I know I’ve talked about laundry a lot but there is no avoiding it! Our dryer went out last summer and we have not replaced it. For the most part I don’t want to, that is unless we have several days of rain. I am amazed at how much our power bill has gone down without it.

I’ve had one long line up for several years now, an idea we got from the Amish when we were traveling through Pennsylvania. But with the additions to our family and our laundry load more than doubling, one line was not enough. Jeff ran me another line… such a good man he is!

Both lines are ran on separate pulleys from the house to the shed,

I don’t even have to go off the deck to hang clothes out.

So, yeah… I know, I know…it’s hard not to covet these beauties!

The best part about doing laundry are my helpers!

LAUNDRY! It’s a family affair! All the kids big and small help to knock out the folding.

And tomorrow…we’ll do it all again!

If I had my way I’d outlaw socks until everyone was grown, married and out of the house.

Here is a little ironing humor for you from one of our favorite comedians! You gotta admit, he is so on target with this!!!

Here is our whole series about doing LAUNDRY!

How to Stay on Top of the Laundry

 (Often called Mt. Never-rest!)

Do not complain! It could always be worse. Yes, It could be!!! You could have no family to care for, or you could live in a remote part of the world with no running water.

Use laundry time to pray for your family one by one.

Use laundry to teach diligence and responsibility to your children.

Put on happy music while you work.

Make folding a family affair and do not expect perfection!

Buy fabrics that do not require dry cleaning or ironing.

Make sure clothes are really dirty before washing/drying/folding.

Keep only seasonal clothing in the closet  and drawers.

Less is more. Having too many clothes can make the laundry task even harder. Keep it simple. The more stuff we own, the more stuff owns us.

We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy,

even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.

- E.B. White

It really is all about perspective…and diligence. Sad that in a day with so many conveniences and wonderful products, we dare complain about doing laundry. Perhaps scrubbing our laundry on a rock at the creek would cause us to give thanks when we approach the washer and dryer?

 How to Do Laundry Video Series

Always keep your iron in an upright position when you are not using it.

Never leave the room while the iron is on.

Never leave children in a room unattended with a hot iron.

Be careful to use the correct iron temperatures for the fabric being ironed.

Iron corduroys  and velvet inside out.

Do not pack the closet too tightly or your clothes will be wrinkled again!

Ironing a T-Shirt with a Decal

Ironing a Dress Shirt

I always use spray starch.

Be sure to button the top and center buttons and hang on a hanger promptly.

Ironing Pants

How to Clean an Iron

How to Do Laundry Video Series

Folding and hanging up your clothes as soon as they are dry will help keep your clothes from becoming wrinkled.

Make folding a family affair, everyone helps!

How to Fold a Fitted Sheet Video

Just for Fun!

Towel Animals

Elephant

Swans

Turtle

How to Do Laundry Video Series

~Read the label to make sure the item can go in the dryer. If it has this symbol  do not put it in the dryer.

~Use a dryer sheet to help with static electricity in your clothes.

~Don’t dry clothes longer than they need to.

~For heavy things such as jeans or sweatshirts let them air dry most of the way, then throw them in the dryer.

~Always clean your lint trap after each drying cycle.

When Hanging Clothes Out

The best way to dry clothes is on a clothes line; not only does it save you money on the electric bill (the dryer uses a lot of power) but it will also help your clothes last longer. When you clean out the lint trap in your dryer, you are actually pulling out small pieces of your clothing. The dryer will also cause stains that you did not pre-treat to set in more permanently.

~Shake the item good before hanging to help with wrinkles.

~If you have items that you do not want faded by the sun then hang those indoors or in a shady place.

~Pin the shirts by the bottom hem at the side seams.

Pin socks at the toe, if possible try to match them up as you hang, this will save sorting/folding time later.

~Fold the sheet or blanket in half and clip the corners of the open ends to the clothesline.

~Do not line dry stretchy clothes like sweaters or some unstructured knit garments should not be line dried. If the care label says to dry flat, find a place to lay it out to keep it’s shape.

Here are a few money saving tips for doing laundry.

How to Do Laundry Video Series

Always sort your laundry before washing.

Yes, she is ‘entertaining’, but what she says is good.

Never overload your washer. Putting too many clothes in will cause your washer’s motor to strain.

It will also hinder your clothes from washing thoroughly, the clothes need room to move around.

Washing with Baking Soda

Whitening Without Bleach

Washing Without a Washer

When adding liquid fabric softener to your wash load do not pour it directly on your clothes, be sure to use the compartment that is build in the washer. Pouring it directly on your clothes can cause fading/staining.

Before you complain about doing laundry, watch this one.

How to Do Laundry Video Series

The most important thing about removing stains is to treat them as soon as possible. Again, teach your children at a young age to pre-treat their own stains with Dawn.

The second most important thing is to not put an item through the dryer until you know the stain is out. The heat of the dryer will set it in, making it next to impossible to get it out.

Getting Ink Out

Removing Gum

How to Remove Grass Stains

OK, this lady is pretty ‘entertaining’, but she covers the basics! )

More Stain Fighting Ideas

Test your treatment on a part of the fabric that cannot be seen easily to make sure the garment can withstand the treatment.

Use the most gentle treatment first.

Never mix chemicals, especially bleach and ammonia, this causes dangerous fumes.

Soaking clothes in the washer with vinegar several hours will help with strong odors.

Making baking soda and water into a paste is good on stains.

Dawn dish liquid is excellent on grease stains.

Lemon juice on a stain and hung out in the sun for a day helps to bleach stains out.

You may need to treat stains 2-3 times before they come out.

How to Do Laundry Video Series