Laundry is the chore that never feels done. Learn how to make it more manageable with these expert tips.
Let's be real, as a parent, you've probably stared down that bottomless laundry hamper more times than you can count. But here's the good news: getting a grip on the family laundry pile doesn't have to feel out of reach. With a few clever tweaks to your routine and some easy wardrobe hacks, you'll actually start seeing progress (yes, really!).
And if you're looking for a little extra help, we've got smart ways to get the kids involved in laundry chores, too. Keep reading for fuss-free tips that'll help you finally conquer that laundry hamper. Who knows, you might even stay ahead of it for once.
For many parents, keeping up with laundry feels like a never-ending battle. Kristen Donnino, a professional organizer and founder of Neatly By Kristen, explains that laundry is more than a simple chore.
She says, "Laundry is never just one task: it’s five tasks, multiplied daily, with no clear endpoint. The constant cycle eats away at time, clutters physical spaces, and weighs on mental space. Many parents feel like they’re in a vicious cycle of either being behind on laundry or drowning in it. That ongoing 'unfinished task' becomes background stress that lingers all week."
When kids are involved, laundry becomes even more complicated. Donnino adds, "It's not just about more clothes. With babies, you have bibs, burp clothes and swaddles. As kids grow, there are loveys, school uniforms, sports gear and pyjamas. Sometimes, kids change multiple times a day. Add in stains and accidents, and laundry shifts from a routine task to something that feels like crisis management."
Time is another factor that adds to the challenge. "Collecting laundry from around the house can take up to ten minutes, sorting another ten to 15, and washing can mean waiting 30 to 60 minutes," Donnino says. "Drying is quick, but switching loads requires careful timing. Folding and putting everything away can easily add another hour or more per load, and that's without interruptions."
Then, there are the different wash requirements that add to the workload. "Parents are juggling delicates that need air-drying, sportswear that requires special care, baby clothes that need gentle detergent, and heavily soiled items that need pre-treatment," adds Donnino. "This means multiple small loads, meticulous sorting and endless trips to closets and drawers. All of this before the cycle starts all over again."
To help conquer the laundry mountain that's taken over your laundry room, Donnino suggests implementing a multi-hamper sorting system into your routine.
"I love using divided hampers or colour-coded bins labelled by category (lights, darks, towels, delicates) to help ease the burden of laundry management," she says. "For families, I recommend putting these in high-traffic areas (like the hallway outside bedrooms or in shared bathrooms) to make pre-sorting easy and accessible."
Donnino also recommends having a few designated collection points around the house. "This helps reduce the back-and-forth of gathering clothes from all over the house (on the backs of chairs, on the floor, etc.)," Donnino says. "A small basket in each bedroom or bathroom makes it more likely that clothes end up in the right place—and less likely that laundry day starts with a scavenger hunt."
And if the idea of a huge laundry pile feels overwhelming, Donnino encourages breaking it down. "Smaller, more frequent loads are much easier to manage and less intimidating to fold and put away," she explains. "With everyone's busy schedules, this approach helps keep laundry day from becoming a big chore, and it means you won't have to face a daunting mountain of laundry all at once."
Fine-tuning your washing and drying habits can also help manage the laundry mountain chaos.
A good starting point, according to Audra George, a professional organizer and owner of Pretty Neat, An Organizational Solution, is to keep bulky items together to wash as a cycle and more delicate items to wash together. "It's also important to know your washing machine's capacity so you know what is best for your machine," she adds.
George also recommends choosing the right water temperature as you wash your clothes. "Hot water works well for heavy towels, whites, sheets, and anything that needs a thorough clean," she explains. "Warm water is great for jeans, t-shirts, polyblends, and lighter colours, while cold water is best for dark colours, delicate fabrics, and synthetics. If you're ever unsure, a quick look at the care tag or a simple search online can help you care for your clothes right."
To help your clothes dry faster, George recommends giving them a gentle shake after the spin cycle. "This helps fluff the fabric and speeds up drying time," she says. She also likes using dryer balls and selecting the appropriate drying time for each type of fabric."
And when stains happen? "Act fast," George insists. "Dawn dish soap is my go-to," she says. "It works on almost anything."
To help you conquer the hurdle of folding and putting away laundry, George suggests setting aside just a few minutes a day, ideally right after the dryer finishes, to put clothes away. She notes that making this a habit will be something you appreciate over time.
To make folding quicker and easier, George recommends washing similar items together, like socks and underwear. "When all the pieces match, folding becomes much faster and simpler," she says.
George also mentions that systems such as KonMari can help simplify your wardrobe, making laundry day less of a chore. "Having fewer items to manage, wash, fold and put away will make the process much quicker and less stressful," she adds.
For the final flourish, George recommends using the basket method. "Fold items directly into the basket, not onto the table or couch," she explains. "Then, put the basket away. This keeps things neat and makes putting away quick and easy, since everything goes to the same place."
To get the whole family involved in laundry chores without the eye rolls, Liz Jenkins, a fresh space consultant and lead organizer at A Fresh Space, a home organization company, says the secret is starting early and making laundry less of a chore and more of a team effort.
"Give kids and partners real responsibility from the start," Jenkins advises. "Break down the process so it's not a mystery, and explain what goes where and why."
Jenkins also suggests tailoring tasks to age. "Younger children can help sort clothes by colour or carry laundry baskets. As kids get older, teach them to fold and put away their own things. Once they hit the teen years, they can be fully responsible for their own laundry."
But how do you keep everyone motivated? Make it fun. "Turn laundry into a fun game," Jenkins suggests. "Talk through each step together. Kids love knowing what's coming next. It's not about 'helping mom or dad,' but about being a true team player in the household."
And don't underestimate the power of visuals. "Picture labels, colour-coded hampers, and gentle reminders, like pairing laundry with bedtime routines, can turn laundry into a fun habit, not a hassle," she says.
To keep that dreaded laundry mountain at bay, Jenkins suggests swapping out your giant hamper for smaller ones that only hold enough for a load or two and then actually finishing those loads right away.
"It may seem more efficient to do all the laundry at one time, but from my observation, this leads to piles of unfolded laundry cluttering up the space," she explains. "Breaking it up into smaller chunks can help keep things under control."
Another way to keep things running smoothly in the laundry room is to create a laundry schedule. "In our household, we wash the sheets on Saturday so we have time to make the beds, and everyone takes care of their own laundry," she says. "When our daughter was little, we stuck to a stricter routine, but now it's more about grabbing the washer when it's free. Still, for busy families, assigning a specific day to each person can be a game-changer."
And to prevent your hamper from overflowing, Jenkins says that regular closet clean-outs are key. "Clothes have a way of multiplying each season, so I try to do an edit once things settle down. The less you have, the less you have to wash, and that goes for everything in your home, not just laundry."
Laundry isn't just another chore. It's a major stress point for many parents. Ben Soreff, a professional organizer and founder of House to Home Organizing, a home organization company, points out that laundry has a unique way of feeling completely endless.
"Laundry piles up fast, and skipping a day means you're instantly staring down a mountain of clothes," he says. "Unlike some other household tasks, where ignoring them doesn't cause a crisis, laundry just keeps growing and growing."
But it's not just the never-ending cycle that gets under people's skin. Sorref notes that too often, one person ends up shouldering the burden, and that can wear you down.
"With chores, it's easy to fall into a routine where no one actually talks about who's responsible," he explains. "But like so much else in life, communication is everything. You have to actually have that conversation."
Jenkins agrees, "Household tasks shouldn't automatically land on one person's plate unless everyone's on board with the plan. It's not fair for one person to carry the mental load, not just doing the work, but also reminding or nagging their partner. Sure, you might split tasks up, but it shouldn't just be because someone did it first, or cares more, or happens to notice it."
While laundry may not be everyone's chore, it does not have to feel like an insurmountable task. By breaking down the process into manageable steps, involving the whole family, and establishing systems that fit your household's rhythm, you can turn laundry from a major source of stress into just another part of your everyday routine that stays under control.
And honestly, as Sorref points out, keeping up with laundry is a form of stress management. "Clean laundry smells amazing, and when everything's put away, you've reclaimed your space and your sanity. Suddenly, you're able to do what most people can't when things are messy," he says, "actually relax."
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Courtney Leiva has over 11 years of experience producing content for numerous digital mediums, including features, breaking news stories, e-commerce buying guides, trends, and evergreen pieces. Her articles have been featured in HuffPost, Buzzfeed, PEOPLE, and more.