Family, Faith, and Fridays: dirty laundry

Yes, we are going to talk about dirty laundry today. Can you believe it? I have just read too many posts lately from people struggling to find a better way, or simply struggling to get their wash done. I have had many challenges in homemaking skills, but wash is not one of those struggles. Unless, of course, you count the few times -long ago- that I may have let wet clothes sit a tad too long in the washing machine. Not a good idea in the south, let me tell 'ya!So anyway, I have finally found peace with the dirty laundry and I want to see if I can help you do the same. These ideas work for me. Really, they do. But you may have to adjust for your family (there are 6 of us all over the age of 6) or you can just shake your head in disgust by the end of the post.

I will start by saying we do not do any fancy pre-sorting. Each person has a hamper, the boys share and theirs stays in the laundry room, and then I sort it all on laundry day. Lights, darks, sheets and towels. Simple. (no comments, momma!) Occasionally, I have a pile of delicates, but I do mean occasionally. If you are doing those more often than not, I would encourage you to buy more sturdy clothes! ;)

Put a load in, listen carefully for the buzzer, take it right out, and put the next load in. I do not dry most of our clothes in the dryer, so a lot get hung up. Which means on wash day you will see this-

And this-

Yes, that drying rack is my baby! It is over 6 feet tall and holds a lot of laundry. Someday I hope to have space for it in my laundry room. For now, it is in one of our storage rooms. You do what you have to do in a small rental house. Biggest challenge - don't forget you have clothes on it!

It also means that I only do about one load in the dryer for every two loads in the washing machine. Saves money and makes me happier.

The clothes that do not get hung up, like socks, undies, and jammies get thrown in a basket to fold.

Then they go to our bed to get folded. NOW! Yep, that is the secret for me. No waiting for later. No excuses. (OK, sometimes, I have an excuse!) But for the most part, fold now. It has to get done so there is no time like the present.

My new place to fold is on my bed. Here's the reason. If someone stops by they will not come in and see piles of laundry in my living room. AND, if I want to go to sleep at night the clothes on my bed have got to be put away. Again, no excuses for not putting them away. Once I fold, or if I am lucky, my husband and I fold together while we talk, then the boys are notified and they can come get their clothes and PUT. THEM. AWAY! As in, in their drawers. Even the youngest of children can be taught to put their clothes in the drawers. It may not be up to your standards, but if they are not in sight, I would say call it good.

And that leaves you with this!

Done!

Well, there are those clothes that are left hanging up to dry. If they are dry by bedtime, I just take them to their appropriate closets. If not, they are the first thing that gets done in the morning.

Laundry done in one day. Mostly.

Let me let you in on a few secrets.

My girls do their own clothes. From about age 14 on, they are taught how to wash clothes and then are responsible for their own. The rule is, you can do them anytime, except on MY washday. Mondays are sacred and you better not interfere with my laundry day. The same will be expected of the boys.

Therefore, I do my husband's clothes, my clothes, and my boys' clothes. And sheets and towels. On Mondays. It may take me from sun-up to sun-set, but I aim to get it done. I am like a crazed woman on a mission, but when the day is done, so am I...until next week. If washing a few loads each day works for you- go for it., but I do not love doing laundry and therefore I do not want to do it all week. I keep one ear on the buzzers and keep moving, usually putting the first load in before breakfast.

Yes, my husband wears a uniform all week, so we do have fewer "dress clothes" to wash. If I had to do all those dress shirts, well, let's just say the budget would be adjusted for dry cleaning., Just saying!

The Bible says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24)." I have come to believe that surely this means laundry too. I work hard and diligently one day a week to get the dirty laundry done so I can have more time for more important, and hopefully more fun things other days.

How about you, how are you staying on top of your dirty laundry?

Blessings,