Laundry – it is one of those things that has to be done, and often! But doing the laundry doesn’t have to be a dreaded task. Unfortunately, for many of us it has become that. Why is that? It isn’t like we are doing our laundry the way the pioneers did. After all, we have automatic washers, great cleaning products, and some people even have fabulous laundry rooms. So why is it still such a chore? Maybe it is attitude? I don’t know, but I do know I want to make laundry a task I enjoy and maybe even look forward too. Do you think it is possible?
Making Laundry Fun!
Okay, maybe we can’t make laundry fun, but we can make it more pleasant! That is what this site is all about – making laundry something you don’t dread. We will provide great laundry tips, ideas for organizing your laundry room, and even check out some great laundry products – there seems to be a lot of those around. Most of all we will take the drudgery out of picking up the laundry hamper.
So where to start? First of all let’s think about your laundry space. Is it dark and dingy? I remember helping my mom and my grandma do their laundry. They both had laundry rooms in dark, unfinished basements. You really couldn’t even call them laundry rooms, just a spot against the cement wall where the washer and dryer sat. As a kid I thought it was pretty creepy. I would dread my mother asking me to take a laundry basket and go get the laundry out of the dryer. Maybe that is where my aversion to laundry first came from, going down those steep stairs into the dark and scary basement.
Looking back that is how all the laundry rooms were in that era. They were tucked away in a corner of the basement or on a utility porch. Today’s homes usually have a place for the washer and dryer that is close to the living areas. Often it is a separate room with cabinets and even a laundry sink. We have come a long way about how we define our laundry space!
Make Your Laundry Space Unique
Even if you don’t have a designated laundry room, you can make your laundry space more appealing by adding some pictures or vinyl lettering, some organization products such as a laundry sorter or some shelves. At the very least you can add a coat of paint and put down some throw rugs to make your laundry space a little more cozy an inviting.
Some people like adding a stool or a chair to the laundry room so they can fold clothes, do mending, and other tasks. It is a good idea to add a rack to hang clothes that need to air dry as you pull them out of the washer. You can paint your accessories a bright color to make your laundry room fun and a happy place to be. Add bright colored curtains or whimsical wall hangings and your laundry room will be perfect no matter what size it is!
Make Time for Laundry
I know, you have heard it before but here it is again, schedule time for doing tasks such as laundry. If you have a set day, or days, of the week to do laundry it will become a habit. You can even incorporate your laundry day into a family schedule. For instance, all hampers need to be in the laundry room by 7 am Monday morning or they will not have clean clothes. This is a good way to teach kids to be responsible for their own laundry and it is one of the steps toward teaching them how to do it themselves.
You could schedule different types of laundry to be done on different days. For example, whites on Monday, jeans and sweats on Tuesday, towels on Wednesday, etc. You can put a laundry sorter in each bedroom so all you have to do is get the appropriate laundry bag out of the sorter for that day’s laundry.
Get Your Family Involved with Laundry
Small children can do little things like put their clothes in the hamper and as they get older they can put their folded clothes away. Eventually you will be able to teach them how to sort clothes by color or fabric. Before long you will have teenagers who can run the washer and dryer like pros!
If you introduce your kids to laundry tasks as you go along they won’t end up like my college roommate. Her mother did all her wash for her. She had never even turned the washer on before. As a result she arrived at college without a clue how to wash her clothes. Unfortunately she ruined a few things because she thought the best way to get things clean was to wash them on hot. Now, I am sure her mother thought she was doing what was best for her daughter, but she really needed to understand how to do laundry before she moved away from home!
Use the Right Laundry Products
There are so many laundry products to choose from and all of them claim to be the beat all end all product for perfect laundry. Hmm – really? I think that all laundry products serve their purpose and everyone has their favorites. That being said, I will be sharing some of my favorite laundry products with you on this site. But, remember you need to use the products that work for you. That doesn’t always mean you need to buy the expensive name brand products, often store brands are just as effective.
It has been my experience that many things factor into your laundry – the products you use, the quality of your water, temperature, and of course how dirty your clothes are! Even in your own laundry room, some stains will come out with one product but not another. Sometimes it is just try and try again. But we will look at some innovative stain removal ideas and ways to boost the cleanliness of your laundry.
Laundry does not have to be a dreaded task. It can be downright enjoyable – for some people. But no matter if you are a laundry lover or you just want to get it done, we will help you do it right!
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