Stop Drowning in Laundry! Use the 3 Day System and Enjoy 4 Days off!

3 Days
Easy
Laundry has this way of getting the best of us. Some of us may find that we are drowning in laundry piles on our couches, or on our beds. But, I figured out a laundry system that keeps my family of five (2 adults, 3 young kids) out from under the laundry piles and the never-ending cycle of needing to do laundry. I call it the 3 Day Laundry System.
DAY 1 - WASH DAY


On day 1 I was everything - my clothes, my husband's clothes, my kids clothes, towels, bedding, everything. I don't separate most of the clothes, try to pretreat stains ahead of time, and use the same detergent for everyone. (More details on exactly what I do to speed up this process and other great washing tips are here - http://www.whatsupfagans.com/2014/10/how-to-stop-drowning-in-laundry-3-day-laundry-solution-system/)


DAY 2 - FOLDING DAY


Take all of those baskets of clean, dry clothes from day 1, recruit your family members, and get folding, sorting, matching, and stacking. Day 2 is probably my favorite as I enjoy folding clothes. My daughters help fold and sort clothes alongside me, and it only takes about 30 minutes to get it all done. But, I don't fold any of the shirts that are going to be hung. I just pile them up flat by owner. And I save all the socks for last.
DAY 3 - Put the Clothes Away


After I got done folding everyone's clothes from the day before, I usually take up the strategically loaded laundry baskets (details on my blog) to the respectable bedrooms. This way the baskets are out of way of little hands (who like to dump baskets and play in them). So, on day 3 my kids unload and hang up their clothes and I do the same.


Since I hate hanging up shirts, I figured out a way to hang up shirts faster and easier.
And that's it! Be sure to check out my FULL blog post - http://www.whatsupfagans.com/2014/10/how-to-stop-drowning-in-laundry-3-day-laundry-solution-system/ - to see all the little tips and tricks I use along the way to speed up drying time, what my favorite detergents are, and how I try to avoid wrinkles during this process. There are also lots of great ideas in the comments on that post too!


I know this system will not work for everyone (like those with septic tanks), but I hope for many it can help you conquer the laundry piles!
Katelyn Fagan
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Teri Teri on Nov 28, 2015
    Doesn't leaving them to fold let them wrinkle?
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  • Joyce Overbay Joyce Overbay on Oct 05, 2015
    My way of laundry is to wash each day's clothes when showers are being taken and you usually can hand several things to dry w/o wrinkles. For smaller clothes to match hang bottoms and tops together. A lot of clothes looker better to hang to dry than going through the dryer. Just saying....
    • Canji Nelson-Greenwood Canji Nelson-Greenwood on Oct 05, 2015
      I will still every now and again wash a load a day or every other just to keep up on it. If I have time and energy that week that is. It's gotten harder though with all 3 of my boys being in school now. With them having homework, sports,(pending the season) showers, supper, spending quality time with them and the hubby. You know, all that good stuff 😄
  • Canji Nelson-Greenwood Canji Nelson-Greenwood on Oct 05, 2015
    I have a family of five myself. I can knock out all main laundry in about 2 days. I just wash load after load laying all shirts flat while I'm folding the rest of the laundry. I've used the hanger system the same way ever since I've started washing baby clothes 14 yrs ago. (Lol I just HAD to figure out an easier method to be faster in order to have any kind of "mommy" time!) Lol. Then I'll fold everything else and keep making piles for each person. There's an about 50 to 60 mins for drying time per load. With that time I can have the basket folded and like 30 mins left to do something else around the house. Or run errands. Or shower. Or whatever. You get it ;-) Then when all is finished, if they are home everyone will put their piles away themselves or I do if not. If the kids are home when I do the laundry, they do the switching of the laundry as it is teaching them a part of being responsible and "pulling their own weight". Also kids will help with socks, towels, washcloths and their own underwear. Let me add, I have gotten so fed up with laundry in the past that I've actually cried over it! I used to just take it all tip laundry mat and be there for hours just for the sake of my sanity. But....I like to save money also so I've just decided this is best for me and my household.
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