.
Am I always consistent?
Well… it is called Manic Mom Diaries for a reason. 🤭
Now if you’ll excuse me… my dryer is buzzing 🤭 😂
🌟Manic Mom Tip: buy each kid their own style or color of socks.
Same with underwear. So you never have to second guess whose is whose.
I’d love to hear your favorite laundry hack!
👇 Leave me a comment and tell me how you handle the chaos. 👇
Until next time…
Keep building a beautiful life between coffee & chaos,
💛 Tiffany
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