This post is sponsored by Persil ProClean, now available at Target!
Laundry is the one chore we have always struggled to stay on top of. Okay, I dreaded it. Since our laundry room renovation, (check out the before and afters here!) the functionality of the space has improved 10 fold. But this year, I made it a goal of mine to not only get it done, but learn to enjoy it. If I can love vacuuming, or a freshly scrubbed sink, or cleared counters–surely I can learn to love laundry, too? My mom, on the other hand, absolutely adores laundry. It’s her favorite job and surely that gene is somewhere in me. When I shared with her my goal, she shared with me her two laundry-changing tips that helped her become a laundry queen and they are slowly helping me achieve my goal.
TIP #1: Wash clothes by type
For most people (me included) it’s not the act of doing laundry that we dread necessarily, it’s the part of that requires getting the clothes from the dryer to their appropriate places in the house; in the right room, in the right drawer, on a hanger–why is this so hard?! Years ago, my mom said she started doing loads by type of clothes instead of only by color. She washes all the shirts together. All the pants together. All the towels together. All the underwear at the same time, etc. I recently started implementing this technique and I can attest it makes the whole process go so much faster. It feels painless to fold all the towels, without sorting through a whole bunch of other things. Or to hang up a load of purely shirts. I’m sold!
TIP #2:Â Do a load every day (or so)
I resisted this tip from my mom for a long time, because why would I want to do something more often that I don’t like to do very much at all? But, she was right…again. It actually took way less time overall for us to throw one load in every day, then to do laundry all day on any given day of the week. I really like to throw a load in the wash after dinner (usually while the girls are taking their bath), and then put it in the dryer right before bed. (Make sure you set a reminder or turn on your washer’s end of cycle alarm so you don’t forget!) Putting the clothes away is my first morning chore and it takes less than 10 minutes. The only exception is Saturdays, when the only load I do is sheets/bed linens first thing in the morning. For me, this schedule makes me feel like I’m barely doing laundry at all and if there’s something, in particular, that someone wants to wear the next day, it requires no extra loads. :)
Going along with the first tip, my laundry schedule looks like this:
Lastly, when Persil ProClean asked us if we’d be interested in partnering on a post with them, I was so excited because not only do I finally feel that at 31, I’m finally getting the hang of the laundry thing, but Persil is the detergent my dear mother always uses and she got me hooked on this year. “Use a detergent that you can still smell on the clothes a week later, it’s so much more motivating.” She was so right. Not only does it smell amazing, it’s stain-fighting, whitening, brightening, anti-graying, clean rinsing and works wonders in cold water. Our clothes are cleaner and brighter, but also smell so fresh much longer! As it turns out, the smell of clean laundry on the daily, and bite-sized loads of laundry really do make the once-dreaded chore not so bad..enjoyable even? If you prefer scentless, the white Sensitive Skin formula is perfume free!
Any additional laundry tips to share from your household??
Thanks to Persil ProClean for sponsoring this post. You can now pick up Persil ProClean at Target! We even got a $5 Target gift card with our last purchase of our beloved Power-Caps and Power-Liquid, which was another motivating bonus.Â
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Never mind, just found the answer in another comment!
This sounds like such a little thing, but I do my best to turn clothes – especially socks – right side out when I’m removing them and putting in the hamper. No inside out socks! It’s quick to do one by one, but super annoying to flip 20+ socks and shirts back right side out when it’s folding time. (I’m single, no kids, so totally in control of all the laundry.)
Love your tips. Last week, I tried loading the washing machine according to your plan, and it seems to work great for me. IT IS much easier, indeed. bThank you for the great idea!
Isn’t it hard to separate the laundry that way?I divide the laundry by color and fabric, and the frequency of washing depends on the number of clothes.