Laundry 101

Laundry is one of my favorite jobs. That wasn't always the case, though. Because I'm so picky about the way my laundry is done, it used to be a mental challenge every time the laundry basket was brought down.

Which load should this go in? was the constant question. I know most people just throw lights together and darks together and towels together. Not me. But I finally figured out a system that works for me. I no longer have to think about it. I just do it. No more decision making. That part is now done. And it makes life a lot easier for me.

A friend once asked, "How do you get all the laundry done?"

My answer is, "I don't!"

I'm a firm believer that laundry does NOT have to be done. In my book, it's a ridiculous notion.

This is a picture of my laundry at a point where I consider it "pretty caught up."
I remember back when I had 3 little ones. I looked at my one laundry basket which was stacked up a couple feet above the edge and thought, What a lot of laundry! Hee hee hee! I had no idea!!!

Anyway, I used to think I needed to get laundry baskets emptied and everything put away to feel like I could check Laundry off my list. But who can ever get laundry done? Even if I emptied the baskets and put it all away, we'd all change our clothes at bedtime and I'd have a full basket again! See? Ridiculous.

I also used to think that doing laundry every day would get old. But since I've figured out the best way for me to sort and know just how I want to wash each load, the only work is physically entering the laundry room and throwing in the load.

My laundry goal is to do at least 3 loads a day, one at each of our major meals ~ breakfast, lunch and dinner. My laundry room is right next to the kitchen so I'm right there anyway.

Tomorrow I'll tell you how I sort my laundry. For now, I want to give you some laundry tips. A lot of these are preferences and you may think I'm nuts (especially when you find out how little I put in the dryer).

Bleach ~ bleach is your friend. I put a little bleach in every load of towels and wash cloths to keep them from smelling musty and mildewy. I recommend it.

Vinegar ~ if you have a new red or dark colored garment and you don't want it to fade, soak it for about 15 minutes in a bowl of cold water with maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar. It helps set the color.

Darks ~ turn dark colored clothes inside out to wash. It helps with fading also. If you don't believe me, check your hubby's dark socks. Whichever side is usually turned out when you wash them will be lighter than the side that isn't exposed.

Good Whites, white socks and white t-shirts ~ I never wash white garments with any other color. If you want dingy whites, go right ahead and mix them in with other colors. I can always tell my kids socks from others' because although they are stained on the bottom from being worn without shoes (ugh), the tops are actually white instead of gray.

I also never dry my good white clothes.

Dryers ~ I don't dry most of our clothes. It saves energy and your clothes last longer - both of which save money. Clothes don't shrink or fade or pill as badly if you hang them up to dry. I don't have an outside clothes line so I hang them to dry on hangers in our closet room.

Clothes I dry are: hand-me-downs that I know were dried by their previous owners, socks, Roddy's undershirts, most jeans, underwear (but never bras or sports bras), sheets and towels.

Rubbing Alcohol ~ Gets ink out.

Hydrogen Peroxide ~ Takes out blood.

Shout or some other stain remover is a must.

Fabric Softener ~ I use Downy instead of dryer sheets in every load of laundry since I don't use the dryer for all the clothes.

Miscellaneous ~ I never lay clothes on top of the washing machine since I never know if there is the tiniest bit of bleach unseen that may ruin them.