What is your least favorite household chore?  Is it laundry?  If so, you are going to love these tips!  

If you have children, you probably find yourself washing clothes daily and let’s face it, that gets old.  Here’s the secret though, you don’t have to do laundry non-stop!  You really don’t.  Pay attention to these tips below and see how much time, water and energy (both yours and the electric company) you can save!

Air Out Your Sheets

Forget that old habit of making your bed each and every morning.  Keep your blankets down and air out your sheets for a while each morning and you will extend the time that your sheets can go without washing. I typically wash my sheets every week, but airing the sheets out daily should allow you to go 2 weeks between washing.

Use The Same Towel for Several Showers

You use towels for drying off after a shower right?  You are drying off your clean body, so there is no reason to toss the towel right into the hamper after a single use.  Have each person in your household keep a designated towel on a hook either in their room or in the bathroom.  Each person should use their towel 3 or 4 times before it gets washed.  Be sure that these towels do get hung up though and not laying around on a floor or something.  Airing them out keeps them fresh longer.

Wash Jeans Less Often

Did you know that washing your jeans shortens their lifespan?  For this reason alone you shouldn’t wash them all the time.  As long as they are not obviously dirty, there is no reason to wash jeans after every wear.  You should be able to wear them up to 5 times before you wash them.  When you do wash them, be sure to turn them inside out.

Spot Clean

Again, unless clothes are obviously soiled or have been sweated in, etc., there is no major reason to wash them after each wear.  If you do spill something on the fabric, get used to spot cleaning right then.  Making this a habit will help to prevent stains as well.

Teach Your Kids What Should Go Into the Hamper

If your kids are anything like mine, the minute they change everything goes in the hamper (or on the floor).  Teaching kids what needs to go in the hamper (undies, socks, soiled clothes, etc) and what doesn’t (jeans, coats, sweatshirts) can save you a lot of time in the laundry room.