https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:16:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474715 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:17:59 +0000 Kemma 2474715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a laundry schedule!</p> <p>Kids stuff on Tuesday and Friday<br /> Adult stuff on Wednesday and Saturday<br /> Sheets on Thursday (alternating kids and adults)<br /> Towels and anything else on Saturday</p> <p>We don't have a dryer so everything is line dried and I fold it before bed each night, my DH is also very good at helping me out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474624 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:46:41 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2474624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you do one load of everything worn that day at the end of the night when the girls go to bed? Then throw it in the dryer before you go to bed. Just use cold water and wash everything together<br /> ETA: personally, I do it all on sunday's. 3-4 loads, I sort but colour not by person. Plus towels bedding etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474620 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:45:21 +0000 Anagram 2474620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: That's why my husband and I had to separate our stuff. I mean, not that situation in particular, but all kinds of small issues. Now I don't touch his clothes and he doesn't touch mine--the only "rule" is that it can't be out in a visible place, but often our walk in closet floor is covered in dirty clothes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474615 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:45:08 +0000 youboots 2474615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do loads by categories- 2 loads a week<br /> T clothes (we use special detergent for her)<br /> Darks<br /> Lights<br /> Towels, bibs, kitchen towels<br /> Cloth diapers (every other day) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474608 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:44:19 +0000 gingerbebe 2474608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: Hell to the NOPE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474600 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:41:59 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2474600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm starting to think DH is the problem.<br /> He went digging in the dryer for something this morning and dumped all the clean clothes onto my sorted piles of dirty clothes... and didn't move the wet load to the dryer. Ugh! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474597 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:40:52 +0000 Happygal 2474597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my friends writes a fun blog about life with four children. She hated the laundry situation, so she started by greatly reducing the amount of clothes they have. The kids don't care. She also lowered the standard for putting clothes away. No real tidy folding--each child has baskets where things are sorted. </p> <p>I'm awful about the folding and putting away. I find that folding while watching a TV show makes it go by quickly. But I don't have much past that for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474516 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:10:51 +0000 looch 2474516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a function on your machine where you can set the wash to begin at a certain time? This way, for example, you can load the machine at night, set it to begin before you wake up and then when you're awake, you have a completed load waiting for you to move it to the dryer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474488 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:00:46 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2474488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH does his own laundry and ironing. I don't own much that needs to be ironed. </p> <p>I'm teaching LO to fold her own laundry, though it's more work for me at the moment. I'm hoping by the time she is 4/5 she can do it all by herself. I wash all of the LOs' laundry together, including their sheets and towels so I can take one big pile upstairs to fold and put away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474398 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:37:16 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2474398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No idea but here is what we do (#3 still on the way). </p> <p>Loads are by categories:<br /> - DH and I work clothes<br /> - DH regular clothes (usually only every other week)<br /> - My regular clothes (again every other week)<br /> - Towels<br /> - Sheets<br /> - Kids clothes (usually fits into one massive load, sometimes I split into two loads). </p> <p>So its about 6-7 loads per week. We try to do the easy stuff like towels during the week because those can be folded and put away easier. Kids clothes are definitely on the weekend because we have to wash their sheets for school. So usually its still 5 loads on the weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474390 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:34:50 +0000 ShootingStar 2474390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not very good at staying on top of putting laundry away, and I'm worried about how I'll manage with 2 kids. Luckily DH takes care of his own stuff. Ain't nobody got time for that :wink: . Plus he's super picky about how things get folded.</p> <p>One idea I had is washing the kids stuff together, but in separate giant mesh laundry bags (like this: <a href="http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-heavy-duty-basic-mesh-laundry-bag-24-x36/-/A-13765514#prodSlot=medium_1_1&#038;term=mesh+laundry)" rel="nofollow">http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-heavy-duty-basic-mesh-laundry-bag-24-x36/-/A-13765514#prodSlot=medium_1_1&#038;term=mesh+laundry)</a>. That way they're pre-sorted, socks don't get lost, and if I have to I can throw the clean and dry clothes in a laundry basket in each kid's room until I have the time to put it away.</p> <p>@gingerbebe: I like your idea of doing it every day. Or at least, frequently. I get overwhelmed by baskets and baskets of clean laundry. Running the washer and dryer I have no problem with. Dealing with the mountains of clothes after is what gets me. And then I just let it pile up even more :meh: . I literally can't walk in my walk-in closet any more because it's filled with clean clothes in baskets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474388 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:34:24 +0000 Anagram 2474388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate laundry. It's the one chore I just really drag my heels over. DH does his own completely. I am not involved in any part of the cleaning/ironing/dry cleaning of his clothes. We used to have power struggles over who had to do the girls' laundry (specifically the folding and hanging--most of their stuff has to be hung).</p> <p>Now that we have a good nanny, she does the girls' laundry completely, so now I just do my own stuff and DH has his stuff. It's a breeze now, haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474370 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:29:17 +0000 Applesandbananas 2474370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do a load every day, usually in the morning as soon as I get up, I throw a load in, and then I put it in the dryer when I get home. It gets folded when I get time. We sort colored vs white and that's it, but neither of us wear super dressy stuff for work.</p> <p>I don't fold or put away DH's stuff, except work clothes, the rest goes in a basket that he can either deal with or live out of a laundry basket. </p> <p>For DS, his clothes go in fabric bins on his cube shelf, so nothing gets folded. It's separated by underwear/socks, shirts, pants, which makes putting his stuff away super easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474359 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:26:01 +0000 DesertDreams88 2474359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well there's only three of us, but we also cloth diaper, so maybe the amount of laundry is similar? We do a load every day so as to not get overwhelmed.</p> <p>We keep everything separate with hampers for mom, dad, baby, and cloth diapers. Mom and dad hampers are in our closet, and baby and cloth diapers are in nursery. </p> <p>I have a schedule: MWF is cloth diapers, T is mom, TH is dad, Sat is Baby, Sunday is weekly laundry - things like sheets, floor mats, hand towels, my robe &amp; slippers, etc (I have a list on the washing machine). If I am behind, Sunday is my catch up day, and then I dont do the weekly laundry, oh well. And I very rarely do towels bc they just soak up water for a couple of minutes then air dry. </p> <p>I put the wash in during breakfast, put it in the dryer during lunch, and try to sort after dinner (this is the part that piles up, for sure), then fold. I don't do a lot of folding, especially for baby clothes. </p> <p>Maybe your oldest could help with basic sorting of her clothes, or matching socks? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474198 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:42:29 +0000 Foodnerd81 2474198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My washing machine has been broken for two weeks. So, yeah... </p> <p>We did drop off a huge load at the wash and gold place. Stupid expensive but I can't exactly spend all day at the laundromat with two kids. For $40 all our clothes were washed, dried, folded, and they even sorted by type (adult, kid, blankets and burp clothes and such). It was pretty nice. And since we still haven't sorted out the new washer t might be happening again this week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474194 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:41:32 +0000 gingerbebe 2474194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The best way we've found to keep up with laundry is just to do it every day. We used to do huge loads of laundry every few days and it was just too much. Smaller loads dry faster in our HE dryer and folding smaller loads is easier anyway. Since our washer and dryer are HE, I don't feel too terrible running laundry constantly.</p> <p>(We do the same thing for dishes basically - if the dishwasher is more than half full, we run it every night before bed. Its just easier to keep up with dirty dishes that way too).</p> <p>We keep 2 tall hampers in the hallway right outside the laundry room that everyone has to walk past to get anywhere in the house. It reminds DH and I to automatically throw a load in if its full.</p> <p>The hampers are for darks and lights only - we don't sort out individual people's clothing and just use Tide Free and Gentle for everyone. If I need stain treating, I've found the fastest and easiest thing is to rub a bar of Fels Naptha laundry soap directly on stain and throw it right in the wash. We do not use dryer sheets in case of irritation for DS and because we find our clothes dry faster in the HE dryer without them.</p> <p>Once the hamper is at least 3/4 full we run it - which happens almost every day. Most of the time, I throw in a load in the evenings while DH is giving DS a bath. I'll throw that load into the dryer once DS is in bed for the night and start the other load if the hamper is full enough. Then we fold the clothes and put it away before bed. If there's another load ready to be dried, we put it in the dryer before bed and aim to fold it the next day.</p> <p>Another thing that's helped is DH and I basically changed our wardrobes to things that do not require ironing. We got wrinkle free shirts, khakis, and slacks for DH and I haven't worn anything that requires ironing for years. We keep a small basket in the master bedroom of mismatched things that we toss errant socks into and they get found eventually, although I'm starting to buy DH's socks in bulk in one brand so that matching wont be so annoying in the future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474088 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:12:24 +0000 Freckles 2474088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>omg, when we got back from Mexico i did 5 loads of laundry. There is still a pile of laundry in the dryer. </p> <p>I have no tips, though sometimes i'll do the blacks/coloured clothing back to back because they don't require the dryer and have a shorter cycle (delicates). That will allow me to quickly get more loads through the washer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474076 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:09:04 +0000 hilsy85 2474076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH has 5 million pairs of the same socks--black for work, white for weekends. that has helped!</p> <p>but it is never ending....especially when I forget I have a load in the washer and then have to re wash it because it smells... :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474036 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:55:04 +0000 snowjewelz 2474036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really separate anything............ :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474031 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:54:08 +0000 psw27 2474031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to throw a load in in the morning and do it throughout the day but usually it ends up being a weekend battle where I have 4-5 loads - sheets/towels, LOs stuff, darks, lights and active wear. It is never ending... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474016 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:50:56 +0000 regberadaisy 2474016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is the laundry ninja. He gets a little extra time in the morning than I do so he will throw a load in first thing in the am. Then by the time he gets home after dropping the girls off, that goes in the dryer and he throws another load in. We'll usually tackle folding together in the evenings.<br /> We try to do it through the week so we don't spend half the weekend doing laundry!<br /> Honestly, right now he does laundry way more than I do.</p> <p>@avivoca: seriously, when our washer/dryer died we bought a high capacity one. We can do like 3x the laundry in that thing now. It's insane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474015 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:50:50 +0000 brownepiano 2474015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure how this will change with lo2 but since I am mostly SAHM I like doing laundry all on one day. Every Monday is laundry day. I collect everything, sort and then run loads all day and fold and put away throughout the day. This way DH can't complain about running out of clothes. When I have to, I'll do a load on another day (like when DS peed on all his pants and underwear and it isn't laundry day yet). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474010 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:50:17 +0000 Mamaof2 2474010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the end of the week I have 1 full load for each child and then towels and sheets and then me and DH's clothes</p> <p>I do 3 loads on Friday night and the rest Saturday - it gets folded and put away immediately </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474007 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:48:40 +0000 avivoca 2474007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I round up all the socks in lingerie bags. I also try to keep everyone's laundry separate, but it's kind of a nightmare. I'm doing cloth diapers again and that's just going to make it worse.</p> <p>Can you throw money at the problem? Send DH's laundry out or make him wash his own clothes? Buy a super capacity washer/dryer? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/drowning-in-laundry#post-2474000 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:46:15 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2474000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OMG. I cannot handle our laundry right now. Number three has taken my laundry duty to a whole new level.</p> <p>Anyone have any tricks? Do each kids laundry individually? Only black socks for everyone? Lingerie bags? Make DH do his own damn laundry :silly: ?</p> <p>Whaddya got for me? </p>