Laundry is one of those endless chores. No matter how much you try to stay on top of it, there’s always something waiting to be washed, folded, or put away.
Over the years, I’ve figured out some tricks that make it easier and less stressful—especially with my limited energy and chronic pain.
These aren’t your grandma’s laundry rules either; they’re practical and adaptable — designed to work with your energy and ability levels instead of focusing on the “right” way to do it.
1. Sort & wash by type.
I was taught to separate denim, whites, and towels and blankets from the “regular” clothes. I tried that for several years until I washed my clothes together.
You know what? There wasn’t much difference. I don’t bleach my clothes. I own more black and heather grey than white anything.
I wash my clothes altogether most often, but I sort them by type when I have a lot of them:
- Underwear (camisoles, undies) + mesh bags of bras and/or socks
- Shirts
- Shorts & pants
- Blankets, bedding & towels
- Galaxy’s stuff
Each type is washed separately so I can fold/put up accordingly.
2. Sort & fold by type.
If I don’t wash by type, then I will sort and fold a basket of clean laundry by type.
- I hang shirts over the side of or next to the basket.
- Shorts and pants go on the opposite side.
- Anything in a mesh bag is dealt with last, kept inside the basket.
- Underwear and socks stay in the basket.
Folding clothes in “batches” by type helps me complete the basket faster.
3. Focus on one basket at a time.
Even when I have a lot of laundry to do, I only focus on one basket. Only one basket matters.
I have a basket of clean clothes sitting on a chair, another clean basket of clothes sitting on the floor, and a pink basket half full of dirty laundry to be washed. Another load is drying that I’ll take out and fold tonight, only because it’s three sheets and three pillowcases.
I wash three loads today and only folded one basket because only one basket matters.
The beautiful thing about having several laundry baskets is that I can wash multiple loads and fold one basket at a time, as I have the energy for it.
I fall behind on laundry a lot because I have multiple chronic illnesses, am in autistic burnout and deal with chronic pain. In other words, I’m exhausted AF.
One basket at a time…it’s what works for me.
4. Don’t stress over having all your laundry done.
Laundry, dishes, trash, cleaning — household tasks you do routinely continue They’re never 100% completed — even when you wash your last load of laundry.
The clothes you have on right now will need to be laundered and go into an empty basket.
Laundry never ends. You will never be 100% done with laundry.
Hence the one basket at a time focus. You’ll feel accomplished for having completed one basket of laundry.
5. Start with washing one load.
Wash one load. That’s it.
You don’t have to fold it. You only need to wash it. This gives you fresh clothes to wear. Fresh laundry is a total mood boost.
6. Hang most of your clothes.
If folding is too much for you, hang your clothes up instead.
Have drawers or some other organizer for your undies, bras, socks, camisoles — they don’t hang well.
This way, you’ll prevent wrinkles and be able to see all the clothes you have.
Dresses aren’t for everyone. You’re not obligated to have one.
Maybe one day you’ll want more for your clothes than simply hanging them. That’s when you’re ready for a dresser or other clothing organization system. Some people find have totes works best so they only have to sort by type into totes.
In other words, you don’t have to be perfect with how you put away your clothes. I found hanging mine up the easiest way to see what I had available to me to wear.
7. Have a few sheet sets.
I used to strip my bed and remake it later the same day with the same sheets after washing them. That was miserable and tiring because I had to wait until the sheets were done before I could make my bed.
Energy budgeting was so difficult with that system.
Having 3 different sheet sets to alternate between is amazing.
Even if two sets are in the laundry, one is always on my bed. Eventually, another sheet set will be washed, at which point that one is the next one I make my bed with.
A fourth set is optimal, but I’m rather picky about my sheets and am doing OK with my current quantity, so I’m not looking right now.
8. Use a folding board.
Years ago, I bought the Miracle Fold Laundry Folder. I’ve used it every time I folded my clothes ever since.
Buying it was met with some criticism. I’d looked forward to it and was really excited about my purchase.
To others, this was a luxury item I didn’t “need”. To me, it was an accessible laundry tool. I wanted to file fold my clothes uniformly for my dresser — and I couldn’t fold clothes well, on repeat, because of carpal tunnel syndrome.
I love my folding board. It gives me a precise fold every time. I don’t fold clothes at the same pace as someone who doesn’t use it, but I’m also disabled…so of course I’m not going to.
9. Skip the fabric softener.
Fabric softener repels water and leaves a residue on your clothes.
A splash of vinegar added to the wash will deodorize your clothes and soften them in the wash, helping them feel cleaner.
Scent boosters also leave behind a residue on your clothes and make them more flammable (too much laundry can do this, too).
10. Use less laundry detergent.
Your clothes don’t need as much laundry detergent as you may think.
Using too much laundry detergent can
- increase your clothes’ flammability
- leave behind a sticky, gooey or soapy residue
- make your clothes smell worse
- prevent your clothes from washing properly
1-2 Tablespoons (3-6 teaspoons) for liquid or powder detergent is more than enough.
I use 3 tsp powder detergent for small-to-regular loads and 4-6 tsp for larger loads.
When I use liquid detergent, I measure to the recommended amount or slightly less. Liquid detergent is already liquid; a little goes a long way.
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