Buried in a MOUNTAIN of laundry!!!

Sal - posted on 04/15/2011

i wash at least a load a day, then it never back up and isn't too much to fold and put away or to hang on indoor racks, and then if i'm home and it is sunny i can get the extras done like towels sheets etc, and i tip my sister found is to get rid of a lot of clothes, then you have to wash more regulary and a few days of washing isn;t nearly as daunting as a week or mores...

Liz - posted on 04/11/2011

The best thing to do is to have less stuff. ;)

I'm kind of kidding, but kind of not.

We live in a small flat with no dryer. We line-dry. You really have to keep on top of laundry because it takes a day to dry a load before you can put more wet clothes out. So I do a load every 1-2 days.

We also just have fewer clothes because there isn't a lot of storage space in a small flat. But I find it's easier to be chic/stylish when you only keep the best, most flattering, and most versatile clothes. My baby has more laundry than my husband and I put together.

Jennifer - posted on 04/11/2011

a load in the AM, a load in the PM before dinner. Fold as you go!

Sarah - posted on 02/24/2011

Wow, didn't think I'd get THAT many responses....it's good to know I'm not the only one trying to defeat the clothes monster! lol. My kids do try to help out...but I'm sure you guys understand that kids as young as they are, usually end up doing more harm than good. They are made to clean their room, put away things and clean up after meals, but the laundry is an area that they get kinda sloppy in. They try, but the clothes are always wrinkled up and in piles after they attempt to fold with me. I think it's great that some of you moms are getting your kiddos to help out with it...but it's just not for me. I guess I am just gonna have to accept the fact that laundry is almost always unfinished and if people come over and have something to say about it, well they know where the door is! (or maybe I can get them to do it, LOL). Thanks for all the support and encouragment! :)

Wendy - posted on 02/24/2011

Sounds like me too Sarah! I have two children, son age 7 1/2 and daughter age 3 1/2 and they keep me pretty busy but I do try to stay on top of the laundry and can get overwhelming sometimes but I have been trying to do a little here and there but not all at once. I am thinking of implenting a chore chort for my two so I hope I helped you a little! Good luck and let me know how it goes! :)

Tracy - posted on 02/24/2011

I have the same issue, I try to do one load a day so that it doesn't seem too crazy to do it all at once...

Patricia - posted on 02/23/2011

Okay Sarah- how many people dirty clothes in your house? They aren't nudist right- new rules you dirty it you help clean it and put it away. You can buy colored baskets and hangers for each child or person to help with the laundry sorting. You don't have to wash all the colors separately unless you have blackened muddy socks and underwear you can wash it all together in cold water which will save on power bills. The only things I separate are my hubbies greasy work clothes and dark dress clothes(or) for special occasion clothes that need TLC. I have white bath towels that I can add the bedding socks white sheets underwear to to make a load.Start a new rule that no tv phone or food until kids pitch in and help with chores. I personally have a timer on the stoveand a handheld battery operated timer so I can set it put it in my pocket to remind me when the next load can be put over to the dryer or washer. that frees you up to do something else but keep you on track with the laundry. You need to see that the kids are helping you with the house laundry toys vacuuming dusting . It's where =they live they breathe in the dirt= it's what keeps them healthy if you have a clean home they will have pride in it IF they participate in the care of it. If you start them young they will be able to care for themself and it will help them by alleviating insecurity because they are more in control of their world! Think about it= if something happens to me tomorrow how self sufficient are my children will they be able to help themselves? or am I raising a child who is totally dependent on me?? Which child will have the most pride in his or herself. Start a routine with them included and stick to it to give yourself a steady goal to stay on top= if I allow myself to procrastinate I would have 5 baskets in the laundry room. Then it makes me feel bad! You can do it = and remember don't let them walk away and NOT help. After you get the cleaning and laundry part you can introduce the cooking so they can also feed themself so they will be mature independent children when they leave the nest. I have talked to a lot of adults who have loooked at me like a 5 year old and said Mom didn't show me how to cook or clean or iron. It's a pathetic scene for this 55 year old Grandma to see. God Bless my Mom for all she taught me!!

Sarah-Anne - posted on 02/23/2011

i spend one day every two to three weeks and do about 12-18 loads of my clothes, 2 yr old daughters clothes, towels and sheets. i wash, dry, and fold everything. it may sit downstairs for a few days before i put it away. i'm horrible at hanging stuff up. my daughters stuff and the towels usually get put away, but i slide on my stuff. i usually live out of baskets. my husband does his own laundry, 2-3 loads every Friday night and Saturday morning.

Marybeth - posted on 02/23/2011

after seven years of constantly being buried in laundry, my husband and I finally figured out something that works for us. I realized we have EXACTLY seven loads we divide our laundry into, so we dedicate ONE load a day, to be washed, dried, folded, and put away. Let me tell you it is soo much easier only having to worry about one basket at a time! And since we started doing this consistently, our loads have decreased in size and we aren't washing gigantic mountains at a time! I hope this helps!

Allie - posted on 02/22/2011

I tend to wait until after my son is asleep because I'll do the laundry and fold it then carry it upstairs and lay it on my bed... presenting a big problem come bedtime.. so I have two options 1)push it onto the floor 2) put it away. This makes it a lot easier because I don't have to put my husbands clothes away/hang up because he's home and can do it himself! I tend to put all my son's laundry in its own basket and put it away in the morning when he wakes up. Just remember to do it a little at a time.

Princess - posted on 02/22/2011

I have a family of 6 and it is hard with my older 2 girls in school and my hubby at work. I to do laundry with my 3 yr.old son and 4 month old baby girl which is hard because i can get a load in the dryer and a load in the washer and before. I can fold them up she is up from her nap which means i will have to put the clothes on the floor and when then. When my girls come home they will help fold them up and put them away also at night. When the family is sleep then my husband will get the baby and i can finish the laundry.

Christin - posted on 02/22/2011

seriously just take the time to teach your kids to help oyu out. They are all old enough to help in some small way. Mine are 5yr old and 3.5yr old and both help. They sort the clean clothes into baskets like towels in one, socks in the other, and a seperate basket for each of their clothes and one for me and one for the hubby. The kids can handle this. They also fold wash clothes for me. They just need to be shown how. Your kids at 7.5 and 5.5 should be able to fold their own clothes for the most part and put it away. Now the younger two could help sort and do small things like my kids do. It is just getting them involved and showing them how to do it properly. It takes time to teach them how. Do not get me wrong, I to have piles very often but just offering advice on how we try to get past it. As I type now there is a mountain behind me waiting for me. Mostly because I do laundry after the kids go to bed, and then we sort and fold the next day.

Stephanie - posted on 02/21/2011

This made me laugh.....

As I read just the heading of your post, I could see out the corner of my eye TWO large very overfilled baskets of clean clothes needing to be folded an put away.

I really dont have a solution for you, but I can say that Ive been guilty a time or two of turning the dryer back on just so I dont have to fold it.

I keep up on EVERYTHING eles, bathrooms(2), Kids rooms (aged 2 an 4months), Sweeping, vaccumming, dinners EVERYTHING in between but laundry is the one thing I just cant seem to grasp..

Veronique - posted on 02/21/2011

OMG! That sounds so much like me. I don't have a problem with the laundry ( putting in the wash then dryer ) but i can't seem to find 2 min to sit down and fold my laundry then put it away. I always put in on one of the couchs but i never fold it. Eventually when it gets really bad i start folding and putting away but i always find sonething else more important to do. I'vw ask my husband to help me fold and just the other day i came home and all my laundry was folded so i just needed to put it away......What and angel lol

SONJA - posted on 02/21/2011

My house is the same way. Our laundry always comes last---until we have NOTHING left to wear. lol I feel that it is my husband's job because I pretty muchhave to do everything else- but he doesn't agree. I dnt mind throwing it in washer and dryer it is the folding and putting away that I dont have time for.

Fathima - posted on 02/21/2011

laundry!!!yes its tough here too...i wait for the washer to be full,and the day its full,i have more !! i wash 2 loads per day,no sorting out unless its dat messy!LOL! my mum stays nearby,n keeps coming .so its she who hangs the second load often...if not it stays in the washer till late in the night..n i hang it just before bed in the balcony...folding is my monster!!!it piles up sometimes for weeks together!!i pull out the necessary ones from the pile and the rest remains...not very often these days though!sometimes right out of the line to the cupboards...neatly folded....my hubby has no probs with the folding part,he gets mad at me when i dont wash it,waitng for a full load....

April - posted on 02/20/2011

I feel you on this one, my laundy is ALWAYS a problem. My husband comes UNGLUED about it. But...what can you do?? lol It sure is good to see other Moms have the same issue.

Elise - posted on 02/20/2011

First thing in the morning I get up and put a load on. When it's done I'll do 2 or 3 more and leave them in the baskets. Then when my kids (2 and 3 months) go down for their naps (thankfully they sleep at the same times) I hang them all out. Everything usually gets left on the line until their nap time the next day. Which is when I bring it all in to fold infront of the tv or I just fold it as I get it off the line. Works great if u don't mind leaving clothes out overnight.

Tasha - posted on 02/20/2011

lol you guys crack me up! My son is 9 weeks old and I swear if he thinks I'm thinking about folding he wakes up crying and hungry lol

Jo - posted on 02/20/2011

LOL. Iam exactly the same!!! Kinda for a different reason though. Our lovely kelpie pup doesnt like me to have washing on the line so she pulls it off so I am so far behind with laundry as I can only put it on the line when my partner is home as she doesnt pull it off with him and i put clothes on airers in the house. Its always nice to know Im not the only one with laundry issues!!!

Mel - posted on 02/20/2011

lol sorry i cant help but i know what you mean i have a 5yr with adhd/odd and a 3 yr old and most of the time my bedroom floor is just covered in clothes that need to be ironed, folded and put away. I dont feel so bad now that i know im not the only one!!! :)

Miriam - posted on 02/20/2011

I'm kinda in the same boat. I haven't have a washer and a dryer for literately 5 months. Washed whatever I could since I can't afford to pay everytime I wash a load at my neighbors house. I finally got one the other day I have at least probably 10 or more loads of laundry to do. I just threw whatever was in the pile into the washer and dryer. Thats the only I've been getting it done for the past 3 days.

Tasha - posted on 02/20/2011

so glad I'm not alone on this one! i always have laundry sit and my husbands off day i sit and fold it. I figure atleast its clean!

Amy - posted on 02/20/2011

The folding and putting away is EVERYONE'S nightmare! I can wash and dry, it's the latter part that messes with me!
My children are older so they do their own laundry, however that doesn't mean that they are meticulous about the putting away either. I just want them to get them in the drawers!

I just have to take a deep breath and MAKE myself do it. Do you have too many clothes? That could be overwhelming too. I've paired down and life is better.
Just a thought.

Shevon - posted on 02/20/2011

I have three girls (who change clothes a thousand times a day) and a boy (who wets his pants just as many times a day) I am washing for...I don't EVER overload the washer .. I only do medium loads .. NO MATTER HOW backed up I am .. that way when the buzzer goes off on the dryer I can take the 5 minutes to fold and hang ... now, the clothes don't very often leave the laundry room til someone is putting them on but they are folded and hung! lol

Stifler's - posted on 02/20/2011

Yeh pfft I don't sort either unless it's something new red or blue that gets washed on it's own or with dark towels the first time. I just empty the washing basket into the machine in the morning and turn it on while I have breakfast etc. and then put it out when Logan is finished in the high chair.

Renae - posted on 02/20/2011

Firstly, I dont sort! I have one basket in the bathroom for clothes and one basket in the laundry for linen and towels etc. Everything from the same basket gets thrown in all together. I dont know why people sort. In my experience the only thing that runs are new jeans for the first 3 washes, after that they go in with everything else. I never separate any other colours.



Every morning the first thing I do when I get up is put on a load of laundry, it finishes before I leave the house and I throw it in the dryer before I leave. Do the same when I get home and make sure it goes in the dryer before I go to bed. I live in one of the hottest and driest cities where clothes dry on the line in 20 minutes, but I dont have time to hang them out.



Before bed I fold and put away that morning's load and the one from the night before if I haven't already done it. My nearly 2 year old puts his own clothes away. I have also taking to not being too fussy with folding, with was very hard for me, I have the neatest linen cupboard ever. But I now do it as quickly as possible just to get it done so I can go to bed.

Stifler's - posted on 02/20/2011

My cousin in law Pete, folds at the line. He seriously folds as he takes off. Apparently it works really well for him but I just take it all off and fold it ASAP in the house out of the sun so it doesn't pile up.

Melysa - posted on 02/20/2011

I have 7 in my house but I assure you the way I mentioned does work I never use a dryer, I have 2 clothes horses and a small line outside i do 2-3 loads a day sometimes (when it builds up) I could do as many as 8 loads a day for 3 days straight! I would do it in one day but I don't have space for that! good luck!

Melysa - posted on 02/20/2011

I fold off the line and as I pull it off I make sure that it is put into the basket in order of how it is put away ie for my family I put my girls clothes in first any linen (except tea towels and dish cloths) next mine and my husbands the boys things and finally the tea towels and dish cloths go on top then as I walk back inside I put them away in reverse order as I make my way through the house! it means that I can just walk through I know the clothes are sorted they go away much faster and I don't need to hande everything multiple times!

Jenny - posted on 02/20/2011

i have no problem with this what so ever. i always fold the laundry as soon as i take it of the line or its dry from the dryer. i just pause anything else im doing and just quickly get it done. if my husband is around i get him to stop what he's doing to help and we just quickly do it and put it away in 5mins flat. just the way we always did this. only way to keep on top of it otherwise it will just build up.
a few times i have left it coz i had to do something else that was more important or i ran out of time and had to get to the appointment, but very rarely does that happen. i always get it done straight away, even if im plainging to go somewhere, i quickly just do it so that i know when i come back there's nothing waiting for me to get done.

Shannon - posted on 02/19/2011

lol, i know how you feel. I hate laundry, it seems that as soon as something is washed, its back in the dirty pile. i have a huge pile of clean stuff that need to be put away but i never seem to get through it all. my oldest is 5 and not very helpful, my 4 yr old tries. my bigest problem was my cat likes to think the laundry room is close enough to the litter box, if you get what i mean. i need to buy bins to put on my shelves, then i can sort the clean stuff as it comes out of the dryer.

Katherine - posted on 02/19/2011

LMAO!!! I can wash, dry, fold and that's it. Then it stays in piles.
I have tried to sort. Towels, so I can put them away right away. Hanging things get put aside, jeans get sorted then put in drawers (I sort 3 people's laundry) underwear drawer next, and the rest gets neglected.
Then I do more and it just piles up.
I have a chair in my room where all of the hanging clothes are laid out. When I get a minute I make myself hang up at least 5 things. And when I don't put other things away, I make myself put away at least 20 things a day.
That's all I can offer.

Stacey - posted on 02/19/2011

HAZAAAH help is here....granted this is advice my extremely simplistic dad told me years ago, but has paid off. Simplicity is key. We only have 3 baskets...lights, darks and whites. I try to wash/dry at least 1-2 loads a day. This way it doesn't build up as bad. From there, evaluate. Obviously shirts need to be irond/hung/neatly folded. BUT, Jeans don't wrinkle that easy, especially little girls jeans can just be laid across the bottom of a drawer and stacked. almost all socks in our house are white and when someone needs new socks all the old ones are thrown out. ex: I have only hanes ankle socks, My husband has grey toe crew, my son has teh small grey toe crew, and my daughter has pink toe crew....baby has plain baby ankle....NO NEED TO MATCH; sort and drawer :) Towels/sheets: I presume there is a cabinet....do they need to be neatly folded or can ya just shove em in? I guess the last one matters more if wrinkles bother you teh first time you get into bed. Two oldest helping? can you lay out the shirts to be hung and a stack of hangers and just have them put up socks/undies/ and shirts on hangers? My 3 and 5 do that for me and it helps a ton

Rachel - posted on 02/19/2011

lol! I know how u feel. It feels good to know that I'm not the only one. I have had 4 baskets of laundry that needs folded for about 2 weeks and now the hampers are starting to get full again. it it the single most irritating chore to me. everything about it.

Hollyanne - posted on 02/19/2011

Right now I have an almost 9 month old. So it isn't to hard at this point. Plus we live in an apartment and have to pay and keep time of when we do out laundry as other people get upset if you let it sit there all day. During my son's nap I will fold it and put it away so I can get other stuff done while he is playing. Once we move to a house though and have a washer and dryer I'm afraid it will stack up because I'll have so much other stuff to do. I remember as a child my brother and I hated doing laundry so it would sit there forever than we would have around 20ish loads to do.

Nicole - posted on 02/19/2011

k .. this is going to sound very OCD.. but it really helps and works and shaves off about an hour xx bare with me please :o)

when you do each load, hang the families undies up in one corner with both socks of each pair with the same peg. i alos use this line to hang my bedding/towels etc.
hang your clothes on another line/corner, hubbys clothes also together as well and your LO clothes together.
do this with each load as it comes out and just keep adding to each persons section.
once it is all dry, take your empty laundry basket(s) and first throw in all the underwear at the bottom, then roll each pair of socks and throw them in the basket to go straight into the cupboard - no sorting later; fold each members laundry up and then lastly the bedding/towels. as you walk into the house put the bedding/towels away. packe each members cupboard while carefully selecting a few things like cotton shirts for example that must be ironed. put their socks away and fold their undies quickly and pack away. drape the ironing over a chair or lay flat in the laundry room. when LO has a snooze or goes to bed then do the 10 min of ironing. unless ofcourse LO is old enough to keep his/her distance from the ironing board - then u can do it anytime ;O) we are not there het hahaa!
HTH hun. if hubby sometimes help with the hanging of the washing, explain this system to him and he will surely help and stick to it too - my hubby thought i was a little pedantic at first till i got him to pack it out too and he realised how fast it was and how little ironing was left at the end - never moaned about it again xx HTH xx

Molly - posted on 02/19/2011

I have 3 girls (5,2 and1) and a husband that goes through 2 sets of clothes per day. I am never out from under piles of laundry. I keep mine separated like you do and sometimes I feel like a superhero cause I get 2 loads washed and dried in one day! I have come to this conclusion: I am a stay at home mommy. My "job" first and foremost is the children and with three under the age of 5 that is a JOB in and of itsself. anything else that I can get accomplished in a day is a miracle. I make sure that the laundry is washed and dried and that the hanging items get hung promptly to avoid wrinkles and beyond that you can just dig through the baskets. My husband will get frustrated with this from time to time and complain and my response to him is always the same. You know how to fold a shirt just as well as I do. You can either fold them yourself or take over with the kids while I do it. This puts things into perspective for hima nd he will usually take the kids out to lunch or the park while I get caught up. I have also quit "waiting on a full load" I used to see a pile fo clothes and if it wasn't a full load I would leave it until it was. I thought that washing half loads was a waste of detergent, water and electricity. And it probably is, however, I have found that witing always ends up in "now its a full load and then some." I have just decided that washing in my spare time is the solution. so what if it isn't a full oad that just means that it will wash and dry faster AND take me less time to fold, hang, and put away. The bottom line is that wrinkled socks and undies never killed anyone and you are only one person. Don't stress about it. When it's your time to go I can assure you that the one thing your headstone will NOT say is "wonderful housekeeper".

Melissa - posted on 02/19/2011

Haha Im am with you! Ok so far for 2 weeks now I have stayed ahead of the laundry! I do 2 loads a day and fold them right out of the dryer...I try to put them away asap but I dont always get a chance to so when my hubby comes home that is the first thing he does for me! So far so good...Oh and i dont seperate colors anymore only towels and sheets and baby clothes are done seperatetl but as for the rest what ever is in the pile gets washed together...That saves tons of time!!!! If I get behind then ugh it is a nightmare to get caught back up!

Lisa - posted on 02/18/2011

I am actually very lucky when it comes to laundry. With 6 in our house, it seems our washer never stops, but the boys have gotten old enough that they sort their clothing and help load and unload the washer/dryer. Then when it comes to folding, we all sit in the living room together and make piles for each person. As we fold, we talk about what has been going on the past week, so it turns into chores and family time all at once.

Britney - posted on 02/18/2011

I find it easiest to fold the clothes as they come out of the dryer. Take an item out, fold it, put it in the basket (or on top the dryer) and then it's done. Who cares if it's not put away. At least it is folded, wrinkle free and ready to wear. I started doing that as soon as I had kids and now it's a habit. I hate, hate, HATE wrinkly clothes so this was my solution. Getting them put away, now that's a whole other story.......... ;)

Nayuribe - posted on 02/18/2011

well, i just do 2 loads: one with the girls clothes, i put EVERYTHING in it, from towels to undies to anything that's durty!!! LOL
and the other one with anything my bf and i need washed.

Jennifer - posted on 02/18/2011

LOL Jennifer! That just reminded me of about a month ago, I was walking in front of my oven and saw the self cleaning button, then I started teasing my husband that if I could only find one of those buttons for the rest of my house...

Medic - posted on 02/17/2011

Between the two kids and my husband I feel like I am swimming in laundry. You have more...don't worry. Like once a week I will catch up on all the washing then it takes me like a week to get them all folded and put away and the horrible cycle starts again. If you find the magic little button to make it all disappear please share.

Shannon - posted on 02/17/2011

girl you have four kids dont worry it will still be there later. but your kids will grow and not be there forever. but if it helps my kids can put thing on hangers and my older one sometimes folds his own. they may not be the way I would do them but its done. good luck. wash cloths and towels too

Good Day! - posted on 02/17/2011

Granted, I only have one kid so far. But this is what I do.

I make it my goal to do ONE load a day. First thing in the morning I start the load. Mid-morning I take a minute to switch the laundry to the dryer. I fold and put away the laundry either: when my daughter is napping or after she's gone to bed for the night. I fold while watching TV. It makes the task more pleasant. By doing at least one load a day, I find that I don't really get behind...and some days I don't have to do laundry at all. Ha...baby 2 and cloth diapers are coming in March so that won't last long!

What my mom did and what I'll probably do when my kids are older:
Put a laundry basket in each kids' room. When it's full it is their responsibility to bring the basket to the laundry room. Otherwise they don't have clean clothes! You wash and dry, then return the basket of clean clothes to their rooms. It is then their responsibility to put their clothes away...or have them strewn around the room...but that's a different battle. At least the laundry will be done and everyone has clean clothes!

Sarah - posted on 02/17/2011

I am usually pretty good at keeping everything put away, but sometimes it seems I have more laundry coming in (dirty) than I have time to wash and dry....so then I get caught up trying to do laundry rather than folding and putting away the piles in baskets that I should've put away days ago. LOL, I affectionately call it my 'clothes monster'. I'll joke with my hubby and say "well, I'm off to defeat the clothes monster today".....and if it didn't get done, he'll joke back "I guess the clothes monster won the battle today huh?"....lol

Jennifer - posted on 02/17/2011

I definately feel you on this one! With 6 of us in my house, there is always tons of laundry. If I don't have time at the moment to fold it, then I just wash and dry, and leave it in baskets. I figure it is better to at least have clean clothes, even if they do get a little wrinkled. LOL On days that I do have the time to fold, I usually do it on the table, that way I am forced to put it all away before everyone is home for supper. Of course, what mostly happens, is that my older kids come home from school and my son (7) puts all of his stuff away, and my daughter (5) puts all the other kids' clothes away. She likes doing it, so I definately don't complain!. Then with mine and my husband's clothes, I usually just put them on the bed and when he goes in there to go to bed at night (I'm usually in the recliner with the 4 month old) he just lays it all on the floor, and after about a month or so, I'll actually get to putting whatever is there away. Noone ever sees our bedroom, and it is all in nice neat stacks, so I just don't worry about it, and I also have some awesome wrinkle releaser/clothing refresher that works great on the stuff that should have been hung up. LOL

Renee - posted on 02/17/2011

I normally will end up with 2 or 3 loads of laundry that will sit for awhile as well before it gets folded and put away. I do have my son- 2 1/2yrs "helping" with the laundry. I will give him his socks and undies and he will put them in his drawer. He will also put the baby's bibs, rags, and undershirts in her drawers as a way to "help" me.