Episode 177: Laundry Sucks…Do THIS Instead
For the Busy Mommas…
We had a good, long conversation about this one...
We decided that not losing your ever-loving mind over laundry requires 3 things...
Make it better for you.
You don’t need a better system; you just need to simplify.
Get your people to help you.
Make it Better for YOU (01:20)
I am big on mindset (and Britt is too). Your mindset will never make your laundry disappear, but you can choose how you choose to look at the laundry pile. You have kids who wear clothes, you have kids with feet, and you can choose to be grateful for that.
Changing your expectations is also important. If all you think is, “Laundry will never end; I hate it,” how does that settle into your body? Laundry is cyclical. It will never be totally “done,” but it will move from stage to stage.
Training our brains to look for the good will encourage them to look for it more often.
Another way to make it good for you is to make it fun and enjoyable. Listen to your favorite audiobook or music. Watch your favorite show. Find a way to reward yourself! A hot cup of coffee, a delicious cup of tea, or that chocolate you’ve hidden in the pantry will also do the trick!
More practically, find a laundry detergent you love. I use Truly Free Home (NOT an affiliate link), and it checks all my laundry boxes!
FYI, there are drill attachments with brushes that can clean your bathroom (now you know).
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify (08:40)
You don’t need a better system; you need to simplify.
I think there are moms out there who don’t know this…let the machine work while you work. If you start the washer in the morning, you can move on to other things. Then, when it’s done, sort it right away (consider using a timer).
Stop folding. That’s it! If you’re trying to fold everything and it’s making you crazy, just stop. When Britt had four kids, five and under, and she was pregnant, she was exhausted. There were kids at school and kids at home, and she was always sifting through the laundry basket, and she had enough.
It occurred to her that if she was already pulling clothes from the basket, why not just put them into bins for each kid? Then, she taught the kids to sort their clothes into bins according to clothing type.
In my house (with older kids), we’ve taken this to the next logical step. Each kid has a basket, and when it’s full, they put their clothes in the wash, move them to the dryer, put them back in the basket, and bring them to their room!
Capsules…minimizing what you have…simplifying down to only the clothes you need…will save you so much time. Here’s how you start.
Simplifying MUST happen first to reduce the overwhelm. This can mean choosing between a “good” and a “good.”
Practical capsules for big families. In Britt’s family, this looks like enough clothes for 10 days.
Purging and knowing exactly what you have on hand. It’s great to have tons of extra clothing, but it’s also overwhelming for you and your kid. When you purge, ask yourself what you need for the coming season and only keep what you’ll actually use.
Only buy what you need (and it’s easy to know exactly what you need when you’ve purged and you’re aware of what you have).
Shopping with a plan (this will help you have what you need when you need it).
Get Your People to Help (18:00)
Start small, with one kid. Train them for one week (motherhood is front-loaded). They will need consistent direction and will require time and attention early on. You're going to have to repeat yourself 100x times more than you think, and it's not because they don't care—they're just kids.
When you choose your one kid, be careful with kid choice. Consider their personalities and your capacity, and then commit.
Ages and stages
2-4 Years: Help sorting into buckets, putting things away (our hand towel drawer is down low), folding small family linens (wash clothes, hand towels...), or matching socks (unless you're smart like Britt and you get all the same socks).
5-8 Years: Sorting, putting things away, or folding small linens (towels & down).
9+ Years: Sorting, putting away, folding all family linens, or running the washer & dryer through cycles (use a timer).
Side Notes:
get a timer
kids can start sooner depending on maturity
The Sanity Saving Capsules for Kids are in our shop. They include summer and winter wardrobe templates and quick, concise help that won't leave you overwhelmed and crying over too much or too little laundry.
And beautiful mommas, never forget…
YOU are doing beautiful work!
