Managing personal laundry is already a handful. How much more when you sort, wash, fold, and put away clothes for five, six, or more people? In a large household, it doesn’t matter how many loads you finish, there’s always more waiting in the basket.
However, when you set up a system that's consistent and easy to follow, it puts you back in control. Laundry becomes a process you can stay ahead of, not one that keeps dragging you under. And the best part? These routines don’t require a major lifestyle overhaul – just a few smart changes.
Here’s how to build a laundry routine that keeps your household running smoothly.
1) Assign Laundry Days by Person or Group
Creating a laundry schedule by person or group ensures no one’s load gets overlooked or doubled up. Instead of washing everything at once, build a rotating flow that spreads the load throughout the week.
How to Make It Happen
1. Create a Weekly Schedule
Assign laundry days based on who has the most laundry or whose clothes need to be ready by certain days. For example:
- Monday: Parents
- Tuesday: Older children
- Wednesday: Little ones
- Thursday: Towels and linens
- Friday: Catch-up or overflow day
2. Post the Schedule Somewhere Visible
Put it on the fridge, the laundry room door, or use a shared family app. The more visible, the easier it is to stick to.
3. Keep Hampers Separate
Give each person or group their own hamper or laundry bin. That way, everything’s ready to toss in without extra sorting.
2) Give Each Family Member Their Own Hamper
When laundry from multiple people is dumped into one big bin, sorting becomes a major hassle. Assigning individual hampers prevents mix-ups, particularly with items like socks, shirts, or undergarments that often look similar across siblings.
How to Make It Work
1. Use Color Coding or Labels
Pick a different color hamper for each person or use labeled laundry bags to make it obvious whose is whose, especially helpful in large families with children.
2. Choose Space-saving Hampers
If floor space is tight, go vertical with stackable baskets or opt for hanging laundry bags on closet doors or the backs of bedroom doors.
3. Set Expectations
Let everyone know the system: if it’s not in your hamper, it doesn’t get washed. Simple rules make the routine easier for everyone to follow.
3) Presort by Fabric Type
Sorting by fabric type protects clothes and prevents common damages caused by mismatched laundry. Washing heavy denim trousers with delicate blouses or sweaters can cause pilling, shrinkage, or fabric tears. A presorting system removes that risk and extends garment life.
Here’s how to make presorting part of your daily flow:
- Set up three bins in the laundry area labeled: “Delicates,” “Everyday,” and “Heavy.”
- Encourage family members to place items in the correct bin after use.
- Educate older children on identifying fabrics like suede, silk, denim, and polyester.
This habit protects sensitive items and avoids ruining clothes by accidentally tossing delicate blouses or sweaters into a hot wash cycle meant for towels.
4) Teach Children to Help with the Basics
Involving children in laundry teaches responsibility while also easing your workload. You don’t need to assign them full loads right away. Start with age-appropriate tasks and build from there. Even preschoolers can contribute to keeping the laundry area running smoothly.
Introduce these responsibilities in stages:
- Ages 3–5: Put dirty clothes into their hamper.
- Ages 6–8: Help sort laundry into categories (e.g., towels, shirts, socks).
- Ages 9+: Load the washing machine, measure detergent, and fold simple items like towels.
Over time, your children become contributors instead of passive participants, and laundry becomes a shared family task instead of a solo responsibility.
5) Set Up a Folding Station
A dedicated folding station ensures laundry gets put away faster and more neatly. Without a clear space for folding, clean clothes tend to pile up and wrinkle. And this wastes your time and makes clothes look unkempt.
To establish an efficient setup:
- Use a folding table or a wide countertop near the dryer or laundry basket zone.
- Keep laundry baskets, hangers, and a lint roller within arm’s reach.
- Post folding guides (e.g., folding shirts, trousers, or dresses) for children and teens.
6) Use Mesh Bags for Small or Delicate Items
Mesh laundry bags are a small investment that prevents big problems, especially in homes with many small garments. They keep items like socks, underwear, and baby clothes from getting lost or tangled in other loads. They also help protect delicate fabrics.
Use mesh bags strategically by:
- Assigning a labeled bag to each child for socks and undergarments.
- Placing blouses, bras, or sweaters in mesh bags to prevent stretching or snagging.
- Using zipper or drawstring bags that won’t open mid-cycle.
These bags reduce missing items, preserve fabric quality, and eliminate the time-consuming task of searching for small pieces across multiple loads.
7) Create a “Needs Special Care” Bin
Not every item should go into the washing machine. Pieces made from leather, wool, or silk, or those labeled “dry clean only”, need a separate system so they don’t get washed by mistake.
Set this up by:
- Placing a small bin near your laundry area labeled “Dry Clean or Hand Wash.”
- Instructing family members to check labels before putting items into the wash.
- Setting a reminder to check this bin once a week for items that need extra attention.
This step keeps delicate items like dresses, jackets, suede shoes, or customer-grade uniforms from being ruined and gives you time to take them to a professional dry cleaner if needed.
8) Pick One Day a Week for Linens Only
Sheets, towels, and pillowcases take up a lot of washer and dryer space. Mixing them with everyday clothing slows down everything and often leads to forgotten laundry. Designating one dedicated day for linens helps balance your routine.
Follow this simple routine:
- Strip all beds and bathrooms in the morning.
- Wash linens in hot water with appropriate detergent and fabric softener.
- Dry and fold immediately to avoid musty smells or wrinkles.
By assigning a dedicated linens day, you prevent large items from interrupting the flow of your weekly clothing routine and keep your home fresh and sanitary.
Make Laundry Easier for the Whole Family. Contact Arrowhead Cleaners & Laundry for Professional Laundry Care!
Laundry shouldn’t take over your evenings or your weekends. When you have a full household and a packed schedule, Arrowhead Cleaners & Laundry is here to help you reclaim your time. Our professional Dry Cleaning and Wash and Fold Laundry Services are designed with families in mind, saving you hours each week and sparing you from the never-ending cycle of sorting, washing, and folding. And with our complimentary Pickup and Delivery Service, your clean laundry is just a doorstep away.
