The Organizer

Dear Devorah,

I  feel like I am constantly doing laundry, but it’s never actually “done.” There are always piles – clean, dirty, half-folded, waiting to be put away. I don’t want a fancy system, I just want it to feel under control. Is there a realistic way to manage laundry week-to-week?

 –  Surrounded by Socks

Dear Surrounded,

Here’s the honest truth: laundry is never done.

Not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because people insist on continuing to wear clothes. Even when you finish, pajamas get changed, socks come off, towels get used  –  and somehow one item always finds its way somewhere it shouldn’t.

That doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means your house is active and lived in.

Once you stop expecting laundry to end, it becomes much easier to deal with it in a way that actually helps.

There Is No One Right Laundry System

Before we go any further, this is important to say: there is no single laundry system that works for everyone.

Some homes are loud and busy. Some are quieter. Some have machines in the house. Some share machines with an entire building  –  and a schedule that feels more like a negotiation. Some people do whites once a week. Some do them every day. Some of us are still sorting by instinct and hoping for the best.

Laundry depends on your space, your schedule, and the people who live with you. So instead of laying out a perfect plan that only works in theory, I’m going to focus on a few ideas that tend to make laundry feel less intrusive  –  no matter what your setup looks like.

Laundry Takes Up More Space Than It Should

Laundry has a way of spreading.

A shirt on the bedroom floor.

A pile in the bathroom.

Something abandoned in the hallway.

And somehow  –  always  –  something in the kitchen or on the front porch.

When laundry ends up everywhere, it doesn’t just feel like a laundry problem. It makes the entire house feel messy, even when everything else is fine. At that point, it’s not about the laundry anymore  –  it’s about the feeling that it’s everywhere you turn.

What helps most isn’t doing more laundry. It’s keeping it contained.

Dirty laundry needs an obvious place to go. Not a beautiful place. Just a clear one. When clothes know where they belong, they stop wandering.

Getting Kids Involved (In Ways That Actually Work)

This is one place where kids can realistically help.

Not by folding. Not by sorting. (Though we can dream.) Just by getting their clothes into the hamper.

Sometimes that happens easily. Sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve worked with families who needed to get creative – including one where we put a basketball hoop over the laundry basket so kids could toss their clothes in. Was it elegant? No. Did it work? Yes – long enough to get the point across.

The system doesn’t have to last forever. The habit does.

Clean Laundry Has a Very Short Shelf Life

Laundry doesn’t have to be folded the same day it’s washed. 

But it does need a designated place to sit so it doesn’t get mixed back in with dirty clothes or drift from room to room. 

Once you do fold, though, that’s the moment to finish the job.

Folded laundry has a surprisingly short shelf life. Piles collapse. Someone sits on it. Something slides off. Suddenly it looks like nothing was accomplished. If anyone has figured out how to keep laundry folded on a bed for three days without it falling apart, I am very open to learning. Until then, putting it away right away is your safest bet.

Fold the Way Your Family Actually Lives

Folding doesn’t need to look impressive.

It needs to make sense.

If your kids dig through drawers every morning, don’t create a system that depends on perfect folds staying intact. That’s just setting yourself up to be annoyed before breakfast.

In my boys’ room, I don’t carefully fold every small item. Their undershirts go into a bin. Their socks get paired, but that’s about as fancy as it gets. The drawer looks neat when it’s closed. On the inside, it’s chaos  –  which is exactly how it’s used.

It would be incredibly disheartening to carefully fold everything into perfect little stacks only to watch it get pulled apart every single day. So instead of fighting reality, I work with it.

The best folding system is the one that survives daily life.

Laundry Is Essential  –  and Completely Underappreciated

Laundry is one of the most underappreciated jobs in a home.

No one compliments it. No one notices it when it’s done well. But when it’s not done, everything feels harder. Mornings are messier. Shabbos prep takes longer. Simple routines suddenly take way more effort than they should.

Laundry may be repetitive, but it’s essential. Your home doesn’t function without it.

And because it’s work that never ends  –  and rarely gets acknowledged  –  it helps to be a little kinder to yourself while you’re doing it. Laundry is a good time for a shiur, an audiobook, music you enjoy, or even just a decent cup of coffee. You’re already putting in the effort. You might as well give yourself something back while you do it.

Final Thoughts

Laundry is never done. And that’s not a failure.

It’s a sign of a home that’s active, full, and functioning.

When you stop chasing “done” and start designing systems that match how your family actually lives, laundry becomes just a bit more manageable  –  not because it disappears, but because it stops taking over.

And if someone ever invents a machine that washes and folds laundry, I promise I’ll be the first to let you know.

You got this! 

Happy Organizing,

Devorah