The Real Deal on Laundry. Copious Amounts of Laundry.

Holy crawdaddies, does it ever pile up fast. Clothing, towels, bedding - a mound that grows ever higher regardless of how many times (a week..a day!) you do laundry. The satisfying feeling of emptying the hamper is itself hampered by the drooly bibs and blowout onesies that quickly fill in the gaps. I didn't mind laundry that much before; unlike washing dishes or vacuuming, it was a chore I was happy to do. But with the addition of just one tiny extra person in our family, we are suddenly doing loads nearly every day. She's so small! It doesn't make any sense! 

Even though the overall amount of laundry in the basket remains the same, it takes twice as long to fold and put away because the items are so tiny. After the baby shower, you wash and dry these adorable pieces of clothing. You giggle at the wee little socks you're folding, then you stack neatly organized piles inside a dresser so new you can nearly smell the pine. Six months in, the cuteness (sort of) remains but practicality takes over. So rookie mamas like me, please know: if you did not enjoy laundry before or were not efficient at it, I suggest a few things:
  • Team up. Many household chores get divvied up between a couple. But the sheer amount of laundry that piles up is better tackled by both of you working together. Also, it just seems mean to only let one person deal with poopy blowout sleepers.
  • Learn your laundry symbols. These days, clothing is not made to last; it is made to be constantly replaced. Baby clothes will likely be grown out of or messed beyond repair, so don't lose an outfit because you didn't wash it in cold or the gentle cycle! Which leads me to the next tip...
  • Do spot treatment on stains as soon as possible, then wash it in a load. Don't let it sit if you can help it! Oxi Clean works well if you're quick, and the old bar soap Sunlight can work wonders with the addition of a little elbow grease.
You do become accustomed to completing laundry multiple times a week. Hopefully, your little one tolerates an infant carrier so you can do a load or two during the day. Or better yet, perhaps he or she will sleep at a decent hour and you can get it done during off-peak hours and save both water and money. The environment and your wallet, respectively, will thank you!

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