Laundry organization

My husband has blessed me so much over the years building shelves in closets, making storage rooms for me, doing what he can to make life easier for me.  One of my favorite projects he has done for me is our laundry room.  It has been a gradual process as our family has grown.

Since it is a common issue with most moms, I thought I’d share what has been so helpful for me, perhaps it will help you as well!

For years we just had a short hanging rod, about the length of all the colored clothes hanging above.  I recently asked Chad to get a longer one because I needed space for the empty hangers so they wouldn’t be laying around and yet not taking up the hanging space for my wet laundry.  He bought a longer pole and before he had a chance to shorten it I realized I would rather have it full length and duck or move clothes to walk through than do with a shorter rod (the entry is to the left of the white shirts, squeeze between the basket of bedding and the stairs and there is a doorway)!  I could still use several more feet of rod but my laundry room just isn’t big enough!

This dirty laundry sorter idea I got from a friend.  With the top shelf it actually holds 5 baskets.  I bought the baskets and then Chad sized the shelves accordingly.  The children are supposed to bring down their laundry every day and sort it, I can see at a glance if we need to run a load or wait another day.

Folding clean laundry has always been a huge headache.  Trying to keep the children on task and have them fold and sort to the right piles everybody’s laundry was really trying on me.  Chad encouraged me to purchase a basket for each child and sort the clean laundry in it requiring each child to fold and put away their own laundry.  It worked like a charm but I didn’t have a good place to keep the baskets if their was unfolded laundry in them and lets face it, there are times when laundry sits for days without being folded (I got tired of 8 baskets sitting in front of my piano all the time)!  A couple months ago Chad built a double sorter for me.  Each child has a basket with his/her name on it, Chad and I share a basket.  Jolene and I sort the laundry as it comes out of the dryer (usually) and then the children are responsible for the rest.

Different children are responsible for towels for different areas of the house (kitchen, cleaning rags, bathrooms).  We helped limit bath towels by purchasing a different color bath towel and wash cloth for each child.  No one ever wanted to use someone else’s towel but no one ever wanted to claim a towel as their own and since they all matched we were washing a LOT of towels!  They are responsible for putting away their own towel and wash cloth, this is pretty simple since they don’t even have to fold  them, just hang them up!

He built the shelves above my appliances and got me the largest washer and dryer on the market at the time for home use.  If I had more space I would probably ask for a second set, there are days that the machines run nearly non stop throughout the day.  Especially before and after trips or other times when we haven’t managed to keep on top of it all.

I count my blessings often!  This is one that stays at the forefront of my thoughts.  Laundry is a daily task and so the organization is a constant reminder of the love of my Sweetie and the blessings of God to have the means to make these purchases and the skills to build!  Without God we are nothing!  Thank You Lord!!!!