Friday, May 31, 2013

Save Time Doing Laundry, My Version

Laundry can be quite boring so hang with me here ok? How many times do you have to go around to different rooms in your house putting clean laundry away? How many times in a week do you open a set of drawers to stash underwear and socks? How many times have you re-folded clothing because it didn't get put away, or re-washed something because it was too wrinkled from not being folded and put away? Or, re-washed a whole load because you forgot to put it in the dryer?

Oh, you haven't counted? Well, saving time and effort is something I take seriously, so I have counted ;o)  No just kidding, I don't have an actual number but being aware of how I do things around the house and then working on stream lining the process gives me more time to do things I want to do like write this! 



We often over estimate the amount of time it takes to do a chore. That being said, chores do take time. It takes less time to do it right though, than to re-do it. We all have to do laundry. Discipline yourself to do it right and spend the time you gain doing something you enjoy. Here's how I save time doing laundry. Oh and -YES- I know what it is like having kids running all over the house while you are trying to do your chores. Not only is it possible to clean while the kids are around, it's good for them to see you do it. Good habits are caught. 

Do it once a week. Repeating steps and trips around the house waste time and effort. I have found that doing laundry once a week works the best for me, and I do it over a weekend. Because I know I will be doing laundry on the weekend I plan when I will have the biggest time block and start it then. I separate all the laundry into piles that I want to wash together and then when a load is finished, it gets dumped onto my bed. (often I will separate it on a Friday night and throw in a load to get a head start, choosing a load that won't wrinkle in the dryer)  When it's out of the dryer, I spread out the items to be hung on top of each other to prevent wrinkling, and into different groups....one for each family member.

It would also be possible to wash one family members laundry a day, then there would only be the one trip to put to away if once a week for all of the family's laundry is not possible.

Fold on your bed or table, not the sofa. I always dump my clean laundry on my bed. It makes a nice large folding surface, plenty of room for separating into piles, and it has an added bonus for procrastinators. You need to put the laundry away before you can sleep in your bed! There are times I forget I haven't put it all away and I am dead tired and walk into my room and there it is. But it only takes minutes to deal with and beats all the extra time it would take me if I dumped it else where to be re-folded and put away another time.

Pick a method that works for you. When I was a young single mom doing laundry for my kids I even had an order that I washed the clothes in. First, I would wash all pants and shorts. Then, all tops, and finally, all whites as that was were the most underwear and socks would be. I would fold each load of laundry as it came from the dryer right away eliminating the chance of wrinkling. 

Pants and shorts were put into groups for each person. Next came tops and colored underwear. The folded tops would be placed on top of the folded pants and shorts. Then the socks and underwear on the very top of the pile. The pile would then go to bedrooms to be put away. Each sock drawer, underwear drawer, etc; would be opened one time for the week to put laundry away. 

Towels and sheets are always washed separately mostly because the weight of them can wrinkle lighter weight clothing. These items I can wash during the week because they will not require going to different rooms for each load to put them away. I always wash and put back on my bed the same sheets until I am ready for a change in color or season. That saves time on folding too. 



I like to lay all tops, like t-shirts, to be hung on top of each other facing the same way. It is easy then to insert a hanger, fold the top down and insert a hanger in the next shirt. Then they can all be taken to the closet in one easy sweep. 

Here is a silly but effective time saver. One day when the older kids were entering pre-teen years, I realized I was spending a lot of time turning dirty laundry right side out. So began a rule that I still use. If you don't turn it right side out before it goes into the laundry, then you will turn it right side out before you wear it the next time. I would leave it wrong side out, wash and dry it, fold and put it away wrong-side-out. I still do that, ask my husband, rule applies to him too! 

If the kids had a stain on their clothes, it was their responsibility to put stained items into separate laundry basket I used just for stained clothes. That way I would know to look at and pre-treat each piece before laundering.



If you hang your laundry out on the line, put items that hang up on the hanger (only on plastic ones) instead of using clothes pins. Now they are ready to go and you have saved time not pinning and you wont have those pin marks either. Pin the hanger to the clothesline if it's breezy so the hangers wont blow off the line. 

There you have it, how I save myself time, energy, money by not re-washing and drying, not needing to iron as much, space not having dirty laundry everywhere, embarrassment having someone drop in and having clean laundry all over but not folded, no frustration because I have clean socks when I need them, and I don't need a lot of unnecessary clothing items because I have plenty of clean things in my closet. This is Gramma Connie's version of saving time doing the laundry, the end.

I link at these parties. 

If you are reading this post anywhere else but at Family Home and Life then it was used without permission! Please report it! Copyright © Family Home and Life 2010-2013 All Rights Reserved

78 comments:

  1. I really like the tops method for going on hangers. I wash my tops and pants inside out because some one told me there was less color fading that way.

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    1. I also wash clothes inside out and yes!!! It really does help with fading.

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  2. "Family Home & Life" has been included in the Sites To See for this week. Be assured that I hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2013/05/sites-to-see_31.html

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  3. Great tips. Thank you for sharing.
    Phoebe x

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  4. Would love for you to share this at my link up where we pin all those who join to our party board http://myfashionforwardblog.com/2013/05/30/all-things-pretty-10/

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  5. We are a family of 5 and I wash every other day. This works for me. I hate having to spend all weekend washing and putting away clothes. I also bought small baskets, with handles, for my boys, 8 and 6, so they can put their underwear and socks away without dropping pieces. I agree about folding on the bed, you have to put it away so you can go to sleep.

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  6. Love the hanger tip and folding on the bed with a bigger space! We have seven in our family, with 2 of them 4 and under, so I have laundry daily. I am the same way about clothes that are inside out ;)

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  7. I love the hanger tip for the shirts and am going to implement the inside out rule for my stepson. My problem is we have too much clothes so I put off doing laundry and then have mountains. This weekend I have to tackle 3 weeks worth.

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  8. Great tips! I really need to get my laundry on a schedule. I usually end up having to do like 10 loads in a row because NO one has any clean clothes!

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  9. Good tips and I actually do most of them except for the tops -- I lay them out like you but I hang them in the closet as I put them on the hangers -- for the exercise!

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  10. Great tips! Got you from Serenity Now Weekend bloggy reading.

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  11. Ha ha ha ...I dump mine on the bed too. Then it is a race to see if I can get it put away before Kanga jumps on something all excited that she found an item that requires some fresh cat hair! :)

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  12. Love these ideas, especially the one about leaving clothes wrong side out or right side out and washing them that way and hanging shirts outdoors on hangers.

    Thanks for the tips!

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  13. Grreat tips!! Especially keeping those kids accountable!! I'm so glad we found your blog!! Thanks for linking up with us at One Sharendipity Place this weekend!
    Sue @thet2women.com

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  14. Love the shirt hanger tip! That's a keeper!

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  15. These are great tips. I have tried the bed one before but have thrown laundry back into the baskets at bedtime. Oops. lol.

    Thanks for sharing your favorite post at Raising Imperfection! We feature our favorites on Friday, make sure to come back and check.
    Leslie
    www.violetimperfection.com

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  16. Great tips Connie. Thanks for joining us at the Let's Get Social Sunday blog hop. Have a wonderful week :) Diane @MamalDiane

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  17. Wow, some great ideas, thanks for sharing!! I especially like the inside out rule, will definitely give that a try! :)

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  18. Laundry is actually one of my favorite chores. I don't mind doing it but I agree with your tips. I implement a lot of them -- including folding on a table. It makes it so much easier. And I always group by drawers -- pants, shirts, etc.

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. :)

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    www.raising-reagan.com

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  19. Just saw your link at the Mop it up Monday Hop. These are great tips and I actually do most of them. Yay for me I had no idea I was being so efficient lol. I am definitely implementing the inside out rule at my house, as of now!

    Thanks for Sharing :)
    Angel @Household Savvy

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  20. Wow, what great tips! These would definitely help keep laundry under control......thanks so much for sharing!

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  21. Great tips! We do our laundry once a week as well, and we dump the dried clothes on the bed to fold them. It's definitely a great way to make sure it gets done that day! And I do the same thing about inside out stuff! But I do unbunch my husband's socks cuz no matter how many times I ask him to do it, he just won't and they really don't get clean all scrunched up like that. :-)

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  22. I presume you have a separate washer and dryer. We have the one machine, washer/dryer and because of that there is no way I could get all the laundry done in one go, unless the weather is really good for drying outside.

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  23. I love the tips for hanging tops. Thanks for the great tips. :-)
    Blessings!
    Kim @ Curtain Queen

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  24. These are great tips! I'm usually lost in a mountain of laundry so this really helps! Thanks for linking up to Frugal Crafty Home!

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  25. Great ideas. I hate doing laundry. My partner and I actually trade off monthly -- I've been doing the laundry for the past 3 months, but now all summer he will be doing the laundry! I'm so excited! Do you mind if I link back to this post when I write something up about our laundry battles on our blog? We're over at http://radicalhomemakersintraining.blogspot.com
    So happy I came across your blog in the blog hop!

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  26. I'm a busy graduate student working full time and going to school full time.. I will admit that my clothes usually don't get folded, ever. I tend to dump them and then live out of the dump pile, haha. But one quick tip I do use for things that need to be hung up in a closet (ie, anything that wrinkles or special occasion clothes) is that those items never make it into the dryer. Anything that will end up on a hanger is immediately put on a hanger and hung to dry. This saves a bit on my electricity as well, because less clothing goes into the dryer.. But also means it can go directly into the closet when dry.

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  27. Awesome tips! I agree on the bed. It keeps me from procrastinating, because the bed HAS to be cleared when I want to get in it!!! LOL!.... :)


    hugs xx Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

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  28. Amazing ideas. So glad I stumbled over here today.

    Delighted to meet you today. I hope you don't mind if I splash around a bit. This looks like a refreshing place to dip into some serious goodness.

    Also, I would love for you to share this post with other mommas. We have a little link up started. Momma's sharing our notes, creating a melody. We could use your fave recipes, fun mom moments, encouraging words, the goofy, anything mom. I would be honored to have you join us.

    http://justsarahdawn.blogspot.com/2013/05/momma-notes.html

    Splashin,
    Sarah

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  29. Wow these are SUCH great tips!! I usually do laundry several days a week since we live in an apartment and have to share 2 washers and 2 dryers with 20 other people... I'm so ready for my own actual HOUSE so I can keep up with my laundry better. I will be pinning your tips for future reference tho. I really like the idea of hanging clothes on hangers before putting them on the clothes line. That makes complete sense and I never even thought of that before!

    Visiting your blog from the I Gotta Try That Link Party.

    Helen
    Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
    Exercise Encouragement Group Blog

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  30. These are some great tips! It's funny because today is my laundry day so I've been washing and folding laundry and then I read your post, lol!

    Thanks so much for linking up to the "Making Your Home Sing Monday" linky party! :)

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  31. Very great tips! It is totally ironic that I read your post on the same day I was complaining to my husband about ALL of the laundry I am ALWAYS doing! I am not kidding... it is daily! And lots of it!

    Feel free to come link up at Party In Polka Dots!

    http://www.piggyinpolkadots.com/2013/06/party-in-polka-dots-linky-25-sweet.html

    Shelley

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  32. Always looking for time saving tips! This is great!

    Found you at Kathe with an E

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  33. Hi Connie, great tips. I pretty much do my laundry the same way. Except, I fold my clothes in the kitchen table - it's easier for me because it is at a good height and doesn't hurt my back from leaning. I lay out the clothes to be hung up and now I will start putting the hangers in the clothes like you do. Thanks.

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  34. These are all great tips! Having a system is important, makes the work easier. Thank you for sharing!

    Ritchil
    http://chengand3kids.blogspot.com/

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  35. You have a lot of great tips. I am so guilty of the having to redo loads because I forget them in the washing machine. You are today's Dare to Share Feature of the Day. http://www.pamspartyandpracticaltips.com/2013/06/saving-time-doing-laundry-feature-of-day.html

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  36. Great, time saving tips! I need to start doing some of these...I hate laundry!

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  37. Hi! Hopping through Pin It Tues. Great tips! I am not good about keeping up with laundry and tend to wear out of the dryer, I know, I know that is bad, LOL. Your tips could help me out. I do agree about doing the laundry on the bed. I always dump the clothes out onto the bed and get to work. It makes it easier. Already following.
    ~Jackie @ The Non-Martha Momma

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  38. So, I'm pretty sure the laying-the-tops-out-for-hangers, stain basket, and inside-out rule have just changed my life. And so simple!! Stopping by from the Gathering link party, and now following. :)

    Megan @cmongetcrafty.com

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  39. Unlike you, I do one load of laundry a day. As soon as I get up in the morning I put one load in the washer. When I get home it goes in the dryer then while dinner is cooking I fold. When everyone heads off to bed they grab their pile and put it away. I also have the same rule about clothes that are inside out. Thanks for sharing at Fluster's Creative Muster Party.

    Robin
    Fluster Buster

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  40. Great tips! Laundry isn't fun- but it is such a nice feeling when it is all done and put away! You are right- the bed makes the best large working space for folding clothes:)

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  41. You have some really great tips here--like hanging the tops. I'm going to try that. The only tip I can add is that when my child got into 5th grade, her laundry was her business. She had to do it--I taught her how, that way she learns the skills she needs for later. If she chose to not put it away and it got wrinkled, again that was her problem. Oh, and for something fun--have you ever seen shirts folded the "Japanese style?" There are you tube videos demonstrating it and it is rather cool!

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  42. I do a lot of these things and I never even thought about how beneficial they are! I do laundry every Sunday only so we all know everything will be collected in baskets on Sunday morning. All the laundry is folded and put away on Tuesday nights. I also have a separate bag for stained things so I make sure they get extra care. Thanks for all the tips!

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  43. The most efficient way to do laundry is to have a divided sorter, sort as you go. Wash, dry and hang and fold straight out of the dryer. I have a super tiny laundry space, but keep hangers over the washer, pull all the to hang stuff out of the dryer first, hang them, then fold, seperate and stack on the washer. It is time saving and clothes look better when not "dumped" anywhere to fold them.
    :)

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    1. That's what I do too. We have separate laundry hampers outside the laundry room, and if my kids want clean clothes, they sort their laundry into those baskets. Each morning, I dump the fullest basket into the washer. When I get home from work, I throw it in the dryer. I fold/hang everything as it comes out of the dryer so no wrinkles and no piles of laundry around the house. I placed a laminate countertop over my front loading washer and dryer so there is plenty of room for 5 piles of laundry. My older kids and hubby are responsible for taking laundry back to their closets and I just take care of mine and my toddlers. I used to do laundry weekly (on Friday nights and Sat. mornings) and I feel so much less stress doing one load a day.

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  44. Connie,

    Hi! Thank you for sharing these tips and time savers. I really like the idea of how you stack the shirts for hanging.

    New fan visiting from Homemade By You link party and have enjoyed looking around your site. Will definitely be back for more!

    Cheers,
    Marie

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  45. Great tips! I recently discovered that it's best to put my laundry right where I'll see it, so I can fold it when I get 10 minutes to do so. I used to pile it on the guest bed so it wouldn't be in the way and promptly forget about it! I hate folding laundry, but fortunately my husband helps out. :)

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  46. Thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling sunday, lots of great ideas!

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  47. Hi I am stopping by your blog from the Adorned From Above Wednesday Blog Hop. I would very much love it if you would stop by ours as well. We also have a great giveaway running with a winner to be announced in 8 days. Come on by and join up. We will also have a blog hop Friday.

    Blog: www.ashleychapmandesigns.com/blog

    Thanks so much!
    Ashley

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  48. Good tips! I do the same - do the laundry one day each week. Except I do towels and sheets on a separate day. That way, it's all done for the week. And always fun to find another grandma online - I am blessed with ten grandkids (and 6 grown children). (Visiting from Your Creative Timeout)

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  49. that hanger thing is genius!!! thanks for the tips!

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  50. With a family of 5, I'm always looking for laundry tips. I'm definitely trying your idea of laying all tops down and then inserting the hangers. I'd love if you'd share at Inspire Us Thursday http://organized31.blogspot.com/2013/06/inspire-us-thursday-link-party-2.html

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  51. Featuring this at Family Fun Friday! Thanks for these time saving tips. :-)
    Monica
    http://happyandblessedhome.com

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  52. Great tips! Thanks for sharing @ DearCreatives.com link party! Theresa xo

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  53. Stopping by from the Weekly Creative party. Thanks for the great tips! Laundry is always an issue in our house.
    ~Erin

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  54. Some great ideas! When our children were still home, they each had one day a week to do their laundry. Now that it is just the two of us, I only do laundry twice a week. Tuesdays, I do our personal lights and darks (separately, of course), and I do towels, sheets & rugs on Friday or Saturday. I keep a separate container for my cleaning cloths and wash those about once a month (I have a lot of those). I'm lucky to have a counter over my washer and dryer and can fold or hang right out of the dryer. Thanks for sharing your ideas. I live in the Phoenix area, too!

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  55. Sounds like some great time savers, Connie! I tell my husband the same thing, if you put it in the laundry inside out, you're getting it back clean inside out. I also use our bed to fold laundry up. You are right, it makes me get it put away a lot quicker!

    Thanks for linking up to The Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop! : )

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  56. great tips!! stopping by from Diana's Pin Me party!

    Christine :)

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  57. There are some tips here I am going to try! I never thought of washing shirts, pants etc. separately, that is genius! And hanging them on hangers then the line... I'm feeling silly for never thinking of that!
    Krista Far From Normal

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  58. You do it like me, with the execption of a few things that I will try! Thank you for sharing at Give Me The Goods!

    Dimples & Pig Tales

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  59. The shirts on a hanger tip is a so clever! Thanks for sharing.

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  60. These are awesome tips! I feel like I am completely attached to my washing machine these days. I want desperately to hang more clothes on the line this year. I love the idea of using hangers. Thanks for linking up to Motivation Monday!

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  61. Love this post!! Totally featuring it tomorrow. Thanks for linking it up!

    Mariel @ Or so she says...
    www.oneshetwoshe.com

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  62. You just got featured at the Creative HomeAcre Hop! Thanks for joining us and we hope you'll come and party creatively again on Sunday at http://mumtopia.blogspot.com/2013/06/Hop9thJune.html. Congratulations and best wishes from the UK!

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  63. Great tips! I love the one about putting clothes on hangers before putting them on the line -- would save line space too! Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday!

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  64. This is such a great post, it's my pick for the Household feature this morning at the Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop! Thanks for sharing your time-saving ideas with us!
    Cheers, Andrea

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  65. Great tips! Since we have 7 people in our family, I do 2 loads a day to stay on top of the clothes. I can fit 3 loads on my outside laundry line.

    The whole wrong-side out thing drives me nuts, and I've never come up with a good solution.

    Thanks for linking up at Motivation Monday!

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  66. I have the same rule about inside-out laundry. No time for that! LOL Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  67. Fabulous tips!! =) I go back and forth between my couch and my bed - but I like folding clothes on the bed more for sure!! Thanks for linking up with us at the Pinterest Power Party! Hope you have a fabulous week!!

    Danielle
    SewMuchCrafting.com

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  68. I do laundry once a week as well, (right now I do). Pretty soon I'll be doing cloth diapers, so I know that will change my laundry routine. I love the tip about piling the shirts to insert hangers! Thanks for linking up at Romance on a dime!!

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  69. Great post & awesome tips!!! Found on Mop It Up Mondays :)

    We'd love to have this post linked on our 1st SUPER SUNDAY Link Party:
    http://whoneedsacape.com/2013/06/super-sunday-party-1/

    Lori
    Whoneedsacape.com
    Not Your Average Super Moms!

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  70. Good advice! Your post will be featured at the party this week! Thanks for sharing your tips at The Shady Porch! Hope to see ya again Wednesday…the Rock ‘N Share is a NO RULEs party now! Blessings, D@TheShadyPorch

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  71. Thanks for bringing your tips by to Super Sunday! Can't wait to see what you bring us next week!
    http://whoneedsacape.com/2013/06/super-sunday-party-1/

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  72. Great tips! Thanks for linking up to Thrifty Thursday last week! You are one of my features this week - hope you come back tomorrow and link up something new! :)

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  73. I don't have a dryer (though I will need one before winter) and I adore my clothes smell after pulling them in off the line. We've got a collapsible line that pops into a tube in the ground and we pull it out after we're finished with it (so no one decides to walk away with it). having used a dryer previously, I actually find that it is faster pulling clothes off the line, because we fold as we pull it down (and we hang by person, so in the basket it is all together). Plus it's free - very frugal!

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  74. What a fabulous list of tips! I should be more dilligent about saving time, I'm sure there is a lot of wasted time wandering around my house. Thanks for your great inspiration! :) Krista @ A Handful of Everything

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