Simply Your Laundry Routine: A No-Nonsense Guide to Keeping on Top of Laundry

Laundry can be overwhelming. If you've ever felt buried under a growing pile of clothes, you're not alone.

We alll know that feeling of standing in front of an overflowing basket, wondering how it got back here again. Life gets busy, and suddenly laundry can feel like a mountain you're too tired to climb.

If that's where you are right now, take a deep breath. You're doing your best, and that's enough. And sometimes, we just need a small, manageable plan to help us get started again.

Here's my simple, no-pressure approach to laundry that helped me go from feeling totally overwhelmed to feeling in control again. I call it the 'One Load at a Time' Rule, and it's been a lifesaver in my home.

The 'One Load at a Time' Rule

This isn't a complicated system. It's not about perfect folding or doing five loads a day. It's about taking things slow, being kind to yourself, and focusing on just one small step at a time.

Here's how it works:

Wash one load of laundry.
Dry that load
Put that load away before you start the next one.

That's it. No rushing, no pressure to get everything done at once. It's a gentle. steady rhythym that helps you stay on top of things without feeling burned out.

Why This Simple Routine Works

This approach came into my life over ten years ago, during a time when I was stuck in a cycle of laundry marathons. Week after week, I'd wait until the weekend, wash load after load, and end up with a mountain of clean clothes that felt impossible to fold/iron and put away.

It left me feeling frustrated, tired and completely overwhelmed.

But when I shifted my mindset and started focusing on just one load at a time, something changed. Suddenly, laundry didnt feel like such a huge task. Instead of drowning in piles of clothes, I felt a sense of calm and control.

This wasn't about perfection - it was about progress. And that's what made all the difference.

Taking the First Step (Even If It Feels Like a Lot Right Now)

If you're laundry is staring your down right now, take a moment to remind yourself that you don't have to tackle it all at once.

Pick one small thing you can do. Maybe that means gathering just one load of clothes, putting it in the washer, and leaving the rest for later. Or maybe it means setting a timer and folding clothes for just five minutes - just five - and then giving yourself permission to rest.

Every sall step counts. And every time you take one, you're moving forward.

My Simple Laundry Routine

Here's a gentle guide to how I keep things manageable in my own home. Feel free to tweak it so it works for you!

Sort Clothes (Keep It Simple)

Instead of spending ages sorting clothes into a dozen separate piles, I stick to the basics:

Whites/Lights
Darks
Coloureds
Towels
Wool

I sometimes also have a delicates/hand wash pile.

Wash One Load a Day (If That Feels Doable)

Some days, I don't get to a load of laundry, and that's OK. But when I do, I try to focus on just one. Washing and drying one load feels much easier than trying to do everything

Put Clothes Away Without Stress

This is where a lot of us get stuck, right? Folding and putting away can feel like the hardest part. So I keep it simple. I use plastic trugs - one for each family member, and one for the linens - and sort clothes straight out of the dryer/washing line. The trugs then get taken to the rooms to be put away.

Be Kind to Yourself

It's easy to ne hard on oursleves when things get messy, but the truth is: Laundry is just laundry. It doesn't define how well you are doing as a parent, a partner, or a person.

Sometimes life is just messy. Sometimes we get behind. And that's OK. What matters is that we keep showing up, doing what we can and being gentle with ourselves along the way.

Tips To Keep Things Manageable

If you're ready to try simplifying your laundry routine, here are a few small tips that might help:

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Don't worry about perfectly folded clothes, or perfectly empty laundry baskets. Just do what you can.

Hang Clothes as You Go: If something needs to go on a hanger, hang it straight out of the dryer or off the dryer rack. It makes putting things away later much easier.

Declutter Your Wardrobe: If you're constantly overwhelmed by laundry, it might be time to pare down. Having fewer clothes means fewer things to wash, fold and put away.

Laundry will always be there, but that doesn't mean it has to take over your life. With a simple, gentle routine - and a little kindness toward yourself- you can take back control.

One laod at a time. One small step at a time. You've got this.