Helpful Laundry Tips

Doing your own laundry can seem daunting, especially if you're just learning how to do it. Here are a few tips to help make the process easier:

1. Read the care label: Before you wash any item of clothing, be sure to read the care label and follow the manufacturer's instructions for washing, drying, and ironing.

2. Sort your laundry: Sort your laundry into different piles by color and fabric type. This will help prevent colors from bleeding and protect delicate fabrics.

3. Measure the detergent: Use the right amount of detergent according to the label or the machine's instruction manual.

4. Start with the whites: If you are washing a mixed load of clothes, start with the whites so that any colors that might bleed won't affect the other clothes.

5. Use the right temperature: Use the right water temperature according to the care label. Hot water can shrink some fabrics and damage colors, while cold water can't effectively remove certain stains.

6. Don't overload the machine: Be sure not to overload the washing machine or dryer, this can cause clothes to not get cleaned properly.

7. Dry clothes properly: Dry clothes according to the care label, some clothes should be air-dried and some can go in the dryer.

8. Fold clothes as soon as you take them out of the dryer. 

 

An Example Of A Weekly Home Cleaning Schedule For Each Room In The House

Monday:

* Kitchen: Wipe down counters, clean sink, sweep and mop floor

* Living room: Dust surfaces, vacuum furniture and floors

Tuesday:

* Bedrooms: Change bed linens, vacuum or sweep floors, put away clothes

* Bathrooms: Clean the toilet, shower, and sink, sweep and mop floor

Wednesday:

* Laundry: Wash, dry, and fold laundry

* Office: File papers and tidy desk

Thursday:

* Dining room: Wipe down table and chairs, sweep or vacuum floor

* Hallway: Vacuum or sweep floor, clean mirrors and light fixtures

Friday:

* General cleaning: Wipe down baseboards, doors, and windowsills, clean windows

* Declutter: Go through and get rid of any items that are no longer needed

This is just one example of a weekly cleaning schedule, and you can adjust it to fit your needs and schedule. You may also want to add additional tasks on a monthly or quarterly basis. The important thing is to find a schedule that works for you and stick to it as much as possible to keep your home clean and organized. 

Laundry Room Logistics

All laundry rooms at one time or another probably have been guilty of massive piles of unsorted dirty clothes, laundry products strewn about, and a feeling of disorganization and chaos. When this feeling sets in, it can make tackling an overrun laundry room an even more difficult chore. But with some work, creativity and commitment from other family members, this room can become an organized oasis. 

The first step is to develop a routine in your family for making sure their dirty laundry is delivered to the laundry room on a routine basis. If you’ve established Wednesday and Sunday as laundry day in your home, then laundry needs to be delivered to the laundry room no later than Tuesday and Saturday nights. Each person in the family that is old enough should be taught to sort laundry into designated hampers in the laundry room. 

Maintain a laundry basket or bin for each family member. Once clothes are washed, dried and folded, place them into each basket and deliver them to their bedrooms. Older children should hopefully be capable of putting laundry into drawers and on hangers themselves.

Make it a habit of keeping on top of the laundry supplies. Make sure there are always plenty of laundry soap, and fabric softener available. Nothing can be more aggravating than finding no laundry soap available when you have six loads to be done. 

Make sure your laundry room has a separate and clearly labeled bin for items that need to be dry cleaned. Make sure that this bin is emptied as often as needed and that items are delivered and picked up from the dry cleaners promptly. Have another bin set aside for items that need to be repaired or that need buttons replaced. Tackle this bin at least twice a month so that it does not become overwhelming.