Help with laundry, ideas please

SuziQ

I am so glad it's not just me! I'm not even working at the moment,but I always seem to have stuff on radiators/hangers/hanging on the running machine(!) and I absolutely hate ironing,even though I have a really good steam generator. I never seem to clear the decks-some things are so awkward to iron I end up just shoving them back under the pile again! (perhaps I should just get rid of those things?)
My garden is waist high in brambles following a disastrous building project which had to go to court,and I have never been well enough to tackle it since,so can't even dry my washing out there.
I know it's psychological with me-I have to really push myself to do ironing. I will be a regular visitor to this thread,especially if any of you have any motivational ideas!
(like the idea if the audio books-that might be my first trial!)

helzbelz_57

i am n same situation. i'm only mum to 3yr old but from thurs till sun every week i have up to 4 teenage girls staying.. far worse than any toddler!!!! none of them reconise a washing machine nor understand that towels and bedlinen cant walk downstairs by themselves. my solution is hated by all but me. i nag, and nag and nag and nag. they sometimes listen just so i'll stop. but i do agree with the hang straight away method. only thing that works... otherwise everything is left and it just builds up. then you hear the cries of " there's nothing to wear" i'm usually washing every day and it works for me because i know that one day its beds then towels then whites then coloureds. ironing is kept to a minimum, by doing the bare essentials. the rest is left to them. if they want it done they do it. unless i'm feeling particularly generous. hope this helps.

heather38

i iron as i go, so as soon as the td is finished or the stuff has dried on the line outside i iron it. that way i only have to iron in 15 or 20 minute goes and it doesn't seem so bad. i don't however iron bedding, underwear, pjs or socks and i like to wash in alternate washes say whites then towels then darks then bedding so i have a break between the cycles. in a few months i'll have nappies to add to the wash as well, at least they don't need ironing!

SuziQ

Great idea re alternating the loads-simple yet I never thought of it,I frequently wash 2 loads in a row with stuff which has to be ironed!:rolleyes:

I am also taking your tip and I'm going to start doing 15 mins every day (may up it to 20 when my ironing allergy starts to abate a little!)

Gangstabird

I have noticed how easy it is for me to clean my DS uniform as he has 5 of everything.

I think that in future, he will have 7 of everything, the rest of the time. He has far too many clothes and this adds to washing.

Keep clothes to a minimum of 7 of each for out of school, and 5 of each for school. One smart outfit just in case. Change this every 6 months or when they grow. Obviously this one is for boys.

For girls, you just need a cople more dresses for the special occasions.

Churchmouse

As a mum to 4 boys I must ask, why do girls need more outfits?

Kaz2904

I have to say that I found the easiest way to control the ironing problems was to go through the clothes and get rid of loads.
The kids keep outgrowing theirs so I need to cull again but mine were cleared out. I've cut right down on clothes. I wear a uniform for work and need to iron that. My Mum uniform generally consists of jeans and tops. Occaisionally a skirt.
Strangely enough, there is always loads of stuff belonging to DH. He has the most clothes and the least to wear.
Every now and then I get rid of one of his T shirts/jumpers if it looks a little tatty or I hate it. He's not noticed yet.
Oh, I make him do the ironing on a Saturday morning too- I do the washing etc. I've had too many Monday mornings recently where I've worked nights all weekend and they've been off galivanting and no clean uniforms are done. Since I started making him get DD ready on a Monday morning, he's made sure her uniforms clean.
Only yesterday morning I sent DD into school in a white polo shirt because she had lied about bringing down her washing so both her school shirts were dirty. I told her she could explain why if asked. Amazingly she managed to get the stuff downstairs then.
Mine have been taught how to operate the washing machine from 18mths (only 2 buttons to push!) I also make them take up their own washing.
The kids are a bit freakish too in as much as DD will only wear dresses and skirts so I have had to teach her about the shapes I will/won't iron. DS likes to wear short sleeved shirts.
Anyhoo- I've rambled enough!

pretz_2

ok nobody shoot me for this but i have found the best way for me is not to iron anything until it is going to be worn or at least the night before as i found that my dd keeps taking all her clothes out to play dress up so they end up all creased anyways and oh is just as bad when hes looking for something to wear so now i refuse to iron until it is needed

kunekune

I do 1-2 loads of washing every day: OH goes through two sets, I go through one plus nightclothes (get 2 days of these as I only put them on a bfast time), daughter is ... well a 6 1/2 year old ... and son goes through at least 3 pairs trousers, 2 t-shirts, 3 pairs underpants and jammies. Plus wet sheets/duvet cover 3-4 times a week. That's not his fault, he is only semi-trained at 9 because of a disability.

As we both work full time, it's a struggle. I usually wait until they're home at night to put the day's wash on on weekdays as DS often brings his wets home from school and if we miss a day, he runs out. I put another batch through the dryer at the same time. On weekends, I do 3 loads a day to catch up. We don't have an outdoor drying space, can't attach anything to walls or fences, so rely on the dryer. Don't turn radiators on as house is very warm.

Putting away is a problem, I try to do it 2-3 times a week as the clean baskets fill up. It's easy for us and DS, as his drawers are in our room. I tend to put DD's on the stairs to the top floor and then take them up at bedtime.

With ironing, I do it in the laundry room which is in the basement, so I can't supervise children and iron at the same time. Nor can I watch tv. No room up here to relocate iron. My usual thing is that as I empty out the baskets, I separate what will need ironing and do in as one big batch on Sunday afternoon while DH is giving the children their weekly bath (bad mother confession? don't worry, if DS is smelly he gets a shower in the morning). I only iron shirts, OH's work trousers and the occasional thing of DD's. I tried non-iron shirts but DH is allergic to them. I don't mind ironing, so long as I get a glass of wine while I'm doing it.

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, there :beer: We have an older thread here - Wash day blues. I'll add this thread to that one shortly, to keep ideas together

Penny. x