Sharing the Laundry Load as a Team - Tips for Moms

Keeping on Top of the Laundry as a Busy Mom

As a busy mom trying to manage a household, keeping up with the constant piles of laundry can feel totally overwhelming. No matter how much washing you do, it seems the hampers are always overflowing with dirty clothes and linens. And who has time to fold and put away load after load when you're also juggling kids, work, and every other responsibility under the sun?

The Never-Ending Laundry Cycle

In our house, it feels like the washing machine is going non-stop. Between school uniforms, play clothes, towels, sheets, and everything else, it's a daily chore just to keep clean clothes available. Like many moms, I used to try keeping up throughout the week - doing a load here and there whenever I had a free minute. But no matter how much I washed, I could never fully get ahead.

Late at night I'd be up folding laundry, trying to get everything put away and ready for the next day. Even so, it was impossible to stay on top of completely. There was always more to do, and I was burning myself out trying to get it all done.

Outsourcing the Folding

Finally, my husband Adam suggested an approach that has been a total lifesaver for my sanity. Instead of trying to do it all myself, he offered to share the weekend laundry folding with me. Now we work together as a team to tackle the loads of clean clothes that accumulate throughout the week.

I'm still in charge of keeping the daily washing going. Doing at least one load per day helps prevent things from piling up too much. But instead of trying to fold and put away each load right away, I temporarily toss everything into our spare room.

The Magic of Closing the Door

There's something so satisfying about being able to shut the door on those piles of clean, unfolded clothes! Even though I know the laundry is still there waiting, not having to look at it helps relieve my stress so much. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Not having that visible reminder allows me to focus my energy on other tasks without feeling overwhelmed. I can keep up with the daily washing without burning out. Then on the weekends, Adam and tackle the spare room together as a team.

Make Laundry Folding a Couple's Activity

Setting aside an hour or two each weekend to fold and put away laundry together has made a huge difference! We play some upbeat music and try to get through it as efficiently as possible. Working side by side, the piles of jeans, socks, and towels seem much more manageable.

It's also nice to chat about our week and reconnect while taking care of this shared household responsibility. Adam has been so helpful with not only the folding but also putting the clothes away in closets and dresser drawers.

Strategies to Streamline the Weekend Laundry Sessions

To make our weekend laundry folding time flow smoothly, I like to have snacks and drinks available so we don't have to stop working. I also sort everything into piles by family member as I'm taking each load out of the dryer. This makes the putting away part go much faster once everything is folded.

We also alternate between listening to podcasts and our favorite playlists so the work doesn't feel quite so mundane. Getting through the piles of laundry together feels strangely satisfying. And being able to close the spare room door at the end of the session makes me breathe a big sigh of relief!

What Laundry Hacks Have You Tried?

I'm so grateful to have a laundry system and partnership that prevents me from getting totally overloaded. But I know other moms have come up with different clever solutions too. From laundry services to specialized organizing products, there are a lot of ways to make this relentless chore more manageable.

If you have any tips or tricks for laundry or ways of dividing household tasks with your partner, I'd love to hear them! We all need solidarity and fresh ideas to keep tackling this mountain of dirty clothes. Let's share the mental load and help each other stay sane through the magic of outsourced folding!

FAQs

How can I stay on top of laundry with kids?

Do at least one load per day so dirty clothes don't pile up. Toss clean loads in a spare room to fold on the weekends. Enlist your partner's help for folding to share the workload.

What's the best way to organize laundry?

Sort clothes by family member as they come out of the dryer to streamline putting away. Fold laundry together in a designated area while listening to music or podcasts.

How can I reduce time spent folding?

Set aside 1-2 hours each weekend to power through folding with your spouse. Have snacks/drinks available so you don't have to stop. Make it an efficient but bonding time together.

Should I use laundry delivery services?

Laundry services can be helpful but often costly. Doing daily loads yourself plus outsourcing folding to a partner can be an affordable solution.

What products help organize laundry?

Specialized sorting bins, hanging shelves, and storage carts can streamline laundry organization. Find solutions that fit your space and workflow.