Speed up and streamline your laundry folding with these 7 clever techniques:
Transforming Your Chore-Filled Laundry Days into a Breeze
Juggling with chores can be a real pain, and laundry tops the list for many. But here's a silver lining: you can turn this never-ending task into a less daunting experience! Follow these seven strategies and witness how laundry day goes from dreadful to delightful.
- Claire Duarte, DIY queen and founder of The Columbia Mom
- Heidi Ganser Lang, professional organizer and owner of Juniper Organizing
- Lindsey Mahanna, organization wizard and founder of Clutter to Clarity
- Dan Steiner, co-founder of Good Laundry
Entertainment, Baby!
If folding laundry isn't your cup of tea, take it easy! Claire Duarte recommends a little entertainment to keep your mind off the task. Pop on a podcast, stream your favorite show, or catch up on YouTube videos—it's all about distraction! This will help you dodge the mid-fold slump and increase your folding endurance.
Sort Those Clothes
Heidi Ganser Lang suggests that sorting clothes by category can boost your efficiency. It helps to establish a rhythm, and you'll be able to tackle the easy items first and reap the benefits of a sense of progress. Whether you start with shirts or towels, or simply tackle the bulkier items at the beginning, pre-sorting will help keep things less chaotic and provide a clearer path to completion.
Fold Smarter, Not Harder
Don't waste time folding everything down to the tiniest crease. Lindsey Mahanna advises that you can save precious time by being mindful of what really needs folding. For instance, PJs, play clothes, and undergarments can go straight into bins or drawers without any fuss. She also encourages you to rethink your closet systems for a fold-free life—use S-hooks, bins, and slim velvet hangers to maximize space and minimize folding.
Patience is a Virtue
If the sheer volume of laundry is overwhelming, it's time to embrace a more patient approach. As suggested by Lindsey Mahanna, do a little each day to prevent the piles from building up. Tackling a small load every day means you never have to deal with a colossal mountain of clothes that leaves you feeling defeated.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Why fold everyone's laundry yourself? Get the whole family involved! Heidi Ganser Lang proposes assigning a basket or bin to each family member so that they can put their own clothes away. Make it a game, challenge each other, or set a small reward for the fastest folder—transforming folding clothes into a more playful experience.
Invest in a Folding Board
Want to fold like a pro? Dan Steiner recommends a folding board. This tool makes folding uniform and efficient, giving the impression of an organized and neatly kept home, and saving you precious time.
Let Someone Else Handle It
If laundry is consuming too much of your time, consider outsourcing this task to a professional service. Many people find it beneficial to pay their house cleaners a little extra to fold and put away their laundry or hire someone to handle it altogether. Embrace the luxury of having someone else take care of it for you!
- Turning on a podcast, show, or YouTube videos while folding laundry can make the task less daunting and increase endurance, as suggested by Claire Duarte.
- Sorting clothes into different categories before folding them, as recommended by Heidi Ganser Lang, boosts efficiency and creates a sense of progress.
- Time can be saved by being mindful of what really needs folding, as advised by Lindsey Mahanna, who suggests using S-hooks, bins, and slim velvet hangers to minimize folding and maximize space.*inesity, patience is key when dealing with a large amount of laundry, and Lindsey Mahanna emphasizes the importance of doing a little each day to prevent pile-up.
- Encourage family members to take responsibility for their own laundry by assigning a basket or bin to each person, as proposed by Heidi Ganser Lang.
- A folding board, as recommended by Dan Steiner, can help make folding uniform and efficient, providing a neat and organized appearance.
- For those who find themselves overwhelmed by laundry, outsourcing the task to a professional service can save time and provide a sense of luxury.
