Making Laundry Systems that Actually Work for your Family
Finding your way with the TimeTrek Guide to Total Home Optimization
This week, I asked how other families handle laundry, and wow – turns out, it's one of those universal household struggles! We heard everything from designated laundry days to daily loads, kids in charge of their own laundry (yes!), to just getting it done whenever (wait, what?). Some even confessed to accepting the laundry pile as a permanent fixture! What I realized? There's no single "right" way – just the way that keeps your home running smoothly without making you lose your mind. And that's what the TimeTrek Guide to Total Home Optimization is all about: finding your family's best way.
This post kicks off a series where we'll build systems for all those household tasks, all designed to fit your unique needs. Read more about what we’re doing here. And the best part? We're going to organize it all in a customizable Home Optimization Binder (more on that in a companion post coming soon!). Today, we conquer laundry.
Do You Need a Laundry System? (Honest Assessment)
Not everyone does! Seriously. If you have a smaller household, tons of flexibility in your schedule, or if laundry just isn't a pain point for you, then you might be doing just fine. But...
If you're feeling overwhelmed by Mount Washmore, if laundry is a constant source of stress, or if you have a larger family, a structured system can be a lifesaver. For us, it eliminates decision fatigue, prevents epic pile-ups, and – most importantly – teaches responsibility.
Our Family's Laundry System
Three pillars:
Daily Focus: I tackle a single targeted load based on household needs.
Kid Power: Each child handles their own laundry on assigned days.
Shared Responsibility: We rotate a "Laundry Captain" role for towels and sheets.
Lets Break it Down:
🧺 Part 1: My Daily Laundry Dash
To keep things manageable, I do one focused load per day. It takes just a few minutes, and by doing it daily, I prevent a half-day's worth of catch-up later.
📅 Here’s my typical breakdown:
✔ Kitchen towels (every 2-3 days) - Because we’re a reusable paper towel family, washing these frequently is essential.
✔ Baby/toddler laundry - This used to be part of my laundry, but now that he’s older (2!), we’re transitioning him to his own laundry day. (Breaking news: He “helps,” but it’s still mostly me.)
✔ My laundry (As Needed) - On days when I’m not washing anything else, I check my hamper. Full load? Wash it. Not full? Enjoy the break!
✔ Mr. TimeTrek’s laundry - He often prefers to handle his own, feeling it's a way he can contribute. He usually starts his wash, and I'll move it to the dryer. If the washer's busy, he'll leave his basket in the laundry room, and I'll take care of it.
📌 The Consistency Secret: My evening routine. After shutting down the kitchen, I swing by the laundry room and set up the next day's load. I use the delay start feature; it runs early the next morning, ready for the dryer when I wake up. I switch it over while the coffee brews. Small habit, big impact.
⚠️ The Struggle (and Solution): I hate folding! My solution? I don't have extra baskets for backlog. I must fold before the next day's wash starts. And if something's wrinkle-prone, I lay it flat while it's still warm (because I also hate ironing!). Know your weaknesses, and build solutions around them.
🧺 Part 2: Kid Laundry Days (Empowering Independence)
Yes, each of my kids (who are old enough) is responsible for their own laundry. They have their own baskets, they carry them to the laundry room, and they know how to wash, dry, and return it all to their bedrooms. No piles in the laundry room or bathroom floor allowed! And, of course, I'm there to guide and help, especially when they're learning.
📌 The Consistency Secret: Clear expectations and natural consequences. If you miss your day, you have to fit it in around everyone else's schedule – and the schedule takes priority. Our oldest often worked around the family schedule, and that was fine – in fact, that kind of problem solving is the goal!
⚠️ The Struggle (and Solution): Kids (also) hate folding! It's a battle I've learned to pick. I don't strictly enforce putting clothes away, but the girls started doing it on their own – they only have one basket, and wrinkled clothes aren't fun. The boys? They sometimes end up wearing dirty socks. Do they laugh about it and admit they should do better? Absolutely.
⚠️ The Struggle (and Solution): Chores aren't fun. My role? Gentle reminders, not nagging. If they neglect their laundry? That's their problem to solve (more on that in a future post!). Flexibility is key. If they need a specific outfit clean at the last minute, I'll say, "Oh no! There's still time to get it in the wash! Start it now, and you'll have time to dry it before tomorrow!" Always gentle, always with love, and always letting them find the simple solutions.
🧺 Part 3: The “Laundry Captain” (Shared Tasks)
Twice a week, the kids rotate being the "Laundry Captain," responsible for either towels or sheets. It's assigned fairly, and little ones who can't physically manage the whole process get a pass.
📅 The Laundry Captain’s Job:
1️⃣ Remind Everyone: Gather towels (or sheets, depending on the day). Collect bathroom hand towels and help the toddler.
2️⃣ Wash and Dry: Start the load and move it to the dryer when it's done.
3️⃣ Distribute (Sort Of): Towels/sheets go straight from the dryer to the couch. Everyone grabs and puts away their own.
✔ Exception: If someone is sick or not home, the Captain handles their towels – teamwork!
✔ Note: I handle parent, toddler, and guest towels in my daily rotation, simply to avoid kids having two loads on their day.
📌 The Secret to Keeping it Consistent: If you don't put your towels (or sheets) out, you don't have clean ones. Again, natural consequences! We also assign each person a specific towel color – no more fighting over who left the stinky towel on the floor!
⚠️ The Struggle (and Solution): We still hate folding! So, we keep it minimal: two towels per person, each with a designated hook. Fold if you want, or don't. Same with sheets – everyone strips and remakes their own bed, but one person does the washing. We have extras for emergencies.
⚠️ The Struggle (and Solution): Let's be honest, motivating kids to do any chore can be a challenge. Because the family relies on the shared laundry, we have expectations and consequences regarding neglecting this chore. If they don’t get to it as planned, I handle it but there is a fair consequence related. I’m happy to remind them when it’s their laundry day, but my point is I don’t spend too much time or mental energy reinforcing this.
🧺 Part 4: Cloth Diapering (A System Apart)
I'm a big fan of cloth diapering – it's eco-friendly and budget-friendly (and not as intimidating as it seems!). While we're not currently in that stage, I developed a great system that I'll share in a future post. If you're curious about cloth diapering, reach out to me here or on 𝕏 TimeTrekFam – I'm happy to share tips!
Laundry Hacks I’ve Found to Make Life Easier
✔ Keep separate laundry baskets for each person.
• Each person has their own hamper. We have one for kitchen/utility towels. Mr. TimeTrek and I each have our own.
✔ Be Selective
• Check labels before you buy – no dry-clean or hand-wash-only clothes in this house! Consider a minimalist wardrobe (cuts down on laundry and forces you to stay on top of it). Limit the number of towels and sheet sets.
✔ Adapt the System
• If your kids aren't ready for full independence, start small. Families using laundromats can create a routine (maybe with vending machine snacks as a treat!). If daily laundry isn't your style, a 1 or 2-week scheduled system might work better.
✔ Optimize Your Laundry Room
• Keep supplies organized (see my upcoming post on Laundry Room Organization!). Post a laundry cheat sheet – mine has saved my kids (and my sanity) countless times. Check your water hardness – adjust detergents, strip towels if needed, and consider a water softener.
✔ Wash Clothes Only As Needed
• Not everything needs to be washed after one wear. (Should I make a post on “How Often Should You Wash…?” Let me know!)
Laundry is Just One Part of a Well-Run Home
Maybe laundry is your nemesis, or maybe you've got it mastered. Either way, all those household tasks we juggle – we all handle them differently. But they don't have to be overwhelming. With a system, laundry can become one less thing draining your time and energy.
That's what Total Home Optimization is all about – designing systems that let your home run smoothly in the background, so you can focus on what truly matters. Follow along, build your own TimeTrek Total Home Optimization Guide, and customize it to your family's unique needs!
Topics Coming on a Friday Soon?
• Natural Consequences & Laundry (Why I Don’t Just Do My Kids’ Laundry)
• Our Minimalist Approach to Clothes and Linens
• How Often Should We Actually Be Washing Our Stuff?
• Mom Hacks for Stains
• My Kids' Guide (The Laundry Cheat Sheet)
• Bulk Shopping on a Tight Budget
• Testing and Addressing Hard Water
• Cloth Diapering Made Easy
• Motion for Less Waste
What would you like to see? If it’s a household or homeschool problem, I probably have an idea for a workaround!
-xoxo TimeTrek Mama
Thanks for reading! This is where I share general insights and strategies from my own family’s experience and from working with other homeschoolers - on Fridays, I share my Mama-take on Total Home Optimization! If you’d like to see more, follow along on 𝕏 TimeTrekFam for daily updates and general shenanigans and click below to subscribe for free on Substack for the real content!