Names have been changed to protect the innocent...and my husband...and me...but not the dog. His name is Dexter.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tip Tuesday-The Laundry!

Wow.  It's been a long time since we had a little Tip Tuesday action around here.  And what better topic to get things rolling than laundry.  We all have it.  Most of us do it.  Some of us like it.  A few of us even fold it.  And I'm going to share a few little laundry tips that save me either time or money.  Both things that we could all use more of. 

First up, we have the laundry sorter.  Best.  Idea.  Ever!  Last summer/fall I bought a double laundry sorter for my girls room.  It looks a little something like this.

Okay, it looks exactly like that.  Then I cut out strips of felt to coordinate with the intended dirty clothes destination.  Dark pieces on the dark side, light pieces on the light side.  Like this:
Fancy yes?  I explained to my girls how it worked then helped them (a vary little bit) sort their very full hamper of dirty clothes.  They had that basket of laundry properly sorted in less than 5 minutes. 

I can't even tell you how much time this has saved me.  Instead of sorting through a large basket attempting to get every piece of whatever load of laundry I'm trying to do, I just grab what's in the designated bag and pop it in the washer.  Yes, there is an occasional stray piece in the wrong bag, but considering that they are 3 & 6, that's really not bad.  Plus, it would help younger children learn their colors and it has helped my children to become more familiar with shades of color.  Also deductive reasoning since I no longer tell them which basket it goes in.  It's educational laundry!

Next up is the laundry bins.  I bought each girl a dish washing bin like you would use camping.  Remember camping?  Anyway, as I fold their clothes each week (when that happens) I put those lovely clean clothes into their bin, carry it into their room and politely invite them to put away their own laundry.  Yes, my girls put away their own laundry.  And my Lolly girl folds both her panties and socks.  Then puts them away.  Wish you were me yet?  Because you totally should.

And finally...this is a tip that I've read a time or two and decided to give it a whirl.  Use half of the recommended amount of laundry detergent for washing your clothing.  Now, the first time I tried it I just happen to have a head cold so I wouldn't have been able to tell if the laundry smelled funky and I don't really recommend that.  But even after the cold cleared the laundry didn't smell funky.  Still doesn't.  The only time I use the full amount is if I'm soaking something overnight.  Or if throw-up is involved.  Such a simple thing and it essentially doubles the length that my laundry soap lasts.  And with as much laundry as I do around here, that really adds up fast.

So, now it's your turn.  What are your laundry tips and tricks? 

5 comments:

Messy Musings said...

My laundry tip is... if you run out of clean clothes, that is an invitation to go shopping!!

Jessica G. said...

I have a saying on the wall of my laundry room that says "Love is...having clean underwear." So it's a little bit of a guilt trip, getting me to do the laundry to show that I really do kinda like those people that came out of my womb. (and the one that put them there.)

hairyshoefairy said...

That sorting idea is brilliant! I think I need to try it. I do the laundry soap thing, too, and we don't usually stink. At least I don't think we do. I also have no other bits of laundry wisdom but I liked reading yours.

Emily said...

I love Messy Musings advice! Totally how I would do things! And the sorting idea is brilliant. I've had my girls doing their laundry since they were about 7 and 9; 3 and 6 is impressive!

Kristina P. said...

You are a laundry Goddess.

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