Wednesday, October 15, 2008

WFMW--I Don't Sort My Laundry!

That's right! I do not sort my laundry. It all gets tossed in the washer together in a devil-may-care fashion. The first time this idea was presented to me, I was in shock. My mother taught me to sort out all the loads: whites, lights, darks, colors, towels/sheets and so on. As I've mentioned before, I like to follow the rules; in fact, like a Pharisee I expanded the rules for myself, adding more categories. Pure white! White with printing or design! Light! Medium! Bright colors! Muted or soft colors! Red! Black! Dark! You get the picture.

What this meant was that I constantly had piles of sorted laundry all over the basement floor. This wasn't such a big deal when the laundry was in the basement, but when it was on the second floor with the bedrooms, basically in a closet, this would mean laundry all over the upstairs hallway.

So my method is this: ideally, I do one load of laundry a day. Whatever is in the hamper that sits outside the laundry closet gets washed together. I've never had any problems. If I have any doubts about color-fastness, I toss in a Shout Color Catcher (often just half of one).

As with any rule, there are possible exceptions. I do wash sheets and towels apart from the rest because I like to use hot water, and occasionally bleach on these items. I usually save up the reds and do them together, because red is the worst at bleeding. (I'm editing here to add that if I have a brand-new item, or something that I know will bleed, I will wash it separately first.) And finally, if I have not been on top of things or the family has been very busy and there's more than one load's worth in the hamper, I will probably, but not necessarily, divide it in a very non-strict way into lighter and darker. That's it. Works for me!

My oh-so-lovely laundry closet. Next project: get a pretty hamper.

Head on over to Rocks in My Dryer and check out the other great ideas those smart ladies have.

19 comments:

JessieLeigh said...

I do EXACTLY the same thing! I don't sort and I do about one load a day. I'm not even sure how it started... sometime after kids, I know. : )

Good to know there are other wild ladies out there like myself!

Lana said...

What a neat page you have! It's never to late to start saving... :)

Girl Fisher said...

Hi Holly-- Saw your comment on the Bulk Buying post and left a note there for you. Wanted to leave it here in case you don't go back.

The note: With Costco, they will refund your membership cost at any time for any reason.

Amanda said...

I throw 1 in every load, but I must say that it has failed me on a couple of occasions.... do you put more than 1 in your load? I turned a white shirt blue and it was my husband's favorite shirt :(

Brooke said...

i'm intrigued by this idea...and tempted to try it. maybe i'll try it after the wedding of the first load of HIS stuff ;)

Kelley with Amy's Angels said...

Holly--I'm exactly the same way. I don't really sort my laundry either!

Thanks for your comment about the eyeglasses on my blog. Here's what I can tell you: I felt the same way. So, when I had my eye appointment (to get my updated Rx), I did a little "window shopping". I just made notes on the ones I liked and found similar styles online. Not exact, but it worked for me! And the eyeglass place didn't think anything different. Yeah, they TRIED to get me to buy, but I told them I was just making notes for a later purchase.

Thanks for stopping by! : )

Wanda said...

Oh man....I'm a sorting machine!

AND I have had so many things bleed onto other clothes!

Khaki's seem to love whatever has the slightest coloring in it....
I am not as brave as you...
Pray for me....I need to be freed from this devil of sorting!

Anonymous said...

I read this tip recently in a magazine, but have been afraid to try it. Maybe I'll have to get brave.

Thanks for your comment on my post about peeling avacadoes. Next time I peel one, I'll have to try popping the seed.

Did you know that you can also put the seed in your leftover guacamole and it'll keep it from turning brown? Well, for a day or so anyway. That's been a nice tip since we usually have something leftover that we'd like guacamole for the next day.

Anyway, thanks for the laundry tip. I'll have to try it soon...maybe. ;-)

karla said...

Good to know that i am not the only "lazy?" person out there. I only sort if i have a huge amount, but with my new washer i can fit huge oversize loads in. I do a whites only about once a month where i go thru the laundry and pick whites and whatever and bleach.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you made a lot of work for yourself w/all those loads. I don't sort much either. I do sort my & hubbies clothes b/c there is more of them. I wash on Mondays. But I do 3 piles. Towels get done w/the loads that are being done that day. I seperate ligths, colors/good & dh work clothes. I am done by the end of the day.

Growin' With It said...

as i sit here typing and hearing the hum of my dryer....oh i LOVE this idea better and better. way to go! found you thru wfmw and i enjoy your spot.

Veggiemomof2 said...

I'm the same way! I've never admitted this for fear someone would die from their huge GASP of shock!

I do put towels off to the sides for a hot water load because it helps our septic system.

Kristin - The Goat said...

I really need to "lighten up" with my laundry sorting. My clothes have been washed so many thousands of time that they aren't going to run anymore.

I wonder if I put all the laundry together if that twitch I'd most certainly get would go away after a few loads?

Come by my place this week as I'm having a Birthday Giveaway
Kristin

Anonymous said...

omg I need to stop sorting! Really, it causes anxiety when I do laundry. Sometimes something doesnt get washed for awhile because it doesnt have a partner to be washed with...like my older daughter's who wear tights, if I dont have enough, well, if they run out of tights before I have a small load-too bad! lol I need to work on this, it will make my life easier.

Genny said...

I've never thought about this...I've always sorted. But I like the idea and the simplicity!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm glad you did. You have a beautiful spot here!

Anonymous said...

Holly, you are my hero!

I go back and forth between "sort like Mum taught you" and "who gives a crap, at least they're CLEAN!" but I aspire to the no-sort mentality as a permanent state.

Hey, isn't that a pile all of its own? Permanent press? Oh no, not the ironing subject too!

I love your "does this make me a bad mom?" category. I think one-third of my own posts would fit in there! Nice work.

Trina said...

Wow, how liberating! I have been known to do exactly what you described (reds, blacks, white, white with printing LOL)

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Zion said...

Add me to the list of non sorter and cold water only :).

MamaRedRose said...

Yay I'm not the only one out of few I know that mever sorts, my mom never sorts she (and I) just throw right in the machine.. I thought I was doing something wrong. Phew! Now I know I'm not :) just jeans, clothes with some delicates (socks, undies) eight after what needs to be air dried I'll leave out of the dryer. And then towels and sheets (sometimes towels with clothes) (ok I lied...all the time) basicly I'm random. That's ok right? :) lol oh well what does it matter at least everything is clean. :D