HOW TO KEEP UP WITH LAUNDRY: EASY LAUNDRY SCHEDULE TIPS

ASSESSING YOUR LAUNDRY NEEDS

Before you can conquer your laundry, you need to know what you're up against. If you’re wondering how to keep laundry from piling up, take a moment to consider your household's laundry habits, including:

• The size of your family

• What kind of laundry you have

• How much time you have available

FAMILY SIZE MATTERS

The average person does laundry about two or three times per week, but this can vary widely based on household size. A family of four might need a different approach than someone living solo. Take stock of how much laundry your household generates in a week. Understanding how to do laundry can help if you’re wondering how to manage laundry in a large family or even solo.

LAUNDRY TYPES AND FREQUENCY

Not all clothes are created equal when it comes to washing. While underwear and gym clothes might need frequent washing, jeans and sweaters can often go longer between washes. And of course, washable bedding and curtains can go even longer between washes. It can help to keep these categories of "wash often" and "wash less" in mind when approaching your weekly laundry routine. Familiarizing yourself with laundry symbols can also help you more speedily determine the best care for each item.

TIME AVAILABLE FOR LAUNDRY

Be realistic about how much time you can dedicate to laundry each week. If you're working long hours, a daily laundry routine might not be feasible. Instead, you might opt for larger loads on weekends. It’s also helpful to know all the ins and outs of your machines and their various cycles. Consider these washing machine hacks and tips to help make your weekly laundry routine more streamlined.

CREATING YOUR LAUNDRY SCHEDULE

Now that you've assessed your needs, it's time to create a schedule that works for you. Remember, the goal is to make laundry manageable, not to create another chore you'll dread.

WEEKLY VS. DAILY LAUNDRY ROUTINES

When it comes to managing household chores, the debate between a daily laundry schedule and a weekly laundry routine is a common topic. A daily laundry schedule involves washing one load of laundry every day, while a weekly schedule often involves tackling all the laundry in one or two days. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and the best choice often depends on your family's size, lifestyle and personal preferences.

Daily Laundry Routine

Weekly Laundry Routine

Ultimately, the choice between a daily laundry schedule and a weekly laundry routine depends on what works best for your family's needs and lifestyle. Some families may even find that a hybrid approach, combining elements of both methods, is the most effective way to stay on top of their laundry duties.

SPREAD OUT THE STEPS

If you’ll be gone during the day, consider starting a load before you leave and transferring it to the dryer when you return. Breaking up the steps in your laundry routine can help you tackle laundry without it taking over your evenings. Select washers, such as this Maytag^® Front Load Washer with Extra Power, feature a 12-Hr Fresh Spin^™ option, which guards against wrinkles when loads can't be moved to the dryer right away, thanks to additional tumbling for up to 12 hours after the wash cycle ends—a handy feature if you’re throwing a load in the washing machine just before leaving for work or heading to the grocery store.

No one wants to spend the entire day doing laundry. But, with a little planning, it can be less of a chore. That's where a free printable laundry schedule template (available to download, just above this section) comes in handy. This tool can help you create a simple weekly laundry schedule that fits around your busy life. Just download the laundry calendar, and either use the suggested weekly laundry schedule, or fill in the blank schedule with a preferred routine, and you’re ready to go. This helps provide a clear plan to tackle laundry without it taking over your entire day. The laundry printable schedule is designed to be quick and easy to use, so your time can be spent on more enjoyable things. Whether you prefer to run one load a day or dedicate one day a week to laundry, this free printable laundry schedule template helps you stay on track.

SIMPLIFYING YOUR WEEKLY LAUNDRY ROUTINE

When keeping up with your never-ending laundry pile, it often helps to simplify your routine. Here are some strategies to help:

REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LOADS

• Create larger loads: Combine similar, smaller-sized loads to maximize each load size

• Reuse items: If possible, reuse towels, pajamas, sweaters and jeans multiple times before washing

• Optimize Washing Machine Loads: Run full loads to cut down on the overall number of loads you wash. But, make sure to leave enough space in your washer and dryer for clothes to move freely.

TIME-SAVING LAUNDRY HACKS

• Choose the right cycle: Use the appropriate water level for the size of your load to avoid longer wash cycles

• Use Quick Wash Cycles: For lightly soiled items, use quick wash cycles to save time and energy.

• Use Smart features, available on select models, and use your phone to schedule when you want cycles to start or stop, as well as receive notifications when your load is done.

• Pre-Treat Stains Quickly: Use a simple pre-treatment method like diluted soap or stain sticks to help avoid re-washing.

• Speed Up Drying: Add a dry towel to the dryer to help absorb moisture and reduce drying time and learn other ways to dry clothes faster.

• Use Time-Saving Tools: Detergent pods or other pre-measured methods along with dryer balls that stay in your dryer may help cut down on steps.

• Fold Immediately: Set up a folding station and fold clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer to help prevent wrinkles and save ironing time.

• Multitask During Cycles: Use laundry time to do other tasks, like cleaning or organizing, to maximize your productivity. You can also throw in a load before starting to prepare dinner, then quickly transfer it to the dryer before mealtime.

• Keep hampers in the laundry room: This way, there’s always a load ready to toss in.

• Sort clothes as you undress: Use a multi-section hamper to sort lights, darks and delicates immediately.

• Set timers on your phone: Timers can remind you to move laundry along.

• Learn good laundry habits: Familiarize yourself with the best ways to sort, load and wash your laundry so they become automatic habits.

HOW TO KEEP LAUNDRY FROM PILING UP

The best way to deal with overwhelming laundry is to prevent it from becoming overwhelming in the first place. If you dread tackling large amounts of laundry all at once, try assigning yourself smaller tasks throughout the week. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of laundry:

Daily small tasks: Tackle small laundry tasks daily to prevent build-up. This could be as simple as putting away clean clothes or sorting dirty laundry into appropriate baskets.

Wash smaller loads more frequently: Washing smaller loads 2-3 times a week means less time spent on each load. You can throw in a load before heading off to work, switch it to the dryer when you get home, then fold and put it away after dinner. Each step will only take about 5-10 minutes of your time vs waiting until you have several hours worth of laundry to be done. 

Organizing your space: An organized laundry area can make the task feel less daunting. Consider installing shelves or using baskets to keep supplies tidy and easily accessible. Laundry pedestals like these from Maytag brand, also help keep your softeners, detergents and dryer sheets all nicely organized.

One in, one out: For every new item of clothing that enters your home, consider donating or discarding an old one. This helps manage the overall volume of laundry you'll need to handle.

LAUNDRY SCHEDULES FOR DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLD SIZES

Try out these various laundry schedules for different household sizes when you’re wondering how to keep up with laundry.

Laundry schedule for 1 person: For a single person, doing laundry once a week is often sufficient. Set aside a specific day, perhaps Sunday evening, to tackle all your laundry at once.

Laundry schedule for family of 4: A family of four might benefit from doing laundry every other day. Assign different types of laundry to different days—for example, darks on Monday, lights on Wednesday, and towels and bedding on Friday.

Laundry schedule for family of 6: Larger families might need to do a load every day to keep up. Consider assigning each family member a laundry day for their personal items, with shared items like towels and bedding on set days.

HOW TO KEEP UP WITH LAUNDRY IF YOU WORK

Balancing work and household chores can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Here are some tips to help you keep up with this task when you’re elsewhere from 9 to 5:

Use your evenings and weekends wisely: Use evenings to run a quick load and designate weekends for larger laundry tasks. You might start a load before dinner and fold while watching TV in the evening.

Delegate tasks: If you have children, involve them in age-appropriate laundry tasks. Even young kids can often help sort colors or match socks, bring baskets to and from rooms and perhaps learn how to fold.

Sort ahead of time: Sort your laundry ahead of your big laundry day, so that it’s all ready to go when you finally have time to get to it.

Small efforts daily: Spend just 10 minutes each day on laundry-related tasks, whether it's starting and switching a load, folding, or putting away clean clothes. This can cut down on the weekend work.

Use a Smart appliance: Consider a washer with Smart features, such as this model from Maytag brand, which allows you to start and stop your washer from your phone and receive notifications when a cycle is finished, which can save you valuable time.

FAQ: COMMON LAUNDRY CONCERNS

Here are some common questions that people ask when dealing with juggling their weekly laundry schedule:

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH OVERWHELMING LAUNDRY?

To tackle overwhelming laundry, break it into manageable tasks. Sort clothes into categories, do one load daily, and fold immediately after drying. Involve family members in the process and consider a laundry schedule to prevent future pile-ups.

IS IT BETTER TO DO SMALL LOADS OF LAUNDRY?

Small loads can be more energy-efficient and gentler on clothes. However, they may increase water usage and time spent on laundry. Aim for medium-sized loads that allow clothes to move freely in the machine for optimal cleaning and efficiency. If you're looking to save energy, consider using an High Efficiency (HE) washing machine.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU REALLY NEED TO DO LAUNDRY?

Most people should do laundry weekly to help maintain cleanliness and prevent pile-ups. However, items like underwear and workout clothes may need more frequent washing. Adjust your schedule based on your lifestyle, wardrobe size and hygiene preferences.

MASTERING YOUR LAUNDRY ROUTINE

Remember, the best laundry routine is one that works for you. Don't be afraid to adjust your schedule as needed. And help smooth the process by taking good care of your washer and dryer. With these tips and a bit of persistence, you'll be on your way to a more manageable weekly laundry routine. Before you know it, you'll have more time for the things you really enjoy—and a closet full of clean clothes to wear while you're at it.