Simplifying your Household: Laundry

Laundry always seems to be one of those areas where you can never stay ahead. I spent the first 4 years of our marriage going to the laundromat - so I did laundry once a week. Then we got our washer and dryer, and I continued with the habit of doing all the laundry once a week. That works (if you own enough underwear :) when there are only two of you, not so much when babies come along :) , but I still have a hard time being consistent with daily laundry. This summer I have been able to fall into a routine of 2 loads of laundry each day. I have also been working on making sure the kids learn to put their own clean laundry away. The problem with that of course, is that often I clutter the school room floor or kitchen counter with folded clothes, waiting for them to come get them. My solution - which has worked really well so far - is one of those hanging closet organizers. It cost about $15 and hangs from the bar in my laundry "room". I get the laundry out of the dryer, fold it on top of the dryer, then sort it into compartments for the kids. Each morning when they bring their dirty laundry down, they take the clean clothes from their shelves and put them away. It keeps the clean laundry from taking up my counter space, and it helps them become responsible for putting their clothes away.