How to Manage Laundry and Get it Done!
For most people, doing laundry is not one of their most favorite things to do, especially if you are a teen boy!
I know it’s hard to believe that the mountain of clothes in their room isn’t bothering them, but it may not! There is a slight chance that they notice it, however, they aren’t motivated enough to do something about it.
Creating a simple system by breaking down a chore that isn’t fun, chances of completion will be way higher! Is it possible to make the chore of laundry a fun one?
As a parent, do you like to do the laundry? Would you like to create a system for yourself that you could model for your son? Try these three simple steps to help conquer teen boys laundry . . . and maybe your own!
RELATED POST: ORGANIZE A TEEN CLOSET FOR SUCCESS!
1. LAUNDRY DAY
Starting a project of any kind can sometimes be the hardest part. Laundry is no exception. Especially when one is staring with a mountain of clothes in the bedroom floor.
As the parent, you can decide what system would work best for you. Your teen boy is watching what you do. (Even if it doesn’t seem like they are!)
They see how you are doing your laundry. (When they are awake!) Only you know how you can give gentle suggestions, if any, to help them with their laundry.
I have offered to throw in my son’s laundry with the rest of the family’s. If he doesn’t take me up on it, then it builds. But eventually, he knows that it’s out of control, and brings it down to the laundry room.
He knows how to do his own laundry, since he did it in high school. He has the college experience under his belt too. If I have other laundry to do, I’m perfectly fine with throwing his in with the rest of the family’s. This is also showing how we can help each other.
A laundry rotation day can make it easier.
With laundry rotation, each family member knows what day is theirs to do their laundry. This is nice because one doesn’t have to worry about wanting to do a load of laundry only to find that the washing machine has wet clothes in it and the dryer is full!
Try a few different systems and see what works best for you and your family.
2. LAUNDRY STORAGE
Is it possible that your teen boy is struggling with laundry being all over his room because he doesn’t know where to put it?
I know that my oldest gets most of his stuff in his hamper, and if it overflows, at least it’s in the general vicinity! It makes it easy for him to scoop it up when it’s time for laundry day.
Laundry storage ideas include:
- Having a hamper that is not hidden in bedroom
- Clothes hamper that makes the chore fun
- Have a community hamper in hallway or bathroom for kiddos
- Offer community laundry baskets in laundry space for family to sort dirty clothes
Basketball Clothes Hamper
Baseball Clothes HamperPop-Up Collapsible Mesh Hamper
3. RETURN CLEAN CLOTHES TO HOME
Having a designated place to keep clean clothes is just as important as having a place to put dirty clothes.
I totally understand why you are rolling your eyes! I get it. Sometimes, there is no way that your teen boy is going to be inspired to put clothes away.
If there are a quick few items, I will put them away for my kids. I admit, I love to do my kids clothes. (With the exception of socks, especially if I have to turn a hundred dirty socks inside out!)
Sometimes I have to restrain myself to not do them, especially when my college kiddo comes home for break. There is something about caring and folding each garment with a little love. (Unless they are sweaty and smelly, in that case I need the CSI goop to put under my nose.)
Does he have the space:
- To put clothes in his drawers?
- Hang clothes in his closet?
- Or does he have too many items?
- To store off-season clothing in storage under his bed or in his closet?
If he is open to it, you can ask him questions about how he uses his space. Ask him if he feels he has enough space or too many pieces of clothing.
Asking him questions may help him to see his space in a new way. He may even take the initiative once he realizes how he can better arrange his room and how he stores his clothes.
It’s when we don’t have the space, and too many things, that we start dumping stuff on flat surfaces and the floor. Showing him solutions now will be helpful for when he goes off to college, or gets his first place on his own.
Ultimately, what will influence our offspring to do laundry and take care of their space is by watching us, their parents. You know they watch everything you do, and that includes laundry.
If they aren’t following through even after you have tried to encourage and set them up for success, the simplest advice I can give is to close their door.
Maybe that is the one thing your teen boy does that can be the biggest help for you!
Don’t worry, your son will always have clean clothes. If he isn’t staying on top of it now, as he gets older, he will.
I am very confident that he will go to work as an adult with clean clothes. I’m not sure what his grown man floor will look like, but I promise, he will have clean clothes.
At least this is what I keep reminding myself. I have two boys.
Cheering you on to a more simple life!
