Is the one-load-per-day laundry routine a struggle for you?
For my entire adult life, I have heard, and tried to adhere to, the common wisdom of doing one load of laundry per day in order to stay ahead of the laundry pile up.
Too often, common wisdom and reality clash. Real life tends to completely derail the one-load-a-day laundry routine for me.
When (not if) the laundry backs up, to the point we are scavenging for clothes, I feel like a failure yet again. There must be something fundamentally wrong in my make-up if I can’t keep up with one simple load of laundry a day.
Here is the truth about the one-load-per-day of laundry routine; it doesn’t work for me.
It’s a great concept. My mind tells me that it should work. But yet, it does not.
The fact that the one-load-per-day laundry routine doesn’t work for me sent me on a quest for a viable laundry routine alternative.
My initial search led me to the opposite end of the spectrum:
The concept of having an old-fashioned laundry day where all the laundry would be washed, dried, folded and put away in one day.
As much as I love the idea of once and done, I know instinctively, it will not work for me. The absolutely only day that is a remote possibility is Saturday. I am not willing to give up an entire Saturday for the sake of doing laundry.
In fact, I prefer to not do any laundry on Saturday.
My question: Is there a reality based, laundry routine that will work for my crazy life?
The answer to that question is yes.
The best traits of both laundry routines can be enjoyed by implementing a modified laundry day.
A modified laundry day is a very doable, effective, laundry routine that I believe can work for almost any stage of life.
If you are interested in staying ahead of the laundry pile-up without having to do laundry every single day then a modified laundry day might work for you.
What is a modified laundry day and how does it work?
What is a modified laundry day?
Just like the days of yesteryear, it is a block of time set aside, intentionally, to do multiple loads of laundry. Wash, dry, and most importantly, fold and put away.
Unlike laundry day of my grandmothers’ time, not every single load of laundry will be washed.
How is a modified laundry day different from simply “catching up”?
The practice of doing laundry on the fly is discontinued.
The guilt of not being able to keep up with laundry is gone.
There has been a time designated to do multiple loads of laundry and it will all get done (although not all at one time).
When should the modified laundry day be scheduled?
Look ahead at your schedule and decide what block of time will be designated as your modified laundry day.
The goal of a modified laundry day is that it works for your schedule and makes life easier. It can be a set in stone day or a day that changes weekly based on your family calendar.
Remember: You can multi-task when doing laundry. Homework can be done; dinner can be prepared. You will simply need to be available to stop and switch clothes from the washer to the dryer, from the dryer to folding and putting away.
How many loads should be washed on the modified laundry day?
The number of loads will vary and it will take time to figure out an ideal number for your family. I generally shoot for at least three loads of laundry washed, dried, folded and put away during my laundry time.
If you have more available time, add additional loads. If less time is available, do two.
How many times per week should you have a modified laundry day?
For me (four people living in my home), two and occasionally three modified laundry days keeps my piles of laundry under control.
What are some “best practices” for success on laundry day?
Currently, I only have one large hamper in my laundry room. On laundry day (or evening), I sort into piles however many loads of laundry I plan on completing (wash, dry, fold and put away).
Everything else goes back into the hamper.
This practice really doesn’t cause a huge waste of time like you may be thinking. Having too many loads of laundry laying in piles on the floor invites chaos. I want to only have to work around the piles I plan to complete.
Wash the lightest weight clothes first: They dry the quickest.
Save the heaviest weight clothes for last. You can get ready for bed or accomplish a longer task as they dry.
If you discover that you can’t finish all the clothes you sorted; pick them up and put them back in the hamper. If you think they will stay sorted on your floor, anxiously awaiting tomorrow, they will not.
Incorporating a modified laundry day actually frees up time.
Laundry is no longer a constant at our house and incredibly, the laundry hamper stays manageable.
If the one-load-per-day laundry routine is not working out so well for you, try incorporating a modified laundry day.
I’m guessing you might be pleasantly surprised!
Related Reading: How to Have a Clean Enough Home
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One of the things I dislike the most about laundry is sorting dirty clothes. So I bought a four bag clothes hamper that has cloth bags, which can be washed, so the sorting is done as we discard clothes to be laundered. I did have to label the bags as to what colors went where, and our jeans got their own basket. Now I just take the bag with the color I want to wash to the laundry room and put them in the washer.
Also, now that I am retired, I don’t have near as much laundry to do. One more perk about being retired!
I laughed out loud when I read your comment. I used to have a sorter as a hamper. When Isaac was small he dismantled it so many times that I finally gave up and went to one hamper. I’m glad sort-as-you-go is working for you!