Look, I’ll say it loud and proud—I hate laundry. It is never-ending, always piling up, and somehow just… never done. But over the years, I’ve figured out a few little hacks to de-stress the whole process. These are my five lazy-mom laundry hacks that actually work for getting the job done, keeping things under control, and making sure it doesn’t take over your life. If you hate laundry as much as I do, grab a coffee (or wine) and let’s chat solutions.
Oh, and hack #5? Total game-changer.
Hack #1: A Laundry Schedule to Keep the Chaos in Check
The first thing that saved my sanity? Having a laundry schedule. Each day of the week, I’ve assigned a specific load to tackle. For example, Mondays are for lights and whites, Tuesdays handle the delicates/baby clothes, Wednesdays activewear/underthings/socks.. you get the idea. (You can find my post about my laundry schedule here) This way, I’m not drowning in laundry mountains come Saturday.
To make it even easier, I made laundry tags. These list the day of the week, what load to wash, and even settings or products to use. (Get your printable laundry tags here!) This is perfect because I can pass off laundry to someone else in the house (hello, delegation!) and they’ll know exactly what to do.
Laundry Hack #2: Cube Clothing Organizers (No Folding Required)
Folding clothes is one of my least favorite tasks, so I’ve decided to eliminate as much of it as possible. Enter cube storage organizers. These cute little compartments save my life. Clothes don’t need to be folded; they just get tossed in their cube. Everybody has their own set, including adults (because grown-ups already have enough on our plates).
And here’s the trick: we have a “steaming station” for clothes that absolutely must be wrinkle-free. You can quickly steam or iron those pieces as needed instead of stressing about folding perfectly. This has been a lifesaver for us, especially since my family has ADHD and traditional organizing doesn’t always stick.
Hack #3: The “Not Dirty But Not Clean” Hamper
You know that awkward pile of clothes you’ve worn once but don’t really need to wash? The stuff draped on your bedroom chair or tossed on the floor that you MIGHT wear again? Yeah, that pile haunted me too, until I introduced the “not dirty but not clean” hamper.
It’s exactly what it sounds like—a separate hamper for those in-between clothes that you might wear one more time. Now, clothes either go straight into sorting bins for washing (see Hack #1) or into this hamper where they’re out of sight and off the floor. It’s a simple fix that feels so freeing. And now when you’re looking for that shirt you “just wore” and want to wear again, you know where it will be!
Hack #4: Get Tools That Make it Easier
For me, letting clean clothes sit in a basket is a death sentence for their chances of being put away. If they’re out of the dryer but sit idle, guess what? They never get folded.
Instead, back when I insisted on folding, I set my space up for success by folding clothes immediately. Right out of the dryer or off the drying rack, they’re folded or hung up. To make folding less painful, I stocked my laundry area with tools like folding boards, hangers, and drying racks that streamline the process. Yeah, doing it this way takes commitment, but it’s way better than laundry limbo!
And for all my fellow multitaskers, pair your folding with a podcast or an audiobook. It makes folding 10x less frustrating. (More on my fav cleaning podcasts below!)
Hack #5: Tackle Laundry on Autopilot It with a Cleaning Routine Podcast
Now here’s my favorite hack of all time. I turn mundane laundry time into, well… a little bit of me time! All of it gets way more enjoyable when I have something entertaining to listen to, and that’s where my podcast cleaning routines come in.
It’s simple. I press play on a binge-worthy vintage comedy or true crime radio show, and before I know it, my hands are folding clothes while my brain is occupied and entertained. Plus, my podcast routines cover way more than laundry. They guide you through morning and evening tasks, clutter-clearing, and weekly clean-ups. It’s like having a cheerleader in your ear, making the endless chores feel a little less endless. (Want to try? I’ve got some free episodes linked here!)
Final Thoughts
Laundry doesn’t have to rule your life, and you don’t have to fold every sock with Pinterest-level perfection. These hacks are all about simplifying the process, giving yourself a break, and maybe even finding a little joy along the way.
And when folding clothes or sorting through piles feels like The Worst, just press play on one of my podcast cleaning routines. It’s the ultimate lazy hack for getting chores done while actually enjoying yourself. Here’s to keeping laundry in check and living life a little lighter!
