by Patti Winters

Created on: June 15, 2007

I will admit it, my least favorite chore to do around the house is laundry. I don't mind the washing or even the drying, but I absolutely do not like to fold clothes. This doesn't mean that I can get away with never folding clothes, because unfortunately it has to be done. I have found ways, though, to improve the process when I am washing clothes.

The first step in washing clothes is organization. I created a system for my children to make it easy for them to separate their own clothes to make washing them easier. I took three laundry baskets and placed them on top of my washer and dryer. On each basket I put a label, one for darks, one for lights and one for whites. The children know which basket is which and separate their clothes before I even start laundry. This makes it easier and quicker to start the laundry without having to separate it first.

The next step is to make sure your products are within easy reach. If you have them, utilize the cupboards you have in your laundry room to store the products you use to wash your clothes, i.e. soap, bleach, softener.

The final step is to make sure you put the clothes away as you go, because if they get piled up then you will be less inclined to make sure they are put away later. Remember out of sight out of mind.

I have also found that it helps to have an extra laundry basket near by to carry the clothes upstairs when they are clean. I also make sure I have hangers in the laundry room to hang up the clothes immediately because it helps to keep them from getting wrinkled.

The most important part of doing laundry when you have children, is to teach them the general rules of organization and then it will become second nature to them to keep it organized. It will make your job easier and eventually when you start teaching them to do laundry, it will make their job easier.

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