Keeping Laundry in Check with These Simple Tricks

by Ann Hayward 06/28/2020

Photo by Steve Buissinne via Pixabay

Leaving the laundry to build up all week means you might spend all Saturday washing, drying and folding. Organization experts offer these tips for keeping your dirty clothes under control throughout the week so that you can spend your weekends enjoying life.

Get the Right Containers

Invest in a pair of laundry baskets or lidded bins that are easy to carry and fit in your closet or wherever you dress. If they’re exposed to the room, look for elegant or colorful baskets with lids to blend in as decorative accents. Use one to toss dirty clothes and the other to collect the dry-cleaning.

Create a Routine

On Monday, grab the dry-cleaning basket and throw it in the car to drop off on your way to work. On Tuesday, pop a load in the washer from the other basket or bin before you head out the door. Then, place it in the dryer when you arrive home. Listen for the dryer buzzer so you can slip in and hang or fold items immediately so that they don’t wrinkle.

After work Wednesday, pick up the dry-cleaning and move it directly into the closet when you get home. Then use Thursday morning to wash the sheets and towels and repeat the steps from Tuesday: listening for the buzzer after putting the towels and sheets in the dryer, then folding them and putting them away immediately.

Keep Your Laundry Room Organized

Use glass jars to hold powdered laundry soaps so that you always know when you need to buy more. Instead of dryer sheets, invest in silicone or alpaca dryer balls you can reuse indefinitely. If your laundry room doesn’t have a hanging bar, add an over the door or wall-mounted rack so that drip-dry clothing hangs near the washer for easy access. Rotate empty hangers back into the laundry room so that they’re always handy.

Finally, spend your Friday night enjoying friends and your weekend relaxing or visiting open houses with your real estate agent.

About the Author
Author

Ann Hayward

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the suburbs, Ann Hayward got her Pennsylvania real estate license at age 18 even before going to college. This second-generation real estate professional followed in the footsteps of her father and two uncles, inheriting their passion for the business. Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Ann is accomplished in her career, with numerous designations including SFR, SRES, PSA, WHC, and multiunit Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) from the National Development Council. She specializes in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, all jurisdictions where Ann has lived and knows very well. In addition to her professional expertise, she owns and manages personal investment property, understands and has been involved in the renovation/remodeling process, and has great resources which she shares with clients. When you hire Ann to represent you, she will make your buying or selling experience an enjoyable, rewarding one. Her compassion, sensitivity to her clients’ needs, eye for detail, and ability to see the big picture when guiding you through a purchase or sale are unique assets that will ensure your success. A diverse and relevant background also gives Ann a distinct edge. For 30 years, she worked in fast-paced, high-pressure television and theatrical production, attaining the highest achievement – DGA membership as a Director, and as an award-winning staff and freelance writer. Her keen audio visual skills and design sense benefit sellers in marketing their properties, and are invaluable in helping buyers see the potential of space. A true renaissance woman, Ann was also an income tax professional and office manager for H&R Block, so she thoroughly understands the tax and financial implications of acquiring and selling real estate. Her superior organizational skills are further evidenced as owner of a downsizing/professional organizing business, Managed For You, which allows her to connect with everyone from millennials to boomers and seniors, whether for small space planning or assisting with major decluttering and transitioning. Ann holds an AB in American History from Simmons College, Boston, plus attended Robert Wagner Graduate School of Public Administration where she was a candidate for Doctorate. She additionally studied Film Direction at the American Film Institute in LA, and was a Stanford University post-graduate Professional Journalism Fellow. Personally, Ann is an avid if not very good golfer, and the co-founder of a nonprofit 501c3 organization offering educational guidance, tutoring and counseling for youngsters from elementary school through college admission. She sits on the board of trustees of a nonprofit educational film production corporation as well. (202) 494-6252 [email protected]