toSort or Not to Sort......laundry Quandry

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores various approaches to laundry sorting among participants, with some sharing their personal experiences and methods. The conversation highlights differing opinions on whether sorting laundry is necessary and the potential time savings from not sorting.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, mentions that they have a family of four and are considering not sorting laundry to save time, based on an article they read.
  • Another participant shares their experience of washing all clothes together, except for delicates and dry cleaning, and has not encountered issues with this method.
  • Several users mention using separate bins for different types of laundry to streamline the process, which helps with sorting before washing.
  • One participant notes that they used to sort laundry but found it to be a waste of time and now washes clothes together, with the exception of whites.
  • Another participant expresses concern about color bleeding and shares their experience of still encountering issues even with sorting.
  • One participant highlights the use of Shout Color Catchers as a solution to prevent color bleeding when washing mixed loads.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the necessity of sorting laundry, with some participants advocating for it while others share successful experiences of washing clothes together without sorting. No clear consensus emerges on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences vary based on family size, types of clothing, and personal preferences regarding laundry practices.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for different laundry strategies or those interested in time-saving tips may find the shared experiences relevant.

G
GeorgiaPeach
Silver Member
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I have a family of four...DH and DS play soccer, DD plays tennis, DS wears school uniforms. I have MOUNDS of laundry every week.

Today I read an article in Woman's Day about saving time cleaning. One lady said she doesn't sort her laundry. Each person gets a laundry basket, when it's full she does a load. Saves sorting twice...once to separate colors, once to get it to the right person. The only things she pulls out are things that would "bleed" (like new jeans) and fine washables. She just puts 1 c. vinegar in loads with whites to keep them bright.

Has anyone heard of this before? Does it work? It would save SO much time if I didn't have to sort all that laundry. It would also be nice to not have "hills" of laundry in my living room waiting for their turn in the washer :)

I want to try this but am a bit leery....want to see if anyone else has done this :)
 
Its only DH and I , but we both have seperate laundry baskets. I didnt do it that way on purpose, it just sort of happened.

Morfia might have some tips, I know she has a method.
 
I dont really sort the tradional way. All clothes get washed together (except delicates and dry cleaning). All towels get washed together and all sheets get washed together. I have never sorted whites out because I just dont have that many and I would feel bad wasting a load just for them. Sometimes I will gather everything that needs to be stain treated and do them all in one load, but thats about it.
 
Withdrawn.
 
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  • #5
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
There have been recent two threads where this was pretty well hashed out:

Laundry Question

Washer & Dryer
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I've just read through both threads and don't see anything about whether or not it is essential to sort the laundry first (darks, brights, whites). The first thread was about getting smells out of laundry and the other was debating the best type/brand of washer and dryer.

So, KG, thanks for trying to help but my question still remains...do I need to sort my laundry out into different loads or is it safe to throw them all together?
 
I got a three bin laundry hamper that sit outside of our bathroom/laundry room. One bin is for jeans and towels. One is for shirts and colors. The third is for white, socks and undies. This has helped laundry so much because it's already sorted if people can put the stuff in the right bin. As soon as the bin is full, throw it in the wash. Now if only I can figure out how to make it fold itself...
 
I have always washed my family's clothes all together. I've never sorted except the reasons you mentioned above, new jeans that would bleed, etc. I wash towels together and sheets together and I have never had any problems with it.

I also only wash with cold water, so that helps as well.
 
I have 2 laundry baskets - 1 specifically for whites and the other is for colors - so that cuts the sorting down a bit - I also find it helpful to schedule laundry every day - Basically before I go to bed at night I sort out one load (whichever is the largest wins) In the am when I wake and go downstairs, I bring the laundry with me and put it in. Then after coffee and making kids breakfasts and school lunches, I switch over to the dryer and hang anthing that needs to be hung dry - after showers etc - another load is brought down and put in washer, usually the dry load is done too at that time - so I try to fold if I have time. Cycle continues then in the evening - loads just rotate -

And I understand with the sports gear - right now we have 2 in soccer, 3 in lacrosse and 1 in cheering - (1 is away in college - so its a little less!!) It is all about balance and I am a firm believer in letting the kids pitch in and help!!
 
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  • #9
supergirljennie said:
I have always washed my family's clothes all together. I've never sorted except the reasons you mentioned above, new jeans that would bleed, etc. I wash towels together and sheets together and I have never had any problems with it.

I also only wash with cold water, so that helps as well.
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Thanks Jennifer! That's exactly what I wanted to hear :) I would still wash my towels and sheets separately from the other laundry so I could use hot water and kill the germs.

That article was an ah-ha moment. If I could just toss it all in together my life would be so much easier. (Okay, maybe not SO much easier but every little bit helps!)
 
I have never sorted clothes except if it is a new piece that would bleed. I do each person's clothes together, DH, DS, DD, DS, mine. That way if there is something in the pockets that they should have taken out it doesn't ruin the others clothes!!!! My 6 month old is very sensitive so his goes in using Dreft. The rest I use regular detergent and they have always turned out fine. I do wash towels and sheets seperate because of the lint. Hope this helps. I have just found that seperating wastes a lot of valuable time and it is not really needed. Most white T-shirts have colored designs and writing on them anyway!!!!!!!
 
I used to sort, but I found it was wasting tons of time. Now I've got one laundry basket for each person's room - the only exception is we have one master basket for whites; that goes in my room. All the kids bring their underwear and washcloths and other whites to that basket, and when it's full it gets done. (I really prefer washing underwear and washcloths, etc with bleach anyway, so I think this extra load is worth it.)

The others (dark colors, light colors, etc) all get washed together, and even if they have forgotten and thrown some whites in they are all still together anyway. This has saved me tons of time, because I no longer have to sort it out when I bring it downstairs and then sort it into each person's pile when I bring it back up.

I find that I feel like I'm doing a lot less laundry this way - I'm sure ti's the same amount, really - but it feels a LOT less overwhelming, and my laundry room is no longer piled with loads to do. It was a struggle for me to give up the sorting, but other than the whites, I don't see that it's making much difference in the colors.

=) Jen
 
It's funny, I actually sort DH's and my clothes (is that the right grammar?) but I don't sort my two DS's. Not really sure why. I think I am going to start not sorting since it has never hurt the boys' clothes.

One thing about the clothes that might bleed. Have you guys tried the Shout Color Catchers? They work great! I just throw one in the wash when I wash new clothes with old and I never have a problem with bleeding. Love it!
 
This intrigues me and scares me at the same time.

Even with sorting (darks/brights, pastels/lights, and then whites) I STILL get stuff that runs on my clothes! The other day one of my good white bras got put through the dark load (cold water only) and now it has blue markings on it.

My good PC shirts (some are white, some are light pink that I am speaking of) are looking very "dingy" and that's with washing the white ones in HOT water with vinegar and occasionally with bleach. The pink ones (get washed in warm then rinsed in cold) are looking dingy too.

Perhaps I should wash MY "good" shirts and DH's dress shirts alone and try not sorting anything else.

I am VERY interested in hearing from others on this subject, I would love to save that sorting time!

Things that make you go Hmmmmm!
 
I have 3 'bins':
1. whites (underwear, sheets, towels, etc.). I have gone down a cup-size, so I don't have to worry about bras anymore. Hot wash/warm rinse.
2. colors - jeans/sweatshirts, colored socks, etc. - warm wash/cold rinse
3. dress shirts - cold wash/cold rinse

Saves me time as I HATE to do laundry!
 
I use the Shout Color Catchers - they are awesome - it's amazing how much dye they catch off of clothes. I've been doing the laundry since I was 10 years old - used to be a chore that I was paid for as a kid - so I've had a lot of experience. I do separate (actually get the kids to help) and do the whites together, darks together, towels together, all jeans together etc. I really don't find the sorting part taking the longest to wash them - it's the folding and putting away which I need some help with. I try to throw a load in right before bed or right after I wake up in the morning so I can get a head start on my laundry for the day.
 
Morfia's method----everyone has there own day--3 kids each has there own basket---when they bring it down on there day without being reminded they get it back washed dried folded and put away---if they forget--I remind them and they beg to have it put away---(no i don't give in)
not often do they forget----they also have color coated towels--So if one is left on the floor---no ? who's it is---that has improved as well---Sheets get washed and put back on no need for multiples ---one or 2 extra is fine but---as a just in case---ie--sick kid---etc...for the extra's put an entire set in the pillow case so they are easy to find---
I also leave extra pillow cases in there rooms---they can change them--with minimal help---they are 12, 11 & 7.5
one battle at a time---Vanessa---knows I RUN A TIGHT SHIP----lol
 
I am awful I guess. I do hot load and cold load. I wash towels, socks, underware together, and color clothes in cold.
I so did not want to be like my sister in law. They are a family of 5. She does:
white
off white
blue
purple & pink
green & teal
browns
blacks
reds
yellows
Too much for me. If it bleeds, it bleeds... Laundry is too time consuming as it is with 6 of us. I do 2-3 loads a day, any more than that I would :cry: :eek:
 
Leslie...are you serious about your SIL?? She must make herself nuts! If she does that for LAUNDRY...how much does she freak out about cleaning!!??


I just wanted to add a time saver that I have done since moving out of the house: NO FOLDING UNDIES!! They get tossed into the drawer in a pile. Who sees if they are wrinked, anyways!??
 
My kids do their own laundry so it's a non issue with us, but when they were little they each had their own hamper from the time they were babies. When it got full, I washed it. Oh my gosh, I can't imagine trying to sort my 19 year old son's underwear with my husband's, not to imagine socks---I'd be a blithering fool, LOL
 
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  • #20
Nanisu said:
My kids do their own laundry so it's a non issue with us, but when they were little they each had their own hamper from the time they were babies. When it got full, I washed it. Oh my gosh, I can't imagine trying to sort my 19 year old son's underwear with my husband's, not to imagine socks---I'd be a blithering fool, LOL
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We have this problem so "everyone gets their own basket" would be great. My husband will fold the laundry while watching tv (yes, it's taken 23 years to get him to this point!) He is always mixing up my daughter's underwear (she's 18) and mine. While this is annoying...it is also slightly endearing :love: My DS and DD love the "low ride" socks and I can never figure out who's is who's. I just pile them up and let them fight over them!

After reading all the responses....I'm ready to try this idea this week and see how it goes :) I think I'll also add a lesson in how they can do it themselves!!;)
 
My timesaver is I don't turn clothes right side out. My dh and kids get their laundry the way they give it to me, except now it's clean.

I so sort laundry. I'm probably overboard compared to most of you.
All darks get washed together, including jeans unless really light color. I don't worry about bleeding that way.
My nice clothes that say "gentle wash" on the tag and dh's nice clothes get washed in gentle, cold cycle with Woolite (this includes my Victoria Secrets bras).
My light color shirts - gray, white, lt blue and yellow, khaki's, ds's boxers, and my exercise clothing - get washed in warm water. Exercise clothes smell even after cold wash.
Underwear and sox get washed in hot water. I really have no logical reason why I don't wash my boys' boxers in hot water. I buy ds's different brand sox so I know whose is whose.
Sheets get washed in hot water, and I'll throw in underwear and sox if there is room. We have allergies so we kill the dust mites.
Kitchen towels get washed separate from bathroom towels - both in hot water. I was getting hair on my dishes from the microfiber towels, so I started washing kitchen towels and dishcloths separate from bathroom towels.
I use Tide Free on anything not washed in cold water. I use the cold water Tide on cold loads. Laundry tends to sit clean in baskets for days! I do all the laundry from sorting to folding and putting it on everyone's beds. If I don't put it on the bed it doesn't get put away.
 
MORFIA said:
Morfia's method----

everyone has there own day--3 kids each has there own basket---when they bring it down on there day without being reminded they get it back washed dried folded and put away---if they forget--I remind them and they beg to have it put away---(no i don't give in)
not often do they forget----

they also have color coated towels--So if one is left on the floor---no ? who's it is---that has improved as well---

Sheets get washed and put back on no need for multiples ---one or 2 extra is fine but---as a just in case---ie--sick kid---etc...for the extra's put an entire set in the pillow case so they are easy to find---
I also leave extra pillow cases in there rooms---they can change them--with minimal help---

they are 12, 11 & 7.5
one battle at a time---

Vanessa---knows I RUN A TIGHT SHIP----lol
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Morfia,
I am going to need you to train me & my family on laundry rules when we're all in DC this summer!
 
1/2 the battle for me was when one out grew something and it was in the next in lines clean pile--it would always be given to the wrong--kid----too funny Carolyn---YOU ARE ON!!!! MOVE THAT LAUNDRY------
 
I wash towels, socks, sheets together. All jeans together. All colors together. That is about as sorted as I get. Most of the time the boys will sort their clothes into those categories in the laundry room. Then they get their clean clothes out of the basket & put away.
 
This is exactly what I have been doing the past month. I have a DH, and two little boys. They each have their own laundrey bag in their room (my husband keeps his clothes in the guest room) and I also have one for the towels. One night a week I rotate and wash one our loads or the towels. I use color safe bleach and do not have time to worry about the whites. I do wash the delicates separately but this does not take too much time because I hang them up to dry in my laundry room anyways. It has been a lifesaver. I was spending every sat doing laundry.
 
I am very serious about my SIL. Her house is flipped upside down alot because things have to be done a certain way and then everything else falls behind. She only does it 1 x 2 times a week so that her loads are a little bigger.
I used to be anal about that kind of thing, but I am learning...who cares as long as the boys are wearing pink shirts and underware, they don't look like they have been shoved under the bed for weeks and they don't smell too funky...I am ahead of the game.;)
 
Darks washed together (cold)
Whites washed together (warm if needed)
Towels (hot)
Sheets (hot)

Monday is bedding day (unless one of us is ill then it's washed more) I also do a load of towels this day.

I NEVER take anything to the dry cleaners (I'm too cheap)
Tuesday and Fridays are laundry days for clothes


Of course my stupid stupid stupid dryer is still broken :( I'm dying to get it fixed. It better be fixed by Monday afternoon or might have to go postal
 
So what have you been doing to get your clothes dry? It's so frustrating when something like that stops working.
My mom used to wash certain clothes on certain days. I wash stuff when the hamper is filled or I can't find certain clothes I want to wear.
 
We have been hanging a lot of stuff up. I have undies hung from everything:(
We have a washer and dryer down at our biz and so we have been taking laundry to work. DH doesn't want any of his underware going down there though :) It's been 5 weeks, and if I have to call Maytag again........
 
krzymomof4 said:
I am awful I guess. I do hot load and cold load. I wash towels, socks, underware together, and color clothes in cold.
I so did not want to be like my sister in law. They are a family of 5. She does:
white
off white
blue
purple & pink
green & teal
browns
blacks
reds
yellows
Too much for me. If it bleeds, it bleeds... Laundry is too time consuming as it is with 6 of us. I do 2-3 loads a day, any more than that I would :cry: :eek:
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Sounds like me....
I do white, black/grey, jeans, blues, orange/yellow, green, red/pink/purple and khaki. But then again, I also iron eveything before it goes back in the closet.
 
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