Laundry - Jersey City, NJ

Ok, as a working mom, here's what I do...after my son goes to bed, I hit the showers and then start a laundry. If I'm going to be up late, I'll fold, otherwise it stays in the dryer overnight and I deal with it in the morning. Sometimes my 2 year old son will even help out by handing me stuff.

When I became a mom I remember one of the first things that struck me was how much laundry we suddenly had!

Hi D.,

I too love the Lord and life. My suggestion to you is take one day at a time. Wake up a little earlier than the kids, spend some time with the Lord and put one load of wash in. Before you know it, it'll be done and you will be putting it in the dryer. No matter how old your children are have them put their toys away before they take out new ones, just make a game out of it and later on they will be able to do it on their own. I have 3 children, although they are older, and I have my own business so I know what you mean when you say you need help. The key is spending time with the Lord because all else is secondary and He alone will give you the strength to see the day through! God Bless!

I am a stay at home mommy and I also feel laundry is my nemisis. I probably have more underware for my family then necisary because at least once a month I let my laundry go longer than I should. My answer to the problem is who cares. I would rather have the time with my family or cook a really tasty dinner then have no dirty laundry.
W.

I know it may sound simple, but you should take a week or so (considering there are no wacky things going on that week) and evaluate when you feel like you have a moment in time. Now, I KNOW, that you're probably thinking to yourself, "NEVER!"; but if that's the case, then you have to make some. When you have figured this out, make it a point to do the laundry at the same time every week. Now, I noticed that you have three children, so maybe you can divy up the laundry into two days per week. Natania is old enough to learn that it's time to help with the household chores. This has to be simple because of her age. Consider letting her put the clothes into the laundry or dryer. Maybe she can match the socks up for you or what not. Don't overwhelm yourself. I know it's not easy, but it can be done!! Best of luck you and GOD BLESS!!

I'm from NYC and we never grew up with a washer or dryer at home, either. My mom's way (everyone we lived near's way): you use the laundromat. you save the whole week's wash for sunday and have a big family laundry day with everyone helping and go get a pizza-place lunch while its washing and ice cream while its drying. Until my mother-in-law stepped in and got us a washer last year we did this in my house and, if you can succumb to giving away a few hours on saturday for this it is worth it. the key, the big key to it all, is that EVERYONE - not just you, mama but all the kids and your husband - helps. it goes very fast and becomes a party. if you can get everyone to do this as an experiment, maybe time it (your older kids will be into that) and see if you can beat the record next saturday, that could help it become routine. if it becomes' everyone's job and is seen as a treat and not a chore it does work, trust me!

On the whole, think of it this way: before laundry machines, all women did was wash clothes (and clean without vacuums and cook without microwaves and do the dishes without dishwashers). I have no idea at all how my grandmother did anything, her house was spotless..... but she didn't work 30 hours or even 15 at a job outside the home. I think if you can communicate with your family about what you need that's a big first step.

Sounds like you are doing great. (Laundry should be the biggest thing we all have to worry about, right? ;)

~ Alex

laundry... yes, it sucks. i drop mine off on the way to work. pick it up on the way home. It's a perk i give myself...i just don't have the time to spend on laundry. i still do the big stuff at home like towels and sheets ...stuff that can add up. it might take a few tries to find a place you like... they will even use your laundry soap and dry sheets... look into it .. it's like magic.

God Bless you my sister in Christ!
It can be daunting but not impossible. First ask God to help you get organized, then believe it is done.
Then seperate your wash into whites, darks and reds.
Do one load per day. That's it. Two is too much with the folding-hanging that goes along with it.
I let my 19 month old son help me load and unload the dryer. He really enjoys closing the door and putting in the dryer sheet.

I throw in a load as soon as I get home from work during the week so it's not a huge pile on the weekend.

Hi D., I understand your situation. I have raised 5 and now I care for 2 of my grandchildren daily. I always tried to wake early and do(at least)one wash while the family is sleeping. If need be I wash again before I retire. Being a mom is not easy. We must find ways to get everything done. As the children grow you can teach them to fold and help you put away. I passed this on to my daughter and I find that most days when I arrive there is a wash already in the dryer. Hope you have these conveniences at home. I know the laundromat can be an all day job. There are also Laundry services and it may be worth the $ if you have it. Best wishes, and its good to raise your children with Christian values. The world would be a better place if more would. From someone who has also been through a lot :-) Grandma Mary

SEND IT OUT! it doesn't end up costing that much more. sending out that smelly laundry and havig it come back sorted, folded, clean and wrinkle free is worth every penny. good luck!

J.

boy do I hate folding! I try to get the first load of laundry in the wash when I get home from work on Friday's as that's when I get my daughter's sheets and blankets from day care. I make sure it is in the dryer before I go to bed. The next day, the next load is put in the wash. I typically leave the dry clothes in the dryer until it is time to put the next load in. On Sunday (now that all of the clothes are clean), I fold and sort out what my daughter will wear that week at the same time. Sometimes the last load stays in the dryer a few days, oh well. And sometimes our folded clothes stay in the basket, oh well.

D.

Thanks for your request as I'm sure many moms have it too-

I am a mom of four children, ages 8, 7, 5 and 2. I also have a profitable home business, do freelance web design, and am very active in the community and my children's school.

Much like Elizabeth, I am one who does a little each day, keeping on top of it. I do laundry first thing in the morning. I do 3 loads of laundry per day. The first load is in once we have all showered/gotten dressed. By the time breakfast is over, I've put in the dryer and have load #2 going. The same goes for #3. I fold the clothes immediately and don't procrastinate as it will just take 5 min to fold if you do it right away.

The rest of the house, I have my kids help out and hubby too. There are always days where we have a house that's a mess, but I thank God for my beautiful children, great husband and the home in which we live, so I don't let it get to me.

Take it one step at a time. I do remember years back, someone had told me about http://www.flylady.net/ and it was great to have a support network of women doing the same thing.

Where do you live?

All my best,

L. A.

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Going green while working from home
www.ahealthyworld.com

D., I have three kids two 4 1/2, 2 1/2 & 1 1/2 and they are all boys and it's never really easy to get everything done. My husband and I own two curves gyms for woman, we are landlords of three homes and I own my own every exciting and profiting business. We always tidy up clean up the kitchen area, do the dishes and the clothes. It's not easy but you need to sit down and see when you can fit everything in and still have time for yourself your husband and your kids. Alittle bit of work goes along way. Don't take an hour each do it. Fifteen minutes here and there will go along way and you can also have the kids help in cleaning, God knows they love it. Where are you located?

Dear D.,

The most important factor - separation before washing.

Many heavier clothes that are darker in color, tend to run their colors on the lighter and/or white clothes. So we separate them - delicates and unmentionables on a "gentle" cycle with a small amount of detergent (Snap detergent is best, one bottle lasts for 80 loads of laundry. The Heavy-Duty Snap cleaner is also a gentle laundry boost to aid stain and soil removal - All Snap products are non-toxic and biodegradable - safe for kids).

Undies, silk and lace - hand wash is best, but a "gentle" cycle on machine is okay in warm water.
Heavy jeans and cottons - best in cold water so as not to shrink clothes (cotton will shrink in hot or warm water) and can be placed under "heavy soiled" cycle and works well if there is a "presoak" option.
Wool - (cold water only - will become childrens clothes in hot or warm water!)
Whites - again cold water so as not to shrink, but you can use bleach to brighten these.
Colors - brightly colored clothes also in cold water so as not to run on one another.

Can spray a stain treater on stains before washing (rub little as well) using 1/3 Snap Heavy Duty to 2/3 water in a spray bottle or All Purpose cleaner directly. (These also double in that they can replace Windex, 409, ammonia, Bath Cleaner, etc. Hence is much cheaper in the long run.)

Drying - Be sure to separate colors right away so that the wet clothes do not lay on top of one another or whites as they will run on them ruining your clothes! Either hang them up or place them in the drier immediately. You can sprinkle some Snap softener (looks like a salt shaker) on top of the clothes in the dryer to substitute for a dryer sheet. This removes static cling, softens clothes and leaves a nice fresh scent to them. One small bottle of the Snap Softener is good for 1,000 dryer loads. The bottle is tiny so it's easy to carry to the laundromat and will probably last for years. (Again, non-toxic and biodegradable and safe for kids).

Get Snap - http://www.advancetohealing.com - click on "Snap" or click directly on the link below and "Watch demo" - http://www.marketamerica.com/advanceto/index.cfm?action=s...
You can always click on a product and "watch the demo" so that you can watch how to wash and clean things - good for ideas as well.

Hope this helps! I know that I was never taught, so it would have helped me (and saved my clothes!).

Good Luck!

Sincerely yours,
C. K.
www.AdvanceToHealing.com
(888) 422-0692, Ext. 1

Do it often. I am sorry to say this but thats how you keep it down. Whenever you have a full load get to getting and get it done. I don't work but I am a housewife with sparse time to myself. I have 3 little ones and its a constant thing runaround. I go out and do laundry 2-3 times a week. I make sure I have a schedule down, the kids in the bath at 8pm so they are in PJ's by 8:30pm so we can read. Laundry I get done when they are either sleeping or away at school. that way I can fold it and get it out of the way without have them get in the way.
Good luck hunny.