One of the most common household struggles that many of us face is feeling like laundry is never done. No matter how hard we try to stay on top of it, laundry piles get larger and larger. It feels like a task that’s always unfinished. From the daily routine of getting ready to the stress of managing a household, laundry can cause a lot of stress in our lives.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! After all, happiness starts with manageable habits, and even laundry can be a part of that!
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you make a purchase through these links. I only recommend products I genuinely trust and believe can help you. Thank you for supporting Happy Easier!
Why Laundry is Never Done
We all know the feeling—just when you think you’ve caught up on laundry, there’s a new pile waiting for you. This is why so many people feel overwhelmed by laundry. Clothes pile up faster than we can wash them, and it often becomes a never-ending cycle. Whether you’re a busy parent, working professional, or student, laundry can create a lot of stress, especially when it interferes with getting ready for the day.
- Getting ready stress: When clothes you need aren’t clean, it can throw off your entire day. Missing that perfect outfit because it’s stuck in the laundry can cause frustration and make you feel unprepared.
- Visual clutter: Piles of clothes—whether dirty or clean but unfolded—create visual clutter, which can negatively affect your mood and make your home feel less organized.
- Procrastination and overwhelm: The more laundry piles up, the more overwhelming it feels, leading to procrastination. Before you know it, your weekend is spent catching up on laundry.
But here’s the thing—laundry is never done because it’s part of life. We wear clothes daily, and as long as we continue doing so, laundry will always be a constant. However, we can establish healthy habits to keep it from feeling so overwhelming.
You’re Not Alone: Reassurance
First and foremost, it’s important to recognize that if you feel like laundry is never done, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with keeping up with laundry, and it’s completely normal to feel like it’s a constant task. Life gets busy, and laundry can easily fall to the bottom of your to-do list. The good news is, by making a few strategic changes, you can make laundry less of a burden.
Declutter: Get Rid of Excess Clothing
One of the reasons for so much laundry is because we simply have too many clothes. The more clothes you own, the more laundry you have to do. Decluttering your wardrobe is one of the simplest ways to reduce your laundry load.
Tips for Decluttering:
- Start small: Don’t tackle your entire wardrobe at once. Start with one section, such as t-shirts or pants, and gradually work your way through.
- Use the “one-year rule”: If you haven’t worn an item in a year, it’s time to let it go.
- Donate or sell: Items in good condition can be donated or sold. Decluttering benefits you and others who need clothes.
- Seasonal review: Every season, take a quick inventory of your clothes and remove items that no longer fit or that you don’t wear.
When you declutter your wardrobe, you’re cutting down on the volume of laundry you have to deal with. Less clothing equals fewer loads to wash, dry, and fold. Suddenly, laundry is never done feels more manageable!
Create a Capsule Wardrobe
A great strategy for simplifying laundry and reducing decision fatigue is to create a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile clothing pieces that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits.
Why a Capsule Wardrobe Works:
- Fewer clothes, fewer loads: With fewer items in your wardrobe, your laundry load naturally decreases.
- Less decision-making: A capsule wardrobe limits your clothing options, making it easier to get dressed in the morning.
- Quality over quantity: Focusing on high-quality, durable clothing means your pieces last longer and need less frequent replacement.
Steps to Create a Capsule Wardrobe:
- Choose a color palette: Select neutral and coordinating colors that are easy to mix and match.
- Invest in timeless pieces: Look for classic, high-quality items like a black dress, jeans, and simple t-shirts that never go out of style.
- Set a limit: Keep your wardrobe to around 30-40 pieces, including shoes and accessories.
By embracing a capsule wardrobe, you can reduce both your laundry and your morning stress. Suddenly, the feeling that laundry is never done becomes less overwhelming, and you can focus on the items you truly love to wear.
Implement a Nightly Laundry Routine
Rather than letting laundry pile up for days (or weeks), try implementing a nightly laundry routine. Doing a small load of laundry every night helps you stay ahead of the game and reduces the overwhelming feeling of piling up laundry.
How to Start a Nightly Laundry Routine:
- Pick a time: Choose a time each night to start a load of laundry. It could be after dinner or just before bed.
- Fold and put away: Don’t let clean laundry sit in the basket. Fold and put it away immediately to avoid clutter.
- Stick to it: Make it part of your nightly routine, just like brushing your teeth.
By doing a little each night, you’ll keep the task manageable, and the constant cycle of laundry will feel less stressful. Even though you have a lot of laundry, you’ll be staying on top of it with minimal effort.
Sticking to a laundry schedule is easier when everything is organized. Consider using a 3-Bag Laundry Sorter to keep clothes sorted by color or fabric, making laundry day more efficient and stress-free.
Create a Laundry Schedule
If nightly laundry isn’t practical for your lifestyle, another great option is to establish a laundry schedule. This can be particularly helpful for larger households where laundry builds up quickly.
How to Set Up a Laundry Schedule:
- Designate specific days: Assign certain days of the week for different types of laundry. For example, you could do bedding on Mondays, towels on Wednesdays, and clothes on Saturdays.
- Stick to the schedule: By sticking to a designated laundry day, you’ll avoid the buildup of clothes that makes you feel like laundry is never done.
- Divide by household members: If you have a large family, consider assigning a day for each person to do their own laundry.
This method ensures that laundry is spread out over the week, making the task less daunting and helping you feel more in control.
Other Laundry Tips for Reducing Stress
1. Fold as You Go
One of the most stressful parts of laundry is folding and putting away clothes. To avoid letting clean clothes pile up, try folding each load as soon as it comes out of the dryer. This simple habit helps prevent wrinkling and ensures that laundry doesn’t mean piles of unfolded clothes.
2. Simplify Your Laundry Products
You don’t need a million products to get your laundry clean. Stick to a good-quality detergent and maybe one or two extras like fabric softener or dryer balls. Simplifying your laundry products streamlines the process and reduces decision fatigue.
3. Involve the Whole Family
Laundry doesn’t have to fall on one person. Get the whole family involved! Teach your kids to sort clothes, fold, and put things away. Assign each family member a task to lighten the load and laundry isn’t falling solely on you.
Final Thoughts: Healthy Habits for Happiness
Laundry is a necessary part of life, but it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. By implementing healthy habits like decluttering, creating a capsule wardrobe, and sticking to a laundry routine, you can make laundry a manageable task. While there will always be laundry, it can be an organized and stress-free part of your weekly routine.
Remember, the key to happiness lies in creating routines that work for you. Start small, stick to your schedule, and watch how much easier life becomes—even when laundry is never done.
Need more information on cleaning? Check out this Happy Easy article: Cleaning When You Don’t Feel Like Cleaning.
English