Laundry Should Be A Four Letter Word
We have conquered washing the laundry. We get it all done just about every day and it really isn’t that hard. Kait starts it, the boys move it, and we all take turns folding it. Getting our laundry clean really isn’t that tough.
So, my daughter is pretty particular. She hangs some clean laundry up, has a special drawer for her unmentionables, and organizes her folded laundry in her drawers. Very sweet.
My boys, however, have taken a totally different approach to “make sure you put your laundry away in your drawers neatly, please”.
They carefully carry their folded laundry from the living room to their bedroom. Then they gently dump them in a pile on the floor in front of their 2 dressers. Next, they open a drawer, whichever comes open the easiest, and they squish their quasi-somewhat still folded laundry into it.
After all that work they are too exhausted to close the drawer so it just hangs open.
For right now our family of 9 lives in a 4 bedroom house. This really works well for us – a room for the girl, a room for the boys, and a playroom. This does make laundry storage tough for the boys, though. We just don’t have room for more than two dressers and the boys’ tiny closet is packed with hung up shirts. I need a new way of doing things.
I was thinking of putting the 2 dressers that are in the boys room in storage until we have a bigger house and organizing a laundry basket system for each boy in the closet. Three would fit across the bottom side by side and the we could put a shelf up and put three more side by side on that shelf. Each boy would have his own basket. I don’t think they would keep their clothing neater this way but I do think it would be a better way to do things than what we are doing now. Right now their closet is full of hung up clothes, their drawers are stuffed to the hilt, and they have clothing folded neatly in piles on the floor by their bed. We have de-cluttered their drawers numerous times and still don’t have enough room for everything. I never knew 6 little boys’ clothes could take up so much room.
I am open to ideas! I need a frugal solution for storing the clothing of 6 little boys in one small room.
Anybody, anybody???
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I think the basket idea is great. However, rather than putting the dressers into storage, you might be able to move them into Kait’s room (if there is enough space) and put off season clothing or clothing that is between children into them. The laundry baskets might actually keep the clothing neater because they wouldn’t have to dump the clothing on the floor while they open the drawer, I imagine the baskets would be fairly open and accessible all the time
Your poor boys, 6 to a room. Might as well call them sardines in a can. Go ahead, keep popping out children though, see how many more you can squeeze into one tiny house. If you’re going to have endless children, the least you could do is provide them some space.
Anonymous #1 -
Thanks for the idea about the dressers. I think I could fit one in Kait’s closet and one in the playroom closet.
Anonymous #2 -
.
I appreciate your concern! But the boys are quite happy together. The room is just beds and clothes and only meant for sleeping – they have a separate playroom and a giant backyard. Since the boys are all still quite young they don’t mind the set up at all and are really enjoying their sardine can, as you called it.
Also, we are military and having a small house is temporary right now. We are only here for a short time and will be moving on in the next year. We are praying for a larger house next time – or at least an extra bedroom, lol.
Saying that, I have noticed tremendous benefits to having a smaller home this go ’round. The boys get along so well and have really learned a lot about sharing and selflessness. Plus, they have bonded so much with one another in the last 6 months we have lived here. I have to say that it isn’t all bad
God has provided so much love and joy with our large family. We have never hurt to feed them, clothe them, or shelter them. I can’t really ask for more! Having a large family has been a blessing and shown me what true faith and trust is all about.
Thanks for your comment!
I like your basket idea too. Another thought is those under-bed storage containers, although I don’t know how easy they would be to get to.
Always someone to play with. You have a very sweet family.
I grew up in a family with 6 siblings, and it was so much fun.
I agree with the laundry basket idea. It sounds great. The under the bed storage boxes might work as well. Honestly, if the kids have a separate playroom, all they would do in their room is get dressed and sleep anyways, so who cares if the entire bedroom is wall to wall beds!
Wow I am very impressed with your cordial response to someone so rude. You set an excellent example for others to follow. Love your blog
I am impressed and humbled by your generous response above. Just lovely, Mel!
Have you really gone through all their clothing to make sure they don’t have too much? Boys don’t really need a lot of clothes. If they have things that never seem to get worn, I’d give them away. Here’s a blog I love which has great ideas for laundry organization:
http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/
Scroll down and on the right side you’ll see “Happy Home: Laundry Organization”. lots of good info from another mom of 7, though hers are mostly grown now. She has great advice on planning meals too. HTH!
Halo, Is your Aunt Lisa, If I saw the space I would have a bast finding a way to organize it for you. I have tried many things getting just two boys to stay organized. If there is room for shelfs try splitting them into 6 different colors (paint or shelf paper) so they can’t be confused what is there space. A basket for socks and such and the others in piles on the shelf. I liked the under the bed boxes, if there is room. I found giving individual colors always helped.
The boys got along better when they had a small room now they have too much space from each other (having there own rooms). If I could back up on time they would share a smaller room again. I’m jealous that I didn’t get to have more kids. They are all blessings.