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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.EquipmentStoring 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 coloursWashing- 1 washing machine- 1 washing up type bowl for hand washingDrying- 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.Getting it done- SundayStrip 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.
– MondayWhites 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.)
– TuesdayThis 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.
– FridayDark wash. Dry on clothes horse and put away as above.
– ThursdayIroning, 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
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