Thanks to Springfield Moms contributor Amy Peterson for inspiring us to move our kids to the next step of self-sufficiency – doing the laundry!
Amy writes: “If you have kids, you know that the laundry does not stop coming … ever. Getting organized in the laundry department (especially as summer approaches) should be a top priority!”
If you have kids who are 12 and older, give them a gift this year! Their very own laundry basket. I have taught my kids to do their own laundry. It takes a little effort at first – but the pay off is well worth it. I have tried to explain the concept of sorting to my boys – but they seem to prefer to jam as much as possible in the wash to save time. However, my oldest learned the hard way when he washed his red jacket with his whites & ended up with several pink shirts.
I was really excited when I found an inexpensive fabric laundry organizer for their rooms. It says “Lights” and “Darks” on it. This has helped them manage their laundry a lot better.
All of my kids fold their laundry and put it away. I think any child over the age of four can easily do this (with some instruction and assistance). When my kids were younger, I had labels with pictures on baskets for socks, underwear etc. so they could put items away in the right place (I love to use clip art). As a result, they all seem to keep their closets really neat and organized.
Now for the laundry room itself – whether you have a gorgeous laundry room or a washer and dryer in an old dungeon like myself – you need to be organized. If you check out my Pinterest page, you can see tons of photos of shelves & racks that hold laundry baskets. There are lots of options out there to meet the needs of every family.
I have a cabinet with my supplies. I have an inexpensive 3 bin sorter for “whites,” “lights” and “darks.” I have 2 baskets on the shelf my husband built designated for “linens” and “reds.” My children, up until age 12, bring their laundry downstairs and sort into the appropriate bins. I usually do a load of laundry based on which bin is the fullest! I used to try to do laundry on certain days but that did not work due to my sporadic schedule. Someone who has the same work schedule etc. each week might be able to stick with a set laundry schedule.So whether you do your own laundry on a certain day – have your children do their own laundry or are trying to figure out how to get out from underneath all the dirty laundry – there are tons of options!
Submitted by Springfield Moms reader and professional organizer Amy Peterson.
