Do you dread folding laundry? Or does it just never make it to the top of your to-do list? I hear you—I’ve been there.
Having four kids in under five years turned laundry into my personal Everest. It escalated quickly from a few loads a week to constant piles and overflowing baskets. It was overwhelming.
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I WAS DROWNING IN THE LAUNDRY OF A TINY CREW OF DIRT MAGNETS.
Little people who somehow use their clothes as napkins and generate mountains of dirty—and clean—laundry faster than I can keep up.
Washing wasn’t the problem; starting a load takes seconds. Folding was the issue. It felt low priority because the clothes were clean. “Do I know where that shirt is? No. But it’s clean…somewhere in those four overflowing baskets.”
Folding seemed pointless when the items would need washing again soon. But living out of clean laundry baskets wastes time: searching for a shirt can take 15 minutes, kids leave clothes everywhere, and clutter accumulates.
I realized the real time-sink was not staying on top of folding. So I created a routine that works for someone who truly dislikes folding. First I adopted a 15-minute-a-day laundry habit, then I used three folding hacks that actually motivated me to keep up.
Here they are:
1) USE PAIRING
Pairing helps you do things you regularly avoid. The idea is simple: pair an enjoyable activity with the unpleasant task. You only get the fun activity while you do the chore.
Examples to pair with folding:
- Listening to podcasts
- Watching a specific TV show
- Watching a movie
- Listening to audiobooks
- Listening to music
- Turning folding into a movie night with your partner (fold together)
The key: you must actively fold in order to enjoy the paired activity. For instance, only allow yourself to watch your Netflix show while folding. You get the pleasure of the show guilt-free and the folding gets done.
2) SET AN ALARM AND JUST DO IT FOR A FEW MINUTES A DAY
There’s something to be said for ripping the band-aid off quickly. Set a timer for 10 minutes and fold as much as you can in that time. Ten minutes is manageable, makes the task less painful, and often surprises you with how much you accomplish.
This “rip-it-off” approach pairs well with a short daily laundry routine—commit to a small, consistent block of time and it becomes habit rather than a looming chore.
3) ENLIST YOUR KIDS
Kids often pick up skills faster than you expect. I taught my older children to fold at about four and five years old, and they loved helping.
Start them with simple rectangular items—washcloths, dish towels, baby blankets—then move on to their own clothes. Many kids take pride in helping and can be more meticulous than adults.
This hack not only reduces your workload, it teaches responsibility and a useful life skill. Make folding a routine so children know to expect their role each week or however it fits your schedule.
USE THESE FOLDING HACKS TO TAME LAUNDRY HELL
Even if you loathe folding, these practical hacks make staying on top of laundry manageable and even pleasant sometimes. Try one approach or combine them: I fold about 10 minutes a day while listening to podcasts and have my kids fold towels, blankets, and most of their clothes.
You can do this—one small habit at a time.