Laundry: The Never-Ending Battle- A Moms Guide to Conquering Mount Laundry

Hey there, fabulous Mommas! Welcome back to WTM (What’s The Mom) – your go-to spot for all things mom-tastic! Today, let’s kick things off with a little laundry talk, shall we?

So, how are your laundry habits, dear mommas? Are you the kind who tackles one load a day like a laundry ninja? Or maybe you’re the designated laundry day diva? Or perhaps, like me, you’ve had the laundry transform into a permanent bedroom floor art installation? No shame or judgment here, folks!

I used to belong to that last group—the “I’ll do it later” gang. You know the drill. You toss in a load, switch it to the dryer, and then, bam! It’s time for a dozen other tasks. So, the laundry goes on the bed, with the promise that you’ll fold and put it away by day’s end. But reality strikes, chaos during dinner, and bedtime routines take longer than anticipated. By the time peace reigns in the house, and your little rascals are finally asleep, you just want some “me time.” And, honestly, doing laundry is the last thing you want to do, right?

Sure, it’s a necessary chore, but this is our wind-down time! It’s Netflix o’clock, baby! We need our well-deserved mom-time. So, Mount Laundry makes its home in the corner of our bedroom. The intention to tackle it the next day is always there, but let’s be real—with four kids, there’s never a dull moment, and the to-do list is never-ending.

As much as I hate to admit it, Mount Laundry became a permanent fixture in that corner. We had clean clothes, but finding something specific in that mountain? A mission impossible! My amazing husband offered to do his and the boys’ laundry, but I wasn’t ready to surrender to this never-ending battle. I knew there had to be a better way to conquer it.

During my childhood, I was lucky enough to have someone else do my laundry. You know, the typical routine—dirty clothes in the basket, and magically, clean and folded clothes awaited after school. I wish I could say I was a model child who put those clothes away promptly, but nope, Mount Laundry was a thing even back then. Of course, it was a much smaller mountain compared to the behemoth created by six people. Admitting it, I started this bad laundry habit early.

Fast forward to early adulthood, and I had to face a new laundry challenge: How the heck do you do your own laundry? I call this my “Rachel Green” moment, channeling Friends here. Remember when Ross and Rachel are at the laundromat, and she turns all her whites pink? Classic! I love that show, and sorry, but this won’t be the last Friends reference you’ll hear from me.

I eventually figured out how to wash my own clothes, and for a while, I did better with putting them away. But, sadly, that didn’t last long. The point of this nostalgic ramble is to show that this laundry battle started young, and old habits die hard.

So, I embarked on a quest for organization tips, mainly on Pinterest. My husband suggested we start simple with individual laundry baskets for everyone. Good idea, but I was feeling ambitious. I found a Pinterest post with shelves and a laundry basket for each family member. The concept? Once the basket is full, it’s laundry time. Sold!

Off to the store, we went, grabbed a plastic shelf unit, and six laundry baskets. My handy husband assembled the shelves, and I whipped out my label maker. Name labels on each basket—no mix-ups here! Next step: create a schedule, designating a day for each basket’s laundry. Towels got two days because, well, they’re extra special.

After the first week, I was amazed at how easy it was to do just one load a day. No overwhelming piles! Weeks passed, and I believe I conquered Mount Laundry. This new system was a game-changer, making me kick the old habit to the curb. Sure, there are days when I’m cutting it close to bedtime, but since the loads are small, I’m diligent about putting them away the next morning.

I love not seeing clothes on the floor or excavating the laundry mountain for one item. That’s motivation enough to stay on top of my laundry game. Plus, switching to this new system not only saved me time but also cut down on laundry soap costs. Who doesn’t love saving a little moolah, right? So, if you’re looking for a way to conquer the laundry monster, maybe give this system a whirl! Here’s to all you incredible moms out there, creating magic every day.

Because every mom deserves a spark of inspiration.