How to Catch up on Laundry

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Mom Tips

Last Updated Oct 9, 2021
Laundry Tip for Busy Moms

Tackle your overwhelming laundry piles with this simple laundry tip!

Simple Laundry Tip

Check out my favorite laundry tip for catching up when things pile up and get out of control!

The Never-Ending
Battle with Laundry…

Are you stuck in that overwhelming cycle of mile-high laundry piles that never seem to end?

YOU are not alone, my friend!

Laundry Tip - Get started cleaning your laundry room

In all honesty, I find myself stuck in that very same battle with the never-ending laundry pile a lot.

Then, just when I feel like I’ve made some sort of progress in the laundry room, things being to pile up again. Not even joking.

When I actually do catch up on laundry, my kids seem to think that means it’s officially time to dirty all the blankets, towels, and clothes in the house.

How does that even happen?!

Plus, my entire household seems to think they need fresh clothes on their backs on a daily basis. Is that really a thing?

I mean seriously… what I would do for just a little space between me and the washing machine!

Need Help Keeping up with Housework
While Homeschooling?

Love laundry tips, but looking for other ways to keep your home functioning while homeschooling? Check out these helpful articles!

Only need laundry help? Keep on reading, cupcake!

How to Catch Up On Laundry When…

You are 4,000 loads behind (or a least it feels like you are).

When I get behind on laundry I tend to just stop… everything.

I don’t want to step foot in the laundry room or think about the mess, and I just can’t seem to make myself do it! It literally takes me running out of socks (or underwear, whoops!) before I can finally tell myself to get up and just tackle the situation that is now officially out of hand.

Have you been there too? Or am I like the only overwhelmed mom in the history of ever, that tends to shut down in situations like this?

I stress out way too easily and can feel overwhelmed with the simplest of tasks. So when I find myself in this laundry mess (like I did earlier this week), it takes some major willpower to snap out of it.

If I’m being honest… I totally wrote this post to keep myself in check, you guys!

As I walked through this method just a few short days ago I decided it was time to write it down.

This method totally works!

I’ve done it more times than I’d care to admit, but life’s messy and no matter how together I think I have it… the laundry still piles up from time to time.

Laundry Tip
The 3 Step Process
for Laundry Catch-Up…

  • Create a Visual Plan

I’m a visual learner.

I literally need things laid out in front of me or written down on a piece of paper in order to function! That’s why my catch-up process begins with a visual plan.

Empty out your laundry bins and sort everything out into separate piles onto the floor.

Laundry Tip - Sort dirty clothes into separate load piles

If you’re lucky enough to have a large space (either in the laundry room or right outside) then awesome! If you don’t, simply improvise in whatever way you can!

I’m blessed to have a fairly large bathroom connected to our laundry room, so that always becomes my sorting space in the event of a laundry pile-up!

Sort laundry into separate loads, not just large piles.

If you have 3 loads worth of dark clothes to wash, separate those bad boys into 3 separate piles!

These piles are where your visual plan is born.

Once things are sorted, you will then have a visual of just how far behind you really are.

Whether it’s 7 loads behind or 70, you can now create a simple plan to catch up!

  • Create a Reachable Goal

Once your piles are sorted, take a break – cause things are about to get real!

This is the hardest part, you guys. Sit down with coffee in hand and create a list (this is totally where I totally flourish – coffee & list making is my life). This list should contain all your loads written out in order of importance, a checklist per-say.

Next, figure out how long it will realistically take you to accomplish this list.

It’s important that you give it your all. However, if you have small kids at home there has to be a little wiggle room in there as well! Sometimes my laundry catch-up can be tackled in as little as 2 days, other times it takes as long as 6 or 7!

Last, space it out to avoid overwhelm. If you are 9 loads behind and know you can tackle it in 2 days, but it might be crazy hard… simply give yourself an extra day. Split those 9 loads into 3 a day and get it done with less stress!

  • Create a Functional Routine

Once the laundry is caught up, keeping it that way will be your next challenge.

While it may sound simple on paper — unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. The absolute best way to keep your laundry pile at bay is by creating a functional routine!

First, assess your situation and your needs.

Do you homeschool or work from home? Try tossing a load in every single day at lunch for an easy norm.

Maybe you work away from home 9 hours a day and weekends are your only valid option. The point is simple, find what works for your schedule and adjust as needed!

After your needs have been assessed, create new goals along the way.

I homeschool, so I have daily laundry goals. My laundry rule is 1-2 loads a day… and guess what? If I actually stick to that, things run smoothly! However, when I don’t… I end up back at step one of this process all over again… and YES it does happen.

Thankfully though, when I do have to start over – I always know there will be a doable plan and realistic goals at the end!

Love these simple laundry tips? Share this post with your friends on social media!

More Organization Helps

Organization and list-making is a huge part of who I am. It’s simply how I function best!

Check out some of my favorite organization helps & ideas below!

 

 

How to Catch up on Laundry

Meet the Author

Life & Homeschool Author

Hey guys! I’m Mary, homeschool mom of 3 amazing kiddos.

I’m so excited that you decided to check out my little corner of the world!

If you have been following our journey for any length of time, you already know that I’m obsessed with coffee, organization, and all things simple.

I’m also a huge dog lover and introvert 💗

My homeschool style is very eclectic.

I enjoy a solid mixture of structure and free range. I set goals for myself and my children each week, but I put no pressure on perfection.

We use a wide variety of curriculum in our home.

Some of our current favorites are The Good and the Beautiful, Life of Fred, Beautiful Feet Books, and Lifepac.

While my kids do spend a good amount of time learning at desks, they also spend countless hours exploring their creativity and practicing a little independence.

I love mountains, rainy days, and sitting by the campfire. 

Our family recently relocated to the PNW and we have been enjoying finding new nature spots to explore together 🙌🏼

I can’t wait to connect and share all the things I’ve learned on our new journey! 

Just a Note…

Thanks for checking out the mom tips portion of the blog! 

Typically summer is the most productive time for my blog. However, our family is currently living in temporary housing and we do not see an end in sight (thank you housing marking 😪) — meaning my workspace & supplies to produce quality content it extremely limited.

I am still working, but it’s nothing like normal.

As always, we appreciate your patience! 

If you enjoyed this article or simply want to see more of our journey, feel free to follow us on social media for more frequent updates.

You can find all of our social accounts below!

FacebookInstagramPinterest

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook group too!

This group is open to all homeschool moms.

Whether you are already knee-deep in your homeschool journey or just dipping your toes in — all homeschool moms are welcome!

Looking forward to connecting! Simply Be Wild & Free Life + Homeschool Blog

Simple Snack Station

Encourage light snacking with a simple snack station for the kiddos!

Simple Snack Station

Printable To Do List

Simple printable to-do list for boss moms!

Printable To Do List

Snack Ideas for Kids

Easy grab and go snack ideas for healthy snacking on the go!

Snack Ideas for Kids

Time Management for Moms

Super simple time management tips for the busy mom!

Time Management for Moms

Follow us on Social Media

Connect with our brand on social media and join our homeschool group on Facebook!

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Facebook Group

Meet the Author

Life & Homeschool Author

Hey guys! I’m Mary, homeschool mom of 3 amazing kiddos.

I’m so excited that you decided to check out my little corner of the world!

If you have been following our journey for any length of time, you already know that I’m obsessed with coffee, organization, and all things simple.

I’m also a huge dog lover and introvert 💗

My homeschool style is very eclectic.

I enjoy a solid mixture of structure and free range. I set goals for myself and my children each week, but I put no pressure on perfection.

We use a wide variety of curriculum in our home.

Some of our current favorites are The Good and the Beautiful, Life of Fred, Beautiful Feet Books, and Lifepac.

While my kids do spend a good amount of time learning at desks, they also spend countless hours exploring their creativity and practicing a little independence.

I love mountains, rainy days, and sitting by the campfire. 

Our family recently relocated to the PNW and we have been enjoying finding new nature spots to explore together 🙌🏼

I can’t wait to connect and share all the things I’ve learned on our new journey! 

Just a Note…

Thanks for checking out the mom tips portion of the blog! 

Typically summer is the most productive time for my blog. However, our family is currently living in temporary housing and we do not see an end in sight (thank you housing marking 😪) — meaning my workspace & supplies to produce quality content it extremely limited.

I am still working, but it’s nothing like normal.

As always, we appreciate your patience! 

If you enjoyed this article or simply want to see more of our journey, feel free to follow us on social media for more frequent updates.

You can find all of our social accounts below!

FacebookInstagramPinterest

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook group too!

This group is open to all homeschool moms.

Whether you are already knee-deep in your homeschool journey or just dipping your toes in — all homeschool moms are welcome!

Looking forward to connecting! Simply Be Wild & Free Life + Homeschool Blog

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