Getting clothes into the washing machine isn’t usually the hard part. What happens after they’re clean and dry can turn one load of laundry into a basket that sits around for days.
Folding, sorting and putting everything away can feel like an entirely separate chore. If clean clothes regularly spend more time in the laundry basket than in the closet, simplifying the process may be more realistic than trying to become someone who suddenly loves folding laundry.
Stop folding things that don’t need folding
Underwear, pajamas, workout clothes and plenty of other things don’t necessarily need to be neatly folded before going into a drawer. Tossing certain clothes into designated drawers or bins cuts out an entire step without making them any less clean or wearable.
Put away five things and walk away
A full basket can feel like a project, so don’t treat it like one. Put away five things whenever you pass the basket, and eventually the pile disappears without requiring a dedicated folding session.
Get the bulky stuff out first
Towels, sweatshirts, and jeans can make a laundry basket look much more intimidating than it actually is. Put away the biggest items first and the pile instantly looks smaller and much more manageable.
Give everyone their own clean laundry basket
Instead of sorting one enormous pile into different bedrooms, separate clean clothes by person as they come out of the laundry. Give each family member their own basket or bag and let them take responsibility for getting their clothes from there to wherever they belong.
Related: 13 Cleaning Mistakes You Should Stop Making
Hang clothes before they ever reach the basket
If a shirt is eventually going onto a hanger, there’s little reason to fold it first. Keep empty hangers near the laundry area and hang those pieces immediately so they can go straight into the closet.
Related: Why I No Longer Donate All My Clothes to Thrift Stores
Pair laundry with something you actually enjoy
Save a favorite podcast, audiobook or show for the times you’re folding and putting away clothes. Having something entertaining to listen to or watch can make the chore feel less like wasted time.
Find out how long it really takes
A mountain of clean clothes can look like a 30-minute project, but it may take only a few minutes to put away. Time yourself once, and the next time you’re tempted to procrastinate, you’ll know exactly how little time you actually have to spend doing it.
Don’t wash another load until the last one is gone
It’s easy to keep washing and drying clothes until you suddenly have three clean baskets waiting to be dealt with. Make a simple rule: put one load away before starting another, so the clean-laundry pile doesn’t keep multiplying.
Make sure there’s actually somewhere to put everything
Sometimes laundry isn’t the real problem; the overstuffed closet and drawers are. Decluttering clothes you no longer wear can create enough breathing room that putting away a fresh load no longer means squeezing everything into an already packed space.
Lower the standard for what “put away” means
Not every drawer needs to look perfectly organized, and not every T-shirt needs an elaborate folding technique. If the clothes are clean, easy to find, and off the floor, tossing them into the right drawer or basket may be perfectly good enough.
