Laundry Without the Overwhelm: 10 Realistic Ways to Stay on Top of It!

Laundry! Does the cycle ever end? I'm going to say no!

Let's face it, even if you washed every single piece of dirty laundry in your home AND put it away, there's still reality of the clothing you are wearing that will soon become dirty laundry.

The cycle just keeps going!

With the right system, you can stay ahead of the piles and keep things running smoothly. Keep reading for practical tips... And if you want to know how I handle laundry, read through to the bottom of this post.

Here are 10 realistic tips to make laundry feel less overwhelming:

1. Assign a Laundry Day (or Two)

Rather than tackling it all at once, dedicate certain days to specific loads - like towels on Tuesday, kids' clothes on Thursdays, etc. While I personally don't implement this strategy, it definitely has benefits in helping to stay on top of the laundry.

2. One Load a Day Keeps the Chaos Away

If your household generates a lot of laundry, doing one load daily (start to finish!) prevents weekend pileups. For us, it is 2 loads! One load of towels and one load of clothes. Keeping up with washing daily is much less intimidating than the Mount Everest sized pile that could accumulate!

3. Sort as You Go

Use divided hampers for whites, darks, and delicates so sorting is done before wash time. This strategy not only cuts down on time spent sorting when it's time to wash, but it also keeps items such as wet towels from sitting in a hamper with clothes.

4. Set a Timer for Switching Loads

Avoid musty, forgotten laundry by setting a phone reminder to move it to the dryer ASAP. I have definitely fallen into the trap of forgetting about a load of laundry, only to discover the entire load soured or mildewed. UGGGGG! So aggravating!

5. Fold Immediately (Yes, Really!)

Folding straight from the dryer or drying rack saves time and prevents wrinkles (and the dreaded "laundry chair").  I started doing this in the past year or so and it has truly been transformative! I always dreaded folding laundry because I had soooo much to fold. When I fold it as it dries, it does not feel so daunting.

6. Keep Baskets in Every Bedroom/Bathroom

Make it easy for everyone to toss in their clothes - no more random socks on the floor. I like to keep a hamper in each bathroom to collect laundry. The hampers I use can easily be carried to the laundry room for sorting and washing.

7. Make It a Family Effort

Even young kids can help! Assign simple tasks like sorting socks or putting their folded clothes away. I love this suggestion - teaching children responsibility will benefit them long term. Children thrive when they learn how to help around the house and they begin to take real ownership in their assigned chores. I dislike sorting and matching socks, so that is a perfect job to assign to someone else!

8. Use a Laundry "Staging Area"

A small folding station or dedicated spot for clean clothes prevents them from migrating to random surfaces. If you are able to have a countertop or folding table in or near the laundry room it can be so beneficial. As my children got older, I stopped putting away their clothes for them. Instead, I would fold and sort everyone's clothes and leave them in sorted piles in the laundry room. Each person was then responsible to gather their pile and put their clothes away.

9. Simplify With Fewer Clothes

Less clothing = less laundry. If your drawers are overflowing consider decluttering. This is always a winner in my book! The simpler you can keep it the better!

10. Build Laundry Into Your Routine

Pair it with something else - like starting a load before work or folding while watching your favorite show. If remembering to complete laundry is a struggle for you, cluster the habit of laundry with a habit you already have established. In the example below of how I stay on top of laundry, you will notice that I pair starting laundry with my morning routine.

Curious to know how I stay on top of laundry?

First, let me say that I'm, not always on top of it! Life happens sometimes. I also have to say, that I have a wonderful husband who is happy to start a load or switch over a load.

But the way that I typically manage, is to wash 1 or 2 loads per day. We almost always have one load of towels and one load of dark clothes waiting to be washed. I will often start a load of towels first thing in the morning. While I am having coffee and getting dressed that load completes washing and I can swap over to the dryer. The dryer typically finishes just as we are leaving for the day.

Later when we get home, I will start the load of dark clothes and fold the load of towels. Before the evening is over, I will have dried the dark clothes and folded them.

The system for dirty clothes in our house is: each bathroom has a laundry hamper for dirty items. When I am ready to wash laundry, I bring the hampers to the laundry room and sort them, then return the empty hampers to the bathrooms.

The key is to figure out which systems work best for you and your family.

Need help developing systems that work for you and your family? Or just need a fresh start?

As a Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organization Coach, I am equipped and ready to help you solve your laundry dilemmas! Complete the contact form linked below and I'll take it from there!

Let's get started!