This Week’s Tip Sheet: The Laundry Room

Hello, beautiful friends and welcome to week 14 of the Simplified and Organized Home Challenge.

This week we’re simplifying our laundry routines and decluttering, organizing and refreshing the laundry room.

Laundry is one of those housekeeping tasks that can be frustrating because dirty items are constantly generated and the minute you feel caught up one day, there’s another pile waiting for you the next.

One of the things that really helps is doing one load of laundry each day and giving each day its own laundry task.

For example:

• Monday-Whites
• Tuesday-Darks
• Wednesday-Sheets and Towels
• Thursday-Pet Laundry
• Friday-Handwash Items and Catch Up Items

It also helps to set your laundry room up in a way that makes doing laundry as easy as possible.

That way, you’re not spending time searching for soap, special cleaners or hangers.

So, as you’re folding your laundry this week, think about what you can do to make the process even 5% more enjoyable.

It might be as simple as creating a new schedule, hanging fresh art, restocking your favorite laundry scent, getting a new rug or laundry baskets.

Now, on to this week’s Tip Sheet!

This Week’s Tip Sheet…

Quote of the Week:

“Life is a matter of choices and every choice you make, makes you.” ~ John C. Maxwell

This Week’s Big To-Do’s:

• Declutter/Organize and Refresh the Laundry Room
• Reassess Daily/Weekly Laundry Routine
• Commemorate National Self Care Day 
• Order Easter Basket Supplies

This Week’s Tidy Tips:

• Sort and read labels before you wash, it helps save time
• Remember to pretreat items before placing them in the washer
• Handwash delicate fabrics
• Build a dry cleaning drop off day into your weekly routine
• Create a laundry routine by assigning each member of your family their own laundry day. Remember to include a sheets and towel day and a day for pet items as well.
• Ask your family to help with the laundry in ways that are age appropriate. It will help them learn new skills, be responsible, and teach them to tidy up. It also helps with communication skills. Especially, if an item needs to be pretreated or handled in a specific way.
• Add items to the washing machine the night before. That way, you can either choose the delay start option on your machine and run a load an hour before your alarm goes off or start a load as part of your morning routine. Change the clothes over to the dryer before you grab your morning coffee or tea. Then they’ll be ready to fold and put away by the time you’re dressed and ready to start the day.
• A load of laundry means wash, dry, fold or hang and put away. So, consider how much time you have to manage each task before you get started.
• Give yourself a designated spot for folding laundry such as a table or a folding station. Keep the surface neat and tidy so it will be ready to use when you are.
• Consider stocking up on items you truly love so putting laundry away is as easy as possible. My Dad has worn the same brand of white tee shirts for decades and one of my girlfriends buys her little boys the same black socks so she’s not stuck sorting and hunting multiples styles, colors or sizes.
• Always remember one load a day might not seem like much, but every load completed means you’re making progress.
• Keep your laundry room neat and tidy. It will help motivate you to use the space more.
• Using laundry products you love might sound obvious, but it’s another small thing that goes a long way…think hopping into a bed with freshly laundered sheets that smell amazing.

This Week’s Wellness Tips:

Laundry feels like one of those never-ending tasks.

So, find a way to make it enjoyable.

Create a laundry day playlist, listen to a podcast or a book, explore affirmations or a meditation app, put a Nancy Meyers movie on in the background and find a way to reward yourself when you’re finished.

That way, you’ll be motivated to get the laundry done and you’ll have something to look forward to.

As always, I hope these tips have helped!

Cheering you on as you find joy in the little things,

CoCo

PS: You can find last week’s Tip Sheet here if you missed it.