Oh laundry, it's never ending huh? It can start to feel like you're in a never ending loop of pushing things into the washing machine, pulling them out, hanging them up, ironing them, folding them then putting them away.
If you live in a situation similar to ours you'll always be able to see at least one process of the laundry and you have to come to terms with that. I live in a particularly rainy corner of the UK, in a small flat with only the minimal amount of outside space - along with minimal dry weather too. For a long, long time I'd get so angry about seeing a clothes horse inside but I've come to terms with the fact it isn't going to change anytime soon.
Something to keep in mind when thinking about your laundry is 'how much do laundry do I really need to create?'
Most people are over washing their clothes leading to the fabric, stitches and seams breaking down quickly. It is worth doing some research into which of your clothes need to be washed after each wear and which don't. Airing some of your clothes between wears (unless of course they're sweaty or intimate items) is not dirty.
Below is how we do things, it works for us and we do it now without thinking about it. If you're tossing things into the wash knowing there is a system in place for getting it sorted at the other end then it becomes far less of a hassle.
Something to keep in mind when thinking about your laundry is 'how much do laundry do I really need to create?'
Most people are over washing their clothes leading to the fabric, stitches and seams breaking down quickly. It is worth doing some research into which of your clothes need to be washed after each wear and which don't. Airing some of your clothes between wears (unless of course they're sweaty or intimate items) is not dirty.
Below is how we do things, it works for us and we do it now without thinking about it. If you're tossing things into the wash knowing there is a system in place for getting it sorted at the other end then it becomes far less of a hassle.
Equipment
Storing dirty laundry
- 1 wicker (fabric lined) laundry hamper
- 1 small bag for delicates & dry cleaning
- 1 bag for darks (we use a mixture of these cheap cotton bags and drawstring bags I made myself)
- 1 bag for whites
- 1 bag for colours
Washing
- 1 washing machine
- 1 washing up type bowl for hand washing
Drying
- 3 clothes horses (we use a selection of foldable airers in different sizes from Ikea)
- 1 flat mesh drying rack for jumpers and delicates (our version has little legs and I can't find it online currently but I had one of these when we had a washing line and it was great)
- Pegs
- 4 small mesh bags for delicates (I prefer these draw string ones to these zip ones purely because I find the zips end up breaking off and snagging on things)
- Dehumidifier - these came with out flat but they work great for drawing out the moisture and speeding up the drying process. Plus they make the room nice and warm.
- Dehumidifier - these came with out flat but they work great for drawing out the moisture and speeding up the drying process. Plus they make the room nice and warm.
Getting it done
- Sunday
Strip beds and wash bed linen as soon as we get up.
Hang it up on clothes horses and put the dehumdifiers on. During Mar-Nov if it is a dry day we'll put the clothes horses out in our yard. Once dried, fold and put away in their appropriate place.
- Monday
Whites and lights - hot wash. Dry on clothes horses & put away as above.
Handwash delicates and handwashed items which don't get done in our everyday routine (see below.)
- Tuesday
This is the day I wash things like sofa covers, throws, cushion covers etc. but it doesn't happen every week.
- Wednesday
Towel wash plus a boil cloth wash (in large pan on hob). Dry on clothes horses & put away as above.
- Friday
Dark wash. Dry on clothes horse and put away as above.
- Thursday
Ironing, mending and putting anything away which hasn't already been put away - such as stray socks which have eventually found partners.
Saturday
- Mr Thrifty's hockey kit and colours. Dry on clothes horse as above
Everyday
- I keep a bar of handwash soap in the shower and use it to wash out any delicates, bras or similar whilst my conditioner is in. I pop a clothes horse or flat mesh airer over the bath (or outside on a dry day) to dry.
- We always try to deal with stains as and when they happen otherwise it becomes an issue I can't be bothered to deal with.
Obviously if there aren't enough to make up a wash for that particular day then I don't put one on because it would be wasteful.
- Sunday
Strip beds and wash bed linen as soon as we get up.
Hang it up on clothes horses and put the dehumdifiers on. During Mar-Nov if it is a dry day we'll put the clothes horses out in our yard. Once dried, fold and put away in their appropriate place.
- Monday
Whites and lights - hot wash. Dry on clothes horses & put away as above.
Handwash delicates and handwashed items which don't get done in our everyday routine (see below.)
- Tuesday
This is the day I wash things like sofa covers, throws, cushion covers etc. but it doesn't happen every week.
- Wednesday
Towel wash plus a boil cloth wash (in large pan on hob). Dry on clothes horses & put away as above.
- Friday
Dark wash. Dry on clothes horse and put away as above.
- Thursday
Ironing, mending and putting anything away which hasn't already been put away - such as stray socks which have eventually found partners.
Saturday
- Mr Thrifty's hockey kit and colours. Dry on clothes horse as above
Everyday
- I keep a bar of handwash soap in the shower and use it to wash out any delicates, bras or similar whilst my conditioner is in. I pop a clothes horse or flat mesh airer over the bath (or outside on a dry day) to dry.
- We always try to deal with stains as and when they happen otherwise it becomes an issue I can't be bothered to deal with.
Obviously if there aren't enough to make up a wash for that particular day then I don't put one on because it would be wasteful.
Is your laundry a mess?
Read the introductory post - 15 DAYS TO AN ORGANISED NEW YOU.
Catch up with these realistic and honest organising blog posts -
Day 1 - Why do I want to be organised?
Day 2 - Recognise your patterns
Day 3 - Create a Home HQ
Day 4 - Organising for emergencies
Day 5 - Organising your bathroom
Day 7 - Organising your handbag
Day 8 - Organised gift wrap station
Day 10 - Getting started with meal planning
Day 11- Organising your finances
TTFN,
This is what I strive to do but it never happens because the washing takes AGES to dry - at this time of year I can be waiting 3 days or so for everything to dry properly so I can put it away, and then you get such a backlog of everything else until there's space on the clothes horse. Hopefully summer will be easier!
ReplyDeleteMarie
http://www.girlvsbookshelf.blogspot.com
It depends on the weather since I hang them outside (I live in Greece so I take advantage of the sun ;)). But since I work during the week I usually do the laundry in the weekend (bed linen, towels, clothes on a weekly basis and sofa covers etc every 15days or so. The ironing is usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays. I iron the clothes while watching my favourite series or movies.
ReplyDeleteLove your organizing tips, keep blogging!
I have to wash everyday, small people just can not keep clothes clean. How my lad gets so grubby I don't know, and then there is his stinking ice hockey and football kit, and the girl isn't much better. I have accepted that the airer us just part of my kitchen, has to go there no where else for it to go!
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly organised, I'm jealous! This post just made me go and put my washing on!
ReplyDeletehttp://thelittlekoala.blogspot.co.uk
love this post!!!
ReplyDelete<3
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Great post Mrs thrifty! The washing delicates while conditioner is on in the shower is genius...they always end up in my basket for weeks, no more!! Love your blog so much, keep it up there are lots of us that love it! X
ReplyDeleteI love how organised you are!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to add that once a year (usually the first good blowy sunny day of the year) I take every item of clothing/ bedding out of the cupboards and wash it, air it well and put it back. Means that the clothes we don't wear often (or wear once in a while and don't wash after wearing) and the bedding that always gets shoved to the back of the cupboards are freshened up after the long winter months. Takes a whole weekend, but it's so nice pulling clothes out the wardrobe when it all smells like sunshine :)
i love your blog. this is all really helpful! thanks, becca
ReplyDeleteGreat tips :) xxx
ReplyDeletehttp://jeminixlife.blogspot.com
Great post! I recently bought a heated clothes airer, it has literally changed my life in how I deal with laundry! It dries super quick and is really cheap to run, and no damp smell on your clothes at all! Yes, it was expensive but the time saved by not having to constantly do laundry more than justifies the purchase for me! x
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