Tuesday, October 20, 2009

dirty laundry

With a month and a half under our belts in the new school year, I think it's safe to say that we've fallen into a pretty comfortable routine. I don't think much has drastically changed from before kindergarten. Since the evening is a bit more rushed because we're home a few minutes later and E has homework (even if it is "Name all the colors you can find in your room. Which one is your favorite?"), I am trying to streamline dinner by pre-prepping ingredients (like chopping veggies) beforehand.

But the bane of my existence? Laundry.

Even with the higher capacity of our fancy schmancy front-loader, we generate at least 5 freaking loads a week here. And my current method of attack is to do them all on Sunday. That way, all the laundry gets DONE -- washed, dried, folded and put away. The downside to this is that I'm basically doing laundry all day long. Which kind of sucks.

But if I try and spread it out over the week, things go amok. First of all, the fancy schmancy front loader takes for-evah for a cycle. To wash and dry a load of clothes can take 2 hours. Since I get up early to exercise, I try to make it to bed by 10. So I kind of get bitter if I'm up waiting for our clothes to dry when I could be sleeping. Also? The laundry then just ends up sitting on top of our dryer for a week since I can't really put away the kids' stuff, seeing as their rooms are dark and I don't want to wake them.

So, tell me folks. How do you handle your laundry? And how much does your family generate? Any tips or tricks you'd like to share?

8 comments:

Deep in the Heart said...

My problem is that my husband has turned into an OCD freak and must do at least 1 load of laundry a day. He washes and I put away. Sometimes I just don't want to see a pile of clean laundry waiting for me when I get home.

As far as how many loads do we generate...like I said he does laundry every fricking day, so at least 7 a week. Now that means he must wash the sheets and towels more than once a week. He's crazy I tell you!

I'm with you on the slow wash cycles on those models. We've switched to the Express Wash mode - 28 minutes, baby.

Slacker Mama said...

That's too funny.

If anything, my OCD is the exact opposite -- I need *all* the laundry done at once. It makes me crazy when I see a nightgown or socks that didn't make it into the hamper after I just threw in the last load. So a one-a-day approach would be a no-go here.

Unless, of course, John miraculously figured out how to use the washer...

JerseyBaby said...

Oh my goodness, you've totally inspired me to do a Laundry post as it is my favorite household chore. More to come!

Marty said...

Make John learn how!

Steel Magnolia said...

I'm a load a day girl...although I end up having loads on top of the washer and dryer as well. Yesterday, I was three days behind and folded 3 loads of laundry. It really is neverending! I actually have a neighbor that *pays* someone to wash, dry and fold all of her laundry....seems a bit excessive!

AJ's Mom said...

I try to spread it out during the week. Monday, for example, is AJ laundry day. Wednesday is M & D laundry day. (It helps that I don't work on those days!) I usually end up doing AJ's laundry again on the weekend too. (The girl can certainly go through some outfits. Can't wait until she gets out of the "explosive poop" phase!) We generate about 4 loads per week.

Can E and A fold laundry yet? I bet you can't wait until they can!

Can't wait to see you this weekend!

Kiki

Queen Mommy said...

Buy new clothes?

I do about 8 loads a week. More if I am doing all the sheets. I only change the girls sheets every other week, or when necessary (like this morning after a too full pull up). I don't mind collecting, washing, hanging, folding, etc. But I really just can't stand putting away. If I had a wish, I would have a dressing room (like the duggars) where I just put all the girls clothes on hangers by size.

Megan said...

One of my "secrets" is that the kids clothes don't get folded. Yep, I just throw them (try to lay them) in their drawer). As I'm doing Laundry, their clothes just go back in one big hamper. Up to the room at the end of the big laundry session and it seems to save a bit of time. I sort THAT basket while the kids are in the bath and I can see them from the bedroom :)