Laundry is an Every Day thing

With a large family I know that laundry is endless and if I miss one day I feel like I am endlestly backed up.  Laundry is not something that gets done.  Laundry is ALWAYS getting done.  Every day there should be at least one or two loads going in having the smallest loads on Thursday, and only an emergency load on Friday. It is important that the laundry needed for Sunday should be done on Thursday such as uniforms or kids going back to Yeshiva.  Sunday should be the heaviest days since you have towels, Shabbat clothing, including Friday clothing to contend with.  Make sure you have enough baskets to separate your loads.

1. Dark: This basket should be the most accessible since it will be filled the most.  All dark clothing should be tossed in here.
2. Whites; White shirts, socks, undershirts and the like should go in here.  I use a non bleach soap with a white soap enhancer on 60 degrees and my whites come our sparkling.  The more you stuff the dryer the more wrinkled your white shirts will come out. Want to cut ironing out, don't overload the dryer and take them out immediately and put them on a hanger
3. Heavy material and Towels: I combine jeans and towels into this wash.  I find the materials clean and try well together.
4. Delicate and Linen:  Shabbat frilly dresses, lace, pleated skirts.  I would lower the spin cycle so they don't get crushed in the machine. I find that bed linen goes well with the delicate and I don't have a fear of colors bleeding. (Unless the linen is soiled. If so, I would put it on a 15 min cycle by itself, as I would any clothing that had and accident in it, followed by washing it with the towel jean cycle on a hotter wash)

•  I gave up on fabric softener a long time ago as I read and agree that it makes the clothing stain more easily as does extra soap.  Buy a good quality detergent use less not more, treat stains with dish soap for colored and spay bleach for whites.  Too much fragrance causes runny noises a good tip for the little ones. 

• Small loads are easier to fold.  Keep an area designated for folding laundry and keep that area clean only for this purpose.  I have a table in my laundry room with shelves over head where I put  each child's basket.  When the basked gets full the child takes it to his room and puts his laundry away.  It is a life saver as I am not scrambling to get the laundry off the table when guests come or off my bed to go to sleep. 

The MOST IMPORTANT addition to doing your laundry is Pray.  We learn that Yosef Hatzdick would pray when he was in Potifar's house as he did any chores. He would ask to be successful and that he should gain his masters approval.  As I put a load in I Pray "H'shem please clean these items as only you can, Please give anyone that wears them Love and Fear of God as well as health Amen."  It does wonders for the wash and for the soul.