Laundry is a large part of my life. We have 7 children and so for years, the accumulation of dirty clothes has filled me with a nagging sense of foreboding. You know, like something sinister is stealthily sneaking up behind you? (Okay, enough alliteration already!)
To complicate matters further, we are on a septic system because our house was outside the city limits when built. Which makes it very important to limit the amount of water we use.
I have used many different strategies over the years, but then something important happened! My old washing machine died, (of utter exhaustion) and my husband bought me one of the new HE models! It changed my life! (He bought the one with the largest capacity available.)
We no longer sort in the traditional sense. I have a hamper for each bedroom. That means the three boys who share a bedroom all put their clothes and towels in one hamper. The two girls who share another bedroom do the same, etc., etc.
When that hamper is FULL, (I don’t do anything but large loads, except on a rare occasion) the owners of that hamper go through it checking pockets and turning socks right side out, then I wash it in cold water. That's it!
Once that load comes out of the dryer (which is much sooner because the washer spins at such a high speed), it goes straight to the bedroom it came from. The owners then fold it and put it away. I only fold the laundry for my husband and I!
Added benefit: it's much easier to match up socks when I am only doing it for my husband and I!
I really like the idea of a hamper for each bedroom. I just have one in the hallway between the bedrooms, but one basket per room for clean & folded clothes. I think that it is time that my older boys learn how to fold laundry!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to have one more chore off our lists, and I bet they will do a fantastic job as laundry folders!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI also struggled with laundry until I assigned a younger child to do theirs with an older child. What a difference! We have 11 people in our home and I only do mine, my husband's and the baby's clothes (plus cloth diapers every other day). I LOVE my HE!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting a new washer for some time. We only have 5 in our family, but are expecting a new addition. Like you, I am on a septic system, but with the added problem of "time of day," so that I can't do laundry in the day on week days. A delay is worth a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post, I will be looking into the washer you picked.