Laundry Tips for Large Families: How to Manage the Pile

 For large families, laundry can seem like a never-ending task. With multiple people’s clothes, linens, and towels to wash, it’s easy for the laundry pile to get out of control. But with some efficient strategies, you can streamline the process and stay on top of the laundry load.

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1. Set a Laundry Schedule

A consistent schedule can help prevent laundry from piling up:

• Assign specific days to wash certain types of laundry. For example, dedicate Mondays for towels, Wednesdays for bedding, and daily loads for clothes.
• Rotate laundry tasks among family members, especially older children, to share the workload.

2. Sort Laundry Daily

Sorting as you go saves time:

• Keep multiple laundry hampers for whites, darks, delicates, and linens so clothes are pre-sorted and ready to wash.
• Teach family members to sort their own laundry into the correct hampers to streamline the process.

3. Use Larger Capacity Appliances

If your family generates a lot of laundry, consider investing in appliances that can handle the load:

• Large capacity washers and dryers reduce the number of loads you need to do, saving time, energy, and water.
• If your current machines are smaller, run back-to-back loads to stay efficient.

4. Pre-Treat Stains Immediately

To prevent stains from setting and creating more work later:

• Pre-treat stains as soon as possible by keeping a stain remover spray or pen handy in the laundry room or bathroom.
• Soak heavily soiled items in a mix of water and baking soda or laundry detergent before washing to make cleaning easier.

5. Create a Laundry Folding Station

Designate a space for folding and organizing clean laundry:

• Set up a folding station near your laundry area where clean clothes can be quickly folded and sorted.
• Use baskets labeled by family member so folded clothes can be distributed easily without cluttering up your space.

6. Wash One Load Per Day

Washing one load every day can keep the pile manageable:

• Instead of waiting for laundry to pile up, aim to complete at least one load a day, including drying, folding, and putting away.
• Make it a habit to start a load in the morning and finish it by evening to avoid backlog.

7. Delegate Laundry Chores

Laundry shouldn’t fall on one person:

• Assign age-appropriate tasks to each family member, such as sorting clothes, folding, or putting items away.
• Teach older kids how to operate the washer and dryer, and make laundry part of their weekly chores.

8. Use Time-Saving Short Cycles

Save time by using shorter wash and dry cycles:

• For lightly soiled clothes, use the quick wash cycle to save water and energy.
• Take advantage of the express dry setting to speed up drying time for smaller loads.

9. Multi-Task Laundry Time

While waiting for laundry to finish, use the time to tackle other household tasks:

• Fold laundry while catching up on your favorite show or podcast.
• Set a timer to remind you when a load is finished to avoid leaving clothes in the washer too long, which can lead to mildew and extra ironing.

10. Rotate and Label Kids’ Clothes

If you have multiple kids, it can be helpful to rotate and label clothes:

• Rotate outgrown clothes between siblings and label them with initials to keep track of whose is whose.
• Consider using a **

hand-me-down system** to pass clothes between siblings, reducing the need for new purchases and laundry loads.

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11. Use Laundry Baskets Strategically

Keep laundry baskets organized to avoid clutter:

• Place laundry baskets in high-traffic areas like bedrooms and bathrooms so dirty clothes aren’t scattered everywhere.
• Use color-coded baskets for each family member to make sorting and putting away clothes easier.

12. Streamline Bedding Changes

Washing bedding for a large family can be a challenge:

• Rotate sheets and pillowcases, and wash bedding in batches to avoid overwhelming laundry days.
• If you have enough storage, keep extra sets of sheets for quick bed changes without having to do laundry immediately.

13. Embrace the Fold-and-Put-Away Routine

To keep clothes from piling up after washing:

• Fold clothes immediately after drying to avoid wrinkling and clutter.
• Assign each family member the task of putting away their own clothes as soon as they’re folded.

14. Opt for Easy-Care Clothing

Minimize special care items to save time:

• Choose machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant fabrics for everyday wear to avoid the hassle of hand washing or ironing.
• Limit delicate fabrics that require extra care to special occasions.

15. Make Laundry Time Fun

Turn laundry into a family activity:

• Play music, listen to audiobooks, or make it a competition to see who can fold the fastest.
• Involve younger kids by teaching them to match socks or fold small items, making it a team effort.

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By implementing these tips, large families can manage their laundry more efficiently, avoid overwhelming laundry days, and keep the laundry cycle running smoothly throughout the week.