Healthy Habit #6-Set Up An Efficient Laundry System!

The final challenge for the week is and organizational one!  I challenge you to set up your laundry system-not do the laundry today-haha-but set it up!

There is mainly one good reason for having a system and that is to relieve stress!  Of corse, you will have clean clothes handy all the time, but baskets of dirty laundry and piles of folded clothes all over are all ery stress inducing.  Some of you may be on tip or the laundry already-and if that is the case-please share your system-it may inspire someone else!  I am horrible at keeping up with the laundry!!  So here are some tips:

Determine the laundry needs of your family.  Generally if you wash 5 loads or less you can manage a 1 day a week routine, although I find more than 2 loads a day too much for me.  If you are washing more than 5 loads or if you prefer, you can set up an AM and PM laundry routine.  Be sure you are equipped and ready to be efficient!  This includes hampers in each bedroom and/or bathroom.  Hampers with dividers to sort as you throw in will save you time in the laundry room!  Have a separate basket or bag for dry cleaning items and designate a day to go to the dry cleaners-our day is wednesday because our dry cleaner has a discount that day:)

Helpful Laundry tips:
Be sure your laundry room is bright and easy to clean.  Hand some framed pics and bring a CD player in to make it more inviting. ( I am definitely doing this-mine is so dingy since it's in the basement!)  Have a space for detergent, spot remover, fabric softener, a mending kit, laundry baskets, hangers and a drying rack in your laundry room.  A tooth brush and some shampoo is cheaper than stain removers and works just as well.  All laundry detergent works best in warm water and clothes wash better when water can circulate through them so don't over-load.  Checking labels when you purchase clothes to be sure they are easy to clean will also keep laundry day easier.  Sheets are recommended to be washed once a week in hot water and dried on high heat to eliminate dust mites.  The dryer will take less time and your clothes will be less wrinkly if you don't over-load that as well!  Eliminate ironing and hand clothes as soon as the dryer goes off.  Get into the habit of bringing empty hangers to the laundry room with your dirty clothes so you can hang clean items right away.  Set up a regular folding station.

Please leave your tips for mamas...