As we all prepare for some enormous post-Nine Days, post-camp loads of laundry, take advice from these experts

SPACE IT OUT

Give yourself more space for laundry! If you have ample space to sort, treat, fold, and hang, laundry naturally becomes easier. Remove all non-laundry items from your laundry room and make space. If there’s no room in the laundry room, I look for a space close by (hallway, kids’ rooms, etc.) when I design a laundry system for my clients.

— Yael Wiesner, Interior Designer & Professional Organizer, has transformed thousands of busy households into thriving environments through her professional organizing, interior designs, and her Home Management Workshops. Her message, “Every woman can manage her home successfully,” has empowered women worldwide.www.yaelwiesner.com

PICK ONE DAY

Have a designated laundry day every week so you don’t fall behind, and you’re only doing small extra loads during the rest of the week. Save a special activity for your hanging and folding time (like a great audiobook) — so laundry feels like a treat on a busy day instead of a chore.

— T.L.

New York

QUICK TIPS

Clean stains right away — as in, that night. In the moment, use hot water and soap, and some elbow grease to rub it out. This will help loosen the stain.

Wash delicates at 70°F (20°C), not 86  (30), and 400 rpm, and hang right away. For material that pills easily, turn inside out.

Wash men’s white shirts separately from other white stuff (like undershirts or tights).

— L.F.

Neve Yaakov

DON’T SET THE STAIN

Practically speaking, check washed clothing to see if the stains came out before putting it in the dryer. Putting stained clothing in the dryer sets the stain and chances are, even if it’s washed again, the stain will not come out.

Washing laundry is a never-ending task that can feel overwhelming, and it can be helpful to remind ourselves that we are not merely cleaning clothing; we are providing our children with stability and predictability, modeling responsibility, and instilling a feeling of trust in the relationship. One load at a time.

— Dvora Henner is a home organizer and life coach who helps women with time management and concerns related to home organization.

INSIDE OUT

If you only have one load and you have to wash all the different colors together, in addition to using cool water, wash things inside out. The side you wear on the outside won’t get lint from the other colored items.

—Y.B .

Monsey, NY

LABEL HACK

I label my kids’ clothing because some of them wear almost the exact same size. For my oldest son’s tags, I make a circle with a sharpie, and for the next boy, I put two circles. For girls’ clothing, I do a star, then two stars.

—M.B.

Passaic, NJ

BEST STAIN REMOVERS

Shout Stain Stick —H.F., Jerusalem

Fels-Naptha is amazing! It’s $2 from Walmart. —E.W., Sanhedria Murchevet

The best stain remover, especially for white shirts, is a mixture of equal amounts of Dawn dish soap and hydrogen peroxide. It works wonders, no need for bleach. —F.H., Southfield, MI

LAUNDRY BY ROOM

I do laundry by room. Each room has their own laundry basket, so when it comes to folding it and putting it away, I’m not running all over the house!

—L.M.

Jerusalem

SORT EASY

In one centralized location in the house, designate different hampers for different colored/types of laundry. Even the youngest children can quickly catch on to this system and it cuts out the process of sorting dirty laundry.

—Karen Thaler

Jerusalem

Mindel’s Tips:

When laundry is not happening often enough and some kids have nothing normal to wear, I make sure that the first load I do has at least one or two full outfits per kid (including tights, underwear, and socks).

I learned from a seamstress that most fabrics shrink significantly after the first dryer round, but not after that. I buy most of my kids’ clothing a bit bigger/longer, then wash and put in the dryer once before they wear it (I cannot be bothered to hang dry all their clothing every time!).

I hate laundry, but every Rosh Chodesh I seem to have a special yetzer hara to get every load in. Set yourself a reminder two days before Rosh Chodesh so you don’t end up doing laundry that day (if that’s your minhag).

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 954)