Has anyone found dreams fulfilled beneath loads of smelly garments? Or, how many of us have dreamed of life without laundry? Or maybe you love it? I personally loathe it, aside from the fact I’m grateful for clothes to wear. Laundry never ends; it only takes naps.
Before my new system a few months ago, there was always this cloud of dread on wash day mornings. Gather up towels and rags, lug hampers to the laundry and then spend 10-15 minutes sorting, spraying/scrubbing stains and finally getting the first load into the washer. After that was accomplished, it felt like I could start my day. If I don’t get a load in until 9 or 10 A.M, it feels lousy. But if I can have a load going while I’m gone driving school children and have it ready for the dryer or hanging out as soon as I’m back home, it feels like efficiency.
I’m still not in love with laundry, but the dread has lifted slighly since I switched up my system. We purchased a three bin, rolling laundry hamper. After showers, everyone throws their clothes into the correct bins and woohoo- sorting is done!
For a long time I didn’t purchase a divided hamper because I didn’t feel we had space. I determine to use a minimalistic approach before purchasing items. Figure out where I’ll put the item or exactly what I’m going to do with it before it’s in my home. I thought long and hard over where we could set it for entire household use. None of our bathrooms are large enough and the laundry room itself is narrow.
The children’s bedrooms are downstairs but they prefer to use the main floor bathroom. So their clothes ended up in Macie’s hamper in her room, which is right next door. We discussed and measured and decided we can make room for the new hamper in her room. It has been working beautifully!
So here’s the laundry scoop. With the new system, the number one thing I love is, the clothes are pre-sorted! This is huge since that always was the biggest hurtle for me. There’s still spots to spray at times, but I try to do that as soon as the clothes are removed. This also gives time to soak it in Luminate water if need be. Then it’s ready to throw in the correct load the next wash day. Also, I still need to gather towels and rags from the bathrooms and kitchen but that doesn’t bother me like sorting did.
Secondly, I love how this hamper keeps clothes nicely contained– no more stumbling over unsightly Mt. Everests on the floor!
The third great thing is, since I combine more clothes, I have less loads! Win win! Typically I have 3 loads each wash day.
Yes, I confess I throw towels and dish rags in with the light colored load. The dark towels I throw in with the underwear/wash cloth load. And, (brace yourself,) I wash all darks together- jeans, Sunday pants and the whole works. But please don’t tell anyone. I cringe to do that. Occasionally if there’s a bunch of jeans I’ll make a separate pile and feel like a virtuous woman. But so far, nobody has turned me in for not washing the jeans separately, so I plan to continue. But let me hasten to assure you, hubby has an office job which means his jeans are not grimy and greasy. Neither are Reece’s school pants terribly dirty.
Please don’t pass out over this, but I don’t sort pockets. Jerald has been excellent in removing items from pockets ever since I married him. There’s been few accidents. Reece is super possessive of his 3 pockets knives and wouldn’t dream of leaving them in his pants. Occasionally there’s been a few rocks or wrappers but very rare. I’m pleased, because in my opinion, digging in crummy, sweaty pockets plays no part in a peaceful morning routine.
Another thing I changed was washing 3 times a week- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This is a paradox because, no, I don’t like doing laundry, but by washing more often there’s less overwhelming mountains in a day. You may prefer washing a load everyday and never end up with mountains. But I knew that method is not for me, because it feels like a bother to constantly be tending a load. It’s an exuberant feeling to wake on non-wash days, knowing I can enjoy a quieter morning and do more appealing tasks than handling dirty clothes. Although, really, when are we ever done with laundry?? Not till the day we die!
The fourth wonderful thing about this divided hamper is wheels!! Jerald was very good at carrying out the heavy hamper from our closet. But still, there was times I did. Some days I was desperate enough I threw a towel on the floor, set the hamper on it and scooted it over the tile. Heavy hampers are a nuisance. I have a bad hernia on my belly and lifting heavy is just not cool when you got a hernia.
What is cool is these wheels!! The children still have to take turns pushing the cart to the laundry room, it’s that exciting. And me, when the last load is in? I whip that cart back in it’s place feeling like a professional worker of sorts. Did you know we can be professional homemakers?! Wheels. Get yourself a divided laundry hamper with wheels! My sympathy if your laundry room is on a different level of the house.
A great addition to your laundry system would be using non-toxic and environmental friendly laundry soap such as Tahor. We originally began Tahor in 2024 and due to the increase in sales and not having the time for it with our young family, we sold the business last year. Mckenzie Nisly, who lives locally, does a great job stirring up soap and managing the business! Try it out if you haven’t yet!
Here’s a couple pictures of our laundry this past summer when we repainted it and installed a few cabinets.
Tell me, how do you manage laundry?
of windowsills and breezy hills 