Getting clothes into the washing machine usually isn’t the hard part. The real struggle starts when everything is clean and dry, and that basket of laundry somehow sits around for the next three days.
Folding, sorting, and putting clothes away can feel like a whole extra chore after you’ve already done the washing. If your clean clothes regularly live in baskets instead of drawers, these simple tricks can help you get things put away without spending hours on laundry.
Stop Folding Things That Don’t Need Folding
Underwear, pajamas, workout clothes, and plenty of everyday basics can go straight into drawers without being folded. Give each type of clothing its own drawer or bin, and you’ll cut out an extra step every time you do laundry.
Related: 13 Unexpected Ingredients Your Laundry Needs!
Put Away Five Things and Walk Away
A full laundry basket can feel like a huge task, so try dealing with just five items at a time. Put away a few things whenever you pass the basket, and the pile will gradually disappear without a long folding session.
Get the Bulky Stuff Out First
Towels, sweatshirts, and jeans take up lots of room, making a basket look fuller than it really is. Put those large items away first, and the smaller pile left behind will feel much easier to handle.
Give Everyone Their Own Clean Laundry Basket
Instead of sorting one giant pile of clean clothes into everyone’s rooms, separate the laundry by person as it comes out of the dryer. Give each family member a basket and let them put away their own clothes.
Related: 13 Cleaning Mistakes You Should Stop Making
Hang Clothes Before They Ever Reach the Basket
If a shirt or dress belongs on a hanger, skip the folding step and hang it as soon as it’s dry. Keep a few empty hangers near the laundry area so those clothes 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 television show for laundry time so the chore feels less tedious. Having something enjoyable to listen to or watch can make sorting and putting clothes away feel much less like wasted time.
Find Out How Long It Really Takes
A basket overflowing with clean clothes can look like a half-hour job, but putting everything away might take only a few minutes. Time yourself once, and you’ll have a better idea of how little time the task may need the next time you put it off.
Don’t Wash Another Load Until the Last One Is Gone
It’s easy to keep washing and drying clothes until several clean baskets are waiting. Make a rule to put one load away before starting the next, and the pile won’t keep growing.
Make Sure There’s Actually Somewhere to Put Everything
Sometimes the problem isn’t laundry at all, but drawers stuffed so full that putting anything away becomes a struggle. Decluttering clothes you no longer wear can free up room and make putting away clean clothes much less frustrating.
Lower the Standard for What “Put Away” Means
Not every T-shirt needs a perfect fold, and your drawers don’t have to look like a store display. If your clothes are clean, easy to find, and off the floor, putting them in the right drawer or bin may be all you need.
