Save Time Doing Laundry: Here Are 5 Ways

If you get bogged down doing laundry and would like to streamline this chore, there are ways to save time doing laundry.

Whether or not you have heard this before, it’s worthwhile repeating. After all, if there’s an opportunity to increase your efficiency, why not?  

Sometimes all it takes is a tweak to your current system, to make a big difference.

So, let’s take a look at these 5 ways to save time doing laundry.  And, see which ones you can incorporate into your system.

1. Pre-sort before washing 

This is a key component of your laundry system.

When you’re surrounded by a large pile of laundry that needs to be sorted, it can be daunting.

And can lead to procrastination.

I’m all too familiar with the days that I would go into my laundry room, dump the clothes from the hamper onto the floor and start to separate the clothes into different piles. There were times I would put this off because just the thought of doing this, was overwhelming.  

Pre-sorting your laundry in advance takes away the mental effort and automates if you will, the sorting process.

You can use:

• Multiple baskets to separate clothing
• A hamper with separate compartments for dark clothing, white clothing, colors, etc.
• A homemade solution to separate clothes based on the way you do your laundry, for example, if you have a child who is active in sports, there may be a separate laundry hamper for the sports gear, and a separate one for towels, etc.

The only thing you need to make sure of is that everyone in the house dumps their dirty clothes in the appropriate basket or hamper. 

Now that sorting is no longer required, you can throw the pre-sorted laundry directly into the washing machine.

2. Increase the frequency and wash smaller loads

Here’s another way to save time doing laundry.  Don’t wait until the weekend to get it all done.

Increasing the frequency of washing during the week and washing smaller loads, prevents you from spending a large portion of your weekend doing laundry.

Essentially, the advantage of being more efficient during the week will give you more time on the weekend to spend with your family or on other activities.  

Here’s a bonus of frequently washing smaller loads. You may be able to take advantage of off-peak energy discounts. Check your local electricity or power company to find out if, and when, off-peak rates apply to your particular area.

3. Develop a routine

If you want to have a good laundry system, it is important to establish a routine.

By and large, routines become part of your daily habits. And, once a habit is formed, you don’t need the extra mental effort to think about doing a particular task. 

This goes hand-in-hand with increasing the frequency of doing laundry, as you’re solidifying when this will take place so that it eventually becomes routine.

Here’s an example of what a laundry routine may look like:

• Before heading off to work, take one of the pre-sorted hampers and dump it in the washing machine.
• Use the delay start time setting on your washing machine to line up the wash cycle with the end of your workday.
• Put the clean clothes in the dryer after work.

Now, let’s talk about folding.  Because most people that I know don’t enjoy this!

Ideally, you want to fold right after the clothes are dry. This way, you’ve completed your cycle and the laundry doesn’t build up.

Here’s something to keep in mind, smaller loads mean less folding.

You can make this less painful by:

• Folding while listening to podcasts
• Folding like a professional and use a folding board (video)
• Having each person in your home doing their own folding and putting away their own clothes

Developing a routine with laundry means no ever-growing piles or overfilled laundry baskets. It also allows you to create a good habit of putting the clothes away the same day, so the laundry doesn’t end up on the bed, or in piles resembling the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

4. Delegate

If your children are old enough, they can assist up to the level of their capability.

So, if they can put things away but not yet operate the machines, then that’s some help and also a time-saver for you.

As they get older, transition them to do their laundry or assign specific days for them to do some of the laundry.

Remember to include your spouse in this laundry rotation

Now, if you’re washing clothes for your 20-year-old, able-bodied young adults … not sure what to suggest. 😉

5. Keep your washing machine and dryer clean

It might not be obvious but keeping your washing machine and dryer clean is another way to save time doing laundry.

Eventually, laundry detergent will build up in the washing machine creating a residue that can end up on your clothes. 

Consequently, if your washing machine is not clean then your clothes won’t be fully clean, which may require re-washing.  And, that is not a time-saver.

So, it’s important to clean your washing machine regularly. 

Similarly, keeping your dryer clean is also essential.

Lint build-up can greatly affect the length of time drying takes because it reduces airflow, adding to the time your clothes are spent in the dryer.

Make sure you regularly clean your lint trap. Occasionally, you’ll need to check the vent that goes from the back of the dryer to the outside of the house, as build-up can also happen here. If this is the case, you’ll need to clean it out.  Home Depot provides some guidance on cleaning your dryer vent.

Recap

If you’re stuck in a rut when it comes to laundry and find yourself waiting until the weekend to do all of it, there is another way.

Incorporate these tips and save time doing laundry:

1. Pre-sort before washing.
2. Increase the frequency and wash smaller loads.
3. Develop a routine.
4. Delegate.
5. Keep your washer and dryer clean.

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