Moms with lots of kids

[crazygame]

How do you keep up with the laundry? I am in awe of you. I am amazed by how much we produce as a family of only four. Geez.

[lolobeth802]

I do at least 2 loads a day. There are 5 of us. I have a system and it works pretty well and I'm super efficient. If I don't follow the schedule it gets OUT OF CONTROL lol!!

[quickstepstar]

I don't know if 3 qualifies me as a mom with a lot of kids , but I do each kid once per week. I usually have to wash swim stuff after they have a swim class, so a load goes in with that, then 2 other kids loads go in. I did find that if I do each kid's laundry separately it is easier to fold and put away. DH does his own, and I do my own, typically on one of my 2 gym days. Thankfully my cleaning lady does all the sheets and towels though. When I did those as well, I was very overwhelmed!

[Marmee]

Well for years it was my DH. Recently I've decided to take it on (to free up time for him to do other stuff around the house). I run it all one day...6-9 loads and make a gigantic pile. Then either that night or the next day I fold it in all (takes about an hour). Everyone gets their piles & puts their own away except I do the baby too. Hang up stuff similarity. It's not bad honestly this way. I could do a load a day but I feel like that's inefficient. I'm also a SAHM so I'm home a lot.

[holly116]

May 14, 2014 15:51:02 GMT -5 quickstepstar said:

I don't know if 3 qualifies me as a mom with a lot of kids , but I do each kid once per week. I usually have to wash swim stuff after they have a swim class, so a load goes in with that, then 2 other kids loads go in. I did find that if I do each kid's laundry separately it is easier to fold and put away. DH does his own, and I do my own, typically on one of my 2 gym days. Thankfully my cleaning lady does all the sheets and towels though. When I did those as well, I was very overwhelmed!

This is a good tip and I may try it. I also have three and I'm almost never caught up. Washing and drying it isn't the issue, it's the folding. Gah. Folding tons of itty bitty baby clothes takes forever.

[AHappierHour]

After everyone has a bath I grab all the clothes from the day and I wash them. I have 3 kids plus my clothes and FI's clothes. I fold it before I go to bed and I put it away when they are eating breakfast in the morning. I wash towels and stuff durning the day.

[cinco]

I do 2 loads of laundry every other day. It is a ton, and it is best not to think how much of your life is wasted doing laundry I fold, and the older kids and DH put their own clothes away. DD1 puts the toddlers away too. My only short cut is that I don't bother putting the clothes right side out when I fold them.

[6fsn]

I wash and dry every Monday. I fold every Tuesday morning. It takes about an hour to fold but then it goes straight to rooms and put away.

[dcrunnergirl52]

May 14, 2014 15:51:02 GMT -5 quickstepstar said:

I don't know if 3 qualifies me as a mom with a lot of kids , but I do each kid once per week. I usually have to wash swim stuff after they have a swim class, so a load goes in with that, then 2 other kids loads go in. I did find that if I do each kid's laundry separately it is easier to fold and put away. DH does his own, and I do my own, typically on one of my 2 gym days. Thankfully my cleaning lady does all the sheets and towels though. When I did those as well, I was very overwhelmed!

I also have three kids and have a similar system. DH does his own laundry. I do one load per week for DD&DS1 (their laundry goes together), for DS2, and for me. And then on the weekends, I usually have one extra load of towels, sheets, bathing suits, etc. I fold almost all laundry right after it's done because I hate when it piles up. 

[elocrates]

Well, we have three kids, so I'm not sure that qualifies as "lots" but this is what we do (usually done on the weekends):
-One load for each kid every week (like PP mentioned, it seems way easier to fold and put away)
-One dark load (my stuff and DH's non-work stuff) each week
-One DH work load each week
-Towels and sheets alternate weeks (we have plenty to last 2 weeks)
-Whites are done every other week (again, plenty to last 2 weeks)
-There's usually another random load thrown in each week (outdoor clothes, extra dark load, etc.)

We TRY to fold as it is getting done, though I like the idea somebody had about the "folding party." Honestly, it's overwhelming at times and we're totally behind if we go out of town for the weekend.

[wavepool]

May 14, 2014 16:04:58 GMT -5 holly116 said:

May 14, 2014 15:51:02 GMT -5 quickstepstar said:

I don't know if 3 qualifies me as a mom with a lot of kids , but I do each kid once per week. I usually have to wash swim stuff after they have a swim class, so a load goes in with that, then 2 other kids loads go in. I did find that if I do each kid's laundry separately it is easier to fold and put away. DH does his own, and I do my own, typically on one of my 2 gym days. Thankfully my cleaning lady does all the sheets and towels though. When I did those as well, I was very overwhelmed!

This is a good tip and I may try it. I also have three and I'm almost never caught up. Washing and drying it isn't the issue, it's the folding. Gah. Folding tons of itty bitty baby clothes takes forever.

I only have one kid, but I don't fold his clothes. All "casual" clothes get rises in their right drawers, I hang up the nicer ones, bibs and towels go in bins in the kitchen and bathroom. Saves me lots of time because I have a bin with just his clothes, pull up a chair next to his dresser, and have everything put away in less than five minutes!

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