Homestead Happenings

Laundry for 8 ~ my plan

We are a family of 8, soon to be nine so there is always laundry to be done.  My goal is not to finish all of the laundry on a given day (for that is truly to dream the impossible dream) but to keep it going at a steady pace.

Before I tell you my plan let me say that there are weeks when I do not follow by brilliant plan and we get behind.  Like all families we get busy or something happens in life that needs a lot of time and energy.  So I am not perfect but I do have a plan.

Let me share some pics!

As you can see I have bins in which to sort our dirty laundry.  There are 6 bins for: whites, lights, pinks/reds (we have 5 girls!), jeans, darks, and towels.  Each bin has a ribbon on it (just noticed the white bin ribbon is missing) so the little ones can tell what goes where.  Yes, my children sort their own laundry.  They do not have a hamper in their room so they sort their clothes each night.

See the bucket? That is for "yucky" clothes.  Think potty training and getting sick.  By having a bucket I can see what clothes need to be washed right away.  Right now we have 2 that occasionaly have accidents plus a baby coming so I am thinking I need a bigger bucket. 

Here is a wide shot.  My cleaning supplies are on the top shelf and clothes that need to be ironed hang on the bar until I get to them which is often only right as Handosme Hubby needs to wear them on Sunday morning.   I am still working on that one.  See the paper taped to the wall?  That is my laundry schedule.  By following the schedule, clothes from each bin get washed twice each week and unless I am really behind I will see the botton of each bin at least once per week.  Not bad, says I.

Here is my schedule:

• Monday - reds, lights, towels
• Tuesday - whites, darks, jeans
• Wednesday - reds, lights, towels,
• Thursday - no laundry due to co-op day
• Friday - whites, darks, jeans

There you have it.  Gotta go.  I have laundry to do!  

Mother of 6 blessings (and #7 due in Jan. 09!) from the Lord & Helpmeet to my Handsome Hubby who is my best blessing of all

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{ 09:06, Monday, October 13, 2008 } { Posted by Isabella }

What a great idea. DD and I enjoyed the pictures. I am sure it gave everyone ideas. God Bless. I

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{ 09:11, Monday, October 13, 2008 } { Posted by Nurseforlife }

I like your system, that is a lot of laundry to do I commend you for being so organized!

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{ 09:14, Monday, October 13, 2008 } { Posted by Sara }

It looks like you've got a good plan in place. I try to follow a plan, but like you don't always succeed. I like the idea of making the kids sort every night, that would make things a lot easier. My schedule usually looks like this...
Monday-Towels, sheets, fabric for weekly sewing, and diapers and cloth pullups for 3yo and new baby due in 8 weeks.
Tuesday-darks
Wednesday-denim and diapers/pullups
Thursday-Lights
Friday-Whites and diapers/pullups

I usually can stick to this schedule pretty easily, but every once in a while, I'm thrown off by a sick little one or my youngest soaks through her pullups, etc. I can't wait to get my laundry room in order, yours looks so nice!

Blessings, sara

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{ 01:22, Monday, October 13, 2008 } { Posted by gabbie427 }

I love the sorting bins and the idea of the colored ribbons, etc. What a great idea. Thanks for sharing your ideas with us and the pictures.

We are only a family of 3, but I know just how crazy laundry can get if I end up missing a laundry day!!! UGH!!! So we have a schedule as well, and all dirty lundry is to go to the laundry room each night. We don't have hampers anywhere else in the house, but hubby "collects" his dirties sometimes for days until I realize I haven't seen enough jeans come through the wash. LOL

Here is my schedule:
MWF: one load of clothing
T & TH: sheets and/or towels

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

Edited by gabbie427 on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 03:24

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{ 11:02, Tuesday, October 14, 2008 } { Posted by mommaofmany }

What a great looking laundry room; you are blessed to have it! I have fallen somewhat behind in my laundry chores and needed the kick in the pants to get organized. Thanks!