Answers to common questions about laundry routines and keeping on top of the family's clothes.
Most families with children do laundry several times a week rather than all in one go, as clothes and bedding pile up quickly. Setting fixed laundry days—every other day, for example—prevents the pile from becoming overwhelming and ensures everyone knows roughly when clean clothes will be ready.
If children are old enough, consider letting each person take charge of their own laundry, or split the laundry days between the adults. Noting down who is washing on which day stops everyone assuming someone else is doing it, preventing laundry from building up for days.
Start with simple steps like sorting their own clothes or putting items in the laundry basket, then let older children gradually take over the whole process from washing to folding. Having a set day each week for your child's laundry turns it into a routine rather than a last-minute scramble when they run out of clothes.
Try labelling clothes with initials or using separate laundry baskets for each family member, especially if the children are close in size. Sorting things before they go into the machine saves a lot of time compared to sorting through a giant pile of dry clothes afterwards.
Make a note in your weekly planner of days requiring specific kit, like PE clothes or match jerseys, and schedule your washing so everything is ready in time. A calendar showing activities and needed items makes it much easier to see what needs washing and by when.
Break it down into manageable chunks—like doing one load a day instead of trying to tackle it all at once—and prioritise urgent items like school uniforms or sports kit. Setting up regular laundry days afterwards will keep the pile from getting out of hand again.
Set a reminder for shortly after the cycle finishes, rather than relying on memory during a busy day. A well-timed daily routine or reminder ensures wet washing gets hung up or put in the tumble dryer before it sits around for too long.
Set a fixed schedule—like changing bedding every fortnight and towels every week—and build it into your normal weekly routine. Otherwise, it is easy to forget about bulkier items while focusing on the more visible piles of clothes.
Give them total ownership of their washing—including bringing it to and from the laundry area—rather than stepping in to finish the job for them. Having full responsibility tied to a specific laundry day means they do not have to compete with the rest of the family for machine time.
Shared laundry room slots need to fit around your weekly plans so doing the washing does not clash with other activities. Adding your laundry slot to the family calendar makes it easy to check whether a time really works before you book it.
Spread the task over a few evenings—tackling one wardrobe at a time—rather than trying to clear it all in a single weekend. Making it a regular twice-yearly event in spring and autumn turns it into a predictable routine, so you avoid being caught out when the weather changes or clothes no longer fit.
Decide whether clothes should travel back and forth with the child or if each household keeps its own set—either approach works depending on your setup. Being clear about who washes what and when ensures your child always has clean clothes, whichever home they are in.
Encourage family members to re-hang clothes that were only worn briefly and are not dirty, rather than dropping them straight into the washing basket. This significantly reduces the overall laundry workload. It can help to chat with younger family members about what actually counts as 'worn'.
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