How Can I Wash My Clothes?

Problem:  I felt like I needed to do laundry all the time.  I felt like it was never-ending and I would run out of underwear.

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Really?  How can you?  I think my daughter throws clothes in the dirty clothes that she just looks at.

I mean, glances.  They really dirties up your clothes {note the sarcasm font}.  How can I wash my clothes? (or, should it read, how can I wash ALL THESE *@&^)@!_ clothes!)

First off, my boys are now in charge of their laundry.  My older son is 14 and the younger one is 10, soon to be 11.  I heard whining about the laundry they had to fold because I was “always washing it” — and that was the straw that killed this laundry maid’s back.  They were on their own.  A few tips I have learned about kids doing their own laundry:

• Buy those pods, sure toddlers might eat them, but I might eat my boys if they spilled laundry detergent all over again.  I have found them on sale a few times, I think that was God’s way of letting them live.
• Not having clothes is just part of not washing your laundry.  Don’t do it, just say “gosh, that’s too bad I’m sorry you didn’t do it.” {and then walk away — you’ll need to do your happy dance, of natural consequences, in private}

They are SUPPOSED to wash their laundry on Mondays and Thursdays.  When they DO wash it is up for grabs.

For me though, I stick pretty tight to this schedule:

Mondays:  Whites

Tuesdays: Colors and towels

Wednesdays:  Bras or Bathmats (I rotate between them)

Thursdays:  Nada

Fridays:  Colors

Saturdays:  Sheets (I usually only wash them every other week — I felt like weekly was overkill).

My daughter’s clothes get washed whenever her hamper is full.  That’s about every week to 10 days depending on how many things she “glances” at. {sigh}.  She also has a TON of clothes (thank you Goodwill) so I don’t need to wash hers very frequently.  In fact, if I washed them more frequently, she would probably only ever wear 3 outfits.  She does sort out her whites weekly and put them in with my whites (boys do too).

Anyway, I would just encourage you to find a system that works for you!  I hvae a LOT of friends who find a laundry day works best for them.  That way they can focus on it and have it over with.  I also now have enough clothes to work this system.  I used to do whites twice a week, but found that we weren’t running full loads so I bought some more underwear and now we’re good to go (tmi?).

BONUS HILARY PERK:  My husband folds our laundry.  a)  he didn’t like how I folded it  b) When I started working more frequently, I had a FREAK-OUT about doing all the housework AND working, and we landed on him folding laundry because it can back-up a bit, if necessary.

Anyway, find a sytem, your life will thank you for it.  What’s your laundry system?  Comment below or share it on our Facebook Page.