Do you dread laundry day and how much time it eats up? Try these incredible laundry hacks to spend less time washing, drying, and folding!
Is laundry one of your least favorite chores?
I know it’s definitely high on my list of things I’d rather skip but it can’t be avoided (unless we want to live under a mountain of dirty clothes!)
If you’re like me then you could probably use some shortcuts to help get your family’s clothes clean faster so you have time for other things. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite laundry hacks for busy moms who’ve got too much to do!
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11 Must-Try Laundry Hacks for Busy Moms
Laundry is something we can’t put off and while don’t have to love it, we still have to do it. These laundry hacks for busy moms are ones I’ve used again and again to save time and I hope they’ll help you get back valuable hours in your day too!
1. Pick a system that fits your schedule
If you hate doing laundry then there’s no reason to overcomplicate things. It just makes sense to pick a system for doing laundry that fits your life and doesn’t make you feel like you’re caught in laundry limbo.
There are two basic options: do it all on one day or do a load or two daily. Here’s how to compare them.
Doing laundry once a week
- Pro: Doing laundry on a designated day each week means you don’t have to worry about it again for a week.
- Con: You could end up with a huge pile of laundry tackle if you’re only doing it once a week.
Doing laundry daily
- Pro: You’re not bogged down doing loads and loads of laundry for hours and it’s fairly easy to fit into your daily schedule.
- Con: If you truly hate doing laundry, you might dread having to manage a load each day.
So which one should you choose?
At my house, we do laundry once a week on Fridays. And it takes all day sometimes. But I’d rather get it over with instead of having to worry about it every day.
It doesn’t really matter which system you pick as long as you’re comfortable with it. And you can always switch it up and try both to see what works better, depending on how big your laundry pile gets each week.
2. Organize your laundry space
Having an organized laundry space for sorting, washing, drying and folding can be a godsend if you dread doing laundry. If everything is right there where you need it, you don’t have to go chasing things down.
Here are some of my favorite laundry hacks for staying organized:
- Use separate baskets to color code dirty laundry as it piles up.
- Give everyone in the house their own basket to hold clean clothes that need to be put away.
- Cut down on the number of laundry products you use. Less stuff = less mess.
- Use a space-saving mobile cart to “hide” cleaning products if you have room.
- Install a lint bin if you don’t have one.
These are little things but they can go a long way toward helping you stay organized when wading through the laundry each week.
3. Assign everyone a job
One of the best laundry hacks for busy moms is to make it a family effort.
After all, doing the laundry yourself for the whole family is no picnic, right? So why not share the work?
If you have younger kids, you can give them the task of sorting clothes by color. (Life skills + learning = win-win!)
As they get older, you can promote them to folding. Or get them to help with loading and unloading the washer and dryer. And teens can pitch in and do the ironing or putting things away.
Of course, don’t forget about your partner or spouse if you have one. Moms and kids aren’t the only ones wearing clothes and dirtying them, so they don’t have to be the only ones worried about washing them.
Again, it doesn’t matter how you break up doing laundry, as long as everyone has a job. And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect–it just has to be done.
4. Skip hand-washing and use cloth or mesh bags instead
Delicates can slow you down if you have to hand-wash them. But you can save time by sealing them in cloth or mesh bags and tossing them in the washer.
This is one of the easiest laundry hacks ever so if you’re not doing it yet, give it a try to see how much time you can save. And you can even try it with shoes or hats, which is even better!
5. Take advantage of the quick wash setting
If your washing machine has a quick wash setting then do yourself a huge favor and use it!
A quick wash can get your clothes clean in under an hour (and in some cases, less than 15 minutes depending on your washer.) It uses water and less energy than a traditional wash cycle so it can also save you some money to boot.
Making this one simple change to your laundry routine can make such a difference in how quickly you’re able to get it done.
Here are some tips to know about using quick wash to save time:
- It works best for clothes that are only lightly soiled.
- Don’t overdo it on laundry soap, since this cycle has a shorter spin time.
- Only fill your washer up to about halfway for the best results.
Also, check your clothing labels to make sure the fabrics are quickwash-friendly. Quick wash uses cold water so if you have something that needs to be washed in warm water, you’ll want to save it for your next regular load.
6. Use dryer balls to speed up drying
If you hate waiting for clothes to dry, you can give them a hand by tossing in some dryer balls.
Dryer balls help to separate your damp clothing so the air can circulate better. More circulation means your clothes dry faster.
Plus, they’re cheaper and more eco-friendly than buying dryer sheets. And who doesn’t like saving money?
If you’ve never used dryer balls before, consider whether you’d rather use wool or go with silicone ones. And if you have kids or a spouse with sensitive skin, make sure you’re looking for hypoallergenic versions.
7. Or toss in a towel instead
If you don’t want to spend money on dryer balls because you’re on a tight budget, there are other things you can do to save time on laundry.
Something as simple as tossing in a dry towel with your wet clothes can help them dry faster. And if you have wrinkled clothes, you could use a damp towel instead to help shake out wrinkles.
8. Swap your iron for ice cubes
This is one of the best laundry hacks for busy moms who hate the thought of slaving over an ironing board.
If you have wrinkled clothes, you can toss them in the dryer with an ice cube or two. As the ice melts, the heat from the dryer creates steam and knocks those wrinkles right out.
Now, I would say to check your clothing labels first before you try this with anything delicate. But otherwise, it’s a great way to get around having to iron all the time.
9. Stretch out the time between washes
One of the easiest fixes for getting laundry done when you hate laundry is doing it less.
So if you have a favorite pair of jeans, don’t wash them every week. Switch to every other week instead or even once a month if they’re not getting really dirty.
This may be challenging if you have kids who constantly seem to dirty up their clothes. But it’s worth trying to see if you can cut back on how often you need to do laundry.
10. Go minimalist with your wardrobe
Another helpful laundry hack for busy moms on the go is cutting back on the amount of clothes your family owns.
Sticking with a capsule wardrobe for each family member means you don’t have as much dirty laundry piling up. A friend of mine who lives in a tiny home with her husband and two kids does this and it works like a charm.
If you live in an area that experiences all four seasons, consider creating a capsule wardrobe for each one. Stick with pieces that are wearable and designed to last and leave the fast fashion in the stores.
This is one of those laundry hacks that takes a little planning to make work but it can be well worth your time. And you get the added bonus of saving money if you’re not buying clothes as often!
11. Try hanging instead of folding
Folding can be one of the most time-consuming parts of doing laundry. So why not just skip it?
Instead of folding, try hanging as much of your clothing as you can. I hang shirts, tank tops, jeans–basically everything except shorts.
You might need to invest in more hangers or even a clothes rack but it’s worth it if it helps you get the laundry crossed off your list in less time.
Weekly Laundry Schedule Printable
Need a simple way to keep track of your laundry each week? Click the image below to download a FREE printable weekly laundry schedule template!
What Are Your Favorite Laundry Hacks?
As a busy working mom, I absolutely LOVE anything that makes my life easier and that’s what these laundry hacks are designed to do for you. If you’ve tried different laundry systems or schedules before and are still struggling to get it all done, give some of these tips a try to see how much time you might be able to add back to your day.
Need some extra help managing your time as a busy mom? Check out The Organized Home for tips on how to create routines that keep your days running smoothly, your house in order, and your family happy. It’s one of my go-to resources for calming the chaos of everyday mom life!