I have been using this laundry routine for over 2 years and it hasn’t failed me yet. In fact, it has significantly decreased the chances of me getting overwhelmed by laundry!
Laundry Baskets
Duh. Right? Of course a laundry routine needs laundry baskets, but this goes beyond the fact that you need a laundry basket. It matters what type of laundry basket you have and how many. Before getting into the actual laundry routine I’m going to explain the importance of the laundry basket.
The type of basket you need for your laundry routine
We are all familiar with the classic plastic laundry basket. You probably have one right now. I do too. Well, did, until I discovered laundry baskets with long handles. I found them because my kids kept spilling clothes out of the traditional plastic bin as they would try to carry it to and from the laundry room. Now my kids can either carry their baskets by the handles or more accurately, drag their baskets by the handles.
Do you have a separate laundry basket for clean clothes only? You probably do. I’m the last mom of littles to figure this out, but I finally did, and I bought a pretty fabric laundry basket that is for clean clothes only. It’s important to buy a completely different type of basket for the clean clothes so there is no confusion. Plus, a pretty fabric helps make putting away laundry more fun!
The amount of baskets you need for your laundry routine
Unless you like piles of dirty clothes on the bathroom floor, on your kids bedroom floor, on the stairs leading up to your kids bedroom (why?!), then I would suggest everyone, plus the bathroom have a laundry basket. Each person keeps their basket in their closet and knows pretends to know that is where their dirty clothes go. The bathroom laundry basket catches the stragglers (clothes left on the floor) and dirty towels.
For the clean clothes only laundry basket, you need one. Just one. If you have more than one you will be tempted to just fill them all up with clean clothes and have them become part of your home decor.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a commission.
Laundry Routine
Step One: One load of laundry a day.
This isn’t just any random load of laundry a day though. Each person has a day of the week that is their laundry day. For example, I do my youngest daughter’s laundry on Monday, my son’s laundry on Tuesday, my middle daughter’s laundry on Wednesday, and so forth through all the people in our family, including the bathroom laundry basket. Then, rinse and repeat weekly.
BUT, you don’t have to assign days of the week because that’s too much pressure to stay on schedule. Instead, just rotate through people. If I can’t get to my youngest daughter’s laundry on Monday, no problem, I will just start on Tuesday with hers. Just as long as everyone is getting their laundry done about once a week. My favorite laundry detergent is Better Life. It’s non toxic, plant based and comes in lavender grapefruit or unscented.
Doing laundry by person makes putting away clean clothes easy. Just load up your pretty clean clothes only laundry basket and go into that person’s bedroom and put everything away. Say goodbye to the exhausting days of surrounded in clothes that all go in different rooms. You will be able to put away the entire load of clean laundry without having to leave the room.
If I am feeling extra motivated on each person’s turn I will also wash their bedding. This does require doing two loads of laundry so it doesn’t always happen, so then I will wash all the bedding on the weekend.
Step two: There isn’t a step two
That’s it. A one step laundry routine that actually works. Start a load in the morning, switch it to the dryer before lunch and have it all put away before dinner. Don’t forget to involve the kids!
0
20
20
