Getting Back into the Laundry Habit in the New Year

So we are two months into the new year!!  I had made a few New Year’s Resolutions this year and one of them is a little out of the norm from the typical lose weight/get healthy resolutions.  My #1 Resolution is to – STAY ON TOP OF MY LAUNDRY.  I used to be so so good about it – then I became a mom…. and life got busy.  The five of us produce a lot of laundry and with the laundry room upstairs and usually out of sight until it is too late – I am always way behind (like mountains of clothes embarrassing behind).  The thing is – once it became out of control we found ourselves every morning digging through a mountain of clean but wrinkled laundry searching for something to wear.  We constantly had to throw clothes in the dryer to un-wrinkle them.  And one night I even found myself buying everyone pajamas just so I didn’t have to dig through that pile.

Enough was enough!  Over the holidays my mom was in town and helped me get caught up.  We also came up with a plan so I could stay caught up.  I thought just maybe…. some of you may be like me, so here are my five steps to live by in 2018 to stay on top of my laundry.

1. Do one load of laundry a day.  No matter what – even if it seems “small.”  You have to form a habit.  Throw a load in the washer in the morning, move it to the dryer at lunch or after work, and put it away at night.  One load is so much easier to manage than “the mountain”.
2. Doing that one load of laundry a day includes PUTTING IT AWAY!  This was always my downfall.  The clothes would be clean and dry, but then I would just shove them into a laundry basket saying I would get to it later.  And it would pile and pile.  Especially the stuff that had to get hung.  Now I grab all of the pieces that need to be hung and hang them one by one immediately (I think of it as getting my exercise).  I know if I create that pile, I will never get to it and it will seem insurmountable as it gets bigger and bigger.  I also have been getting the kids involved.  It shouldn’t always be on me.  We play a game to see who can put away their clothes the fastest.  I’ve learned the clothes don’t need to be put away “perfect”, they just need to get to where we can actually see them!
3. Keep everyone safe during your laundry routine. I mentioned I love to use Tide PODS for ease and I encourage you to give them a try too. Tide PODS and Gain Flings have special packaging on all of their products to deter children from accessing laundry pacs, including the Child-Guard Zipper (requires engaging a notch to open the bag) and Child-Guard Tub on containers (requires squeezing and turning the lid to open, much like a child-proof medicine bottle). While these innovations do a great job in keeping children away from the pacs, it’s important to properly store laundry pacs keeping the containers closed and up high on a shelf away from a child’s reach – just as you would with dozens of other household products.
4. Separate in a laundry divider right by the laundry room.  Not in hampers in everyone’s room.  This way when you do your one load a day you can already see which type of clothing needs to get done first.  We divide by lights, darks, reds, and towels in our house.
5. Use great laundry products that you can get excited about.  I love to use Tide PODS (just throw one or two in and you are done – no measuring), Downy Liquid Fabric Softener, and Downy Fresh Protect (keeps your clothes smelling great).

I hope these tips help you to get into a “healthy” laundry habit this year!

I am a member of the P&G Fabric Care Advisory Board.  All opinions are my own.

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