Before having kids, laundry was just one of those annoying chores that could quickly pile up until we absolutely had to do it. Then, after having one child and then another, laundry turned into a task that we had to do much more frequently. That’s why I created our laundry schedule.
One of the most significant benefits of having a laundry schedule, especially as a family of four, is that it helps me stay on top of things. Instead of letting dirty clothes pile up for days or even weeks, I can set aside specific times to do laundry and ensure it gets done regularly.
Another advantage of sticking to a laundry routine is that it can help reduce stress and make life easier overall.
When I know exactly when I will do laundry and have a plan in place, I don’t have to worry about someone running out of clean clothes. Not to mention, your home will feel more uncluttered and organized.
Keeping up with laundry can be a real pain, but it’s a necessary chore that we all have to do. Whether you live alone or with family, having a laundry schedule can make all the difference in keeping a clean and organized home.
In this article, you’ll find out how to make the perfect laundry schedule for your household, alongside some great tips and a free printable!
Let’s get started!
Note: Remember to grab the free laundry schedule printable at the end of this post! 🙂
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When making your laundry schedule, you might not know where to start. That’s why it can be beneficial to see another family’s schedule to get you started. Here is how I structure our family laundry schedule:
While some might view Monday as the start of the week, I start our laundry schedule on Sunday. Sunday is often our “reset” day, where we catch up on chores and get out home ready for the work week.
Because bedding can sometimes take longer to dry in our dryer, I like to wash and dry it on Sundays. We typically don’t leave the house too much on Sunday, so it gives me a little more time to ensure everything gets dried before bedtime.
Next up is Monday, which is when I wash my and my husband’s darker clothing. I like to separate the darker-colored clothing and towels from the light to keep the lights from getting dingy.
To make this part of my laundry routine easier, I use two dirty clothes hampers for my husband and me; one for dark clothes and one for lights. Having the clothes separated before laundry day makes it super easy to get the washer started quickly.
After the dark clothes come the light/white clothes and towels on Tuesday. We typically have less lighter clothing than dark, which means Tuesday is a quicker laundry day.
Because I usually have less laundry on Tuesday, it can also be a catch-up/extra day. For example, if I need to wash something outside of our regular laundry, like couch blankets or bathroom rugs, I can do it on Tuesday.
Next up on our laundry schedule is kids’ clothes. Breaking up the kids’ laundry into two days can be beneficial to ensure you have plenty of time to wash, dry, and fold the clothes on the same day. (Below are more tips on getting the clothes dried and folded on the same day!)
Also, I don’t assign a particular child a specific laundry day. I find it more helpful to decide who needs their laundry done sooner and wash their clothes on Wednesday.
On Thursday, I wash the next set of kids’ clothes. If needed, I catch up on folding the kids’ clothes I washed the day before.
Alternatively, you can wash and dry both children’s clothes on Wednesday and take Thursday to fold and put them away.
This method can give you a break from running the washing machine and dryer. But depending on the age of your children and how much clothing they go through, the folding process might seem more overwhelming.
As you already know, life with kids sometimes goes differently than planned. That’s why I like having a catch-up day to either wash or fold whatever I still need to get done from earlier in the week.
Also, if you have things you don’t wash weekly, like curtains, bathroom rugs, or cleaning rags, you can wash and fold them on this catch-up day.
And the best part of a catch-up day? If you were able to stay on top of your laundry schedule all week, you now have a free day where you don’t have to even think about laundry.
Finally, the last day of our laundry schedule is a free day. Saturdays are usually our fun days, and we typically try to get out of the house for fun activities as a family. The last thing I want to do on a fun Saturday is laundry.
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Now, every family has different laundry needs. What works for my family might not work for your family! Next, let’s get into some frequently asked questions and tips to help you make a personalized laundry schedule.
I know creating a laundry schedule can sound daunting. Doing laundry every day sounds like a bit much! And how are you supposed to get it all done?
But with the following tips, you’ll quickly realize that a laundry schedule will help simplify this hefty chore. You’ll be able to get the laundry done, from start to finish, daily. Here’s how:
One of the first things I do in my morning routine is start a load of laundry. Getting the washer started first helps prevent me from forgetting and letting hours go by before I remember there’s laundry that needs to be washed.
To help me remember my routine, I always start the washer once I get out of the shower. Starting the laundry at the same time each day makes it more of a habit, and I’m less likely to forget it.
Alternatively, if your washer has a delay start option, consider using it! With a delayed start, you put your laundry and soap/fabric softener in the washer, typically the night before.
Then, you select the delayed start option, enter how many hours you want the washer to wait before starting, and turn it on.
So, for example, you can get the washer set and ready to go around 8 pm, set it to wait 10 hours, and then your washer will start at 6 am. Then when you wake up, all you have to do is put the wet clothes in the dryer, and you’re all done!
Like starting your washer after waking up, you’ll want to move the laundry to the dryer around the same time every day to help you remember to do it. For me, that time is after breakfast when the kiddos are getting dressed and ready for the day.
Now, if switching laundry to the dryer after breakfast is too early, ensure you choose a time that you’ll remember. You may have more time before morning snack time or lunch.
Whatever you choose, remember to time it not long after the washer is finished to prevent your clothes from sitting wet for too long.
One of the most crucial parts of having a laundry schedule or routine is that the clothes must be put away on the same day they are washed!
When you do laundry every day, it’s so easy to create mountains of clean clothes that never get put away and instead become wrinkly and searched through every morning.
One easy way to stay on top of folding and putting away laundry is to, you guessed it, make it part of your daily routine.
For my family, that time is after dinner. Once we have all finished dinner, we quickly pick up our most used rooms, so it’s easy for us to also fold and put away the clean laundry quickly.
Also, don’t feel like you have to do this alone! Enlist your family to help put away their own clothes. You can encourage younger kids to help by making this mundane chore into a fun game. Even setting a timer and seeing who can fold the quickest can be fun!
When creating your laundry schedule, start by picking the days that work best with your family’s schedule. Block out any days when you’re typically gone, as I did above on Saturdays.
Next, you’re ready to brainstorm what you wash most regularly. For instance, common laundry categories are colors, lights/whites, towels, sheets/bedding, kids’ clothes, etc. Once you have the categories you need to wash most frequently, you can assign them to a specific day, and you’re ready to go!
Nope! If you can easily double up some categories and accomplish it all in one day rather than spreading it out throughout a few, go ahead!
What’s most important is that you can manage your laundry schedule and can consistently get it all done so it doesn’t pile up.
When it comes to doing laundry, there are a lot of factors to consider. The amount of laundry can quickly pile up for a family of four, but how often should they do it? The answer to this question really depends on a few different things.
First, it depends on how many clothes each person in the family has. If everyone has a lot of clothes to wear, they can go longer between laundry days. On the other hand, if everyone has a smaller wardrobe, they may need to do laundry more frequently.
Another factor to consider is how active each person in the family is. If someone is playing sports or working out every day, they may need to change their clothes more often and therefore do laundry more frequently.
Similarly, if someone in the family has a job requiring them to wear a uniform, they may also need to do laundry more often.
Generally speaking, most families of four have to do laundry at least twice a week, at a minimum. However, depending on the factors mentioned above, they may need to do it more frequently than that. It’s essential to pay attention to the amount of accumulated laundry and adjust accordingly.
To help you simplify your laundry routine, I’ve made a free laundry schedule printable for you! Simply print out the schedule, fill in the days with what you need to wash, and hang it in a place where it will remind you!
And there you have it; the perfect laundry schedule for a family of four. Making and sticking to a laundry schedule is a simple yet effective way to keep your home clean, your clothes in good condition, and your life running smoothly.
By taking a little time to plan ahead and stay organized, you can enjoy the benefits of a well-managed laundry schedule without the stress and hassle.
Do you have a laundry schedule, and does it help you stay better organized? I would love to know in the comments below!
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