Time to do laundry….”eeeerrrrrrrr!!!!”. If you are like me, laundry is your least favorite chore. I’ve been in a few homes where laundry is a beast and I have helped families get out from underneath the piles! Here are some tips-n-tricks that I’ve used to make this unavoidable task go a little bit easier:

• ​Ensure you have a pre-sort system: lights, darks, delicates, towels and linens. Have a dedicated hamper or basket for every category and make certain everyone in the household knows where to put their dirty clothes. If your family members are use to having one hamper for themselves in their bedroom or bathroom, that’s fine! Those contents just need to make it to the “household” sorting hampers/baskets.
• If your family is small and doesn’t have a ton of laundry piling up, dedicate one day a week to tackle it in a few hours. Multi task and have the laundry going while you do other household chores (one of the few upsides to having to do laundry😊).
• If your family is larger, and it would take you hours and hours to complete in one day, pick certain days of the week to complete specific categories. Maybe Monday’s are for towels, Tuesday’s are for lights, Wednesday’s are for darks and Thursday’s are for linens and delicates. 
• Any “Mini-Me’s” in the house? Have them help out by folding or putting their own laundry away. Older ones may even be able to start a load, especially if you have your pre-sorted system up and running. Have a little chart to remind them of detergent/softener levels and wash settings for each category.
• Really behind??? Pay a babysitter that you use and trust, a friend’s child or neighborhood kid looking for extra cash to help dig you out! Remember, many hands make light work😊

I hope that this has given you some ideas that you can use in your home! If you think you need some one on one help, contact me for a consultation!
 
Your answer for organizing,
Ali  

​With the new school year in full swing, I thought I’d write about a question that I hear from many of my
​clients: "what do I do with all of the artwork my child brings home?!?”. Naturally, there is an emotional tie to almost everything they make, especially items made just for you!  Of course, we can’t keep it all (and I’ve seen what happens when people try!) so here is an idea that may help: create a Memory Box for each child. Here are the steps:

• If keeping, date it and jot down any details that you would like them to remember on the back. Hang it in their gallery immediately, or else you may be in danger of creating another pile! You may need to take something down in order to make room for the new piece (1 in, 1 out rule). If something is coming down, help in making the decision of whether or not it’s something they'll keep in their memory box. Some things to consider:
  • What memory is it attached to? (Your notes on the back will help remind you!)
  • Is there something similar already in their memory box?
  • How easy is it to store?
• If it’s not a keeper, let it go! If it’s a keeper, file it in their memory box! The easiest way to set up their box is to use a file box like this one and label one for each child. Organize it by year before they start school, and by grade after they start school. If they create during the summer months, use the file for the grade that they are starting in August/September.  At the end of each school year, go thru the file with your child and ensure you are keeping only the absolute favorites. Keep the boxes in a place where your kids can access and enjoy them…the notes that are jotted down on the back are sure to bring laughter and happiness for years to come!

Your answer for organizing,
Ali