Laundry tips and hacks: Nine hacks to try if you hate folding the laundry and need some motivation

Whether you use hang clothes on the line or put them in the dryer one thing is inevitable – there will be folding to do.

Some people love folding clothes and can get started on it straight away without a second thought, but others hate it so much a basket full of washing can sit there for hours, sometimes days before it’s touched.

For those in the second group there are ways to make folding laundry a little easier and possibly even, a little bit fun.

Watch the video above.

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Here are nine things you can try to make folding laundry feel less of a chore.

Fold straight into the basket

This one works for me and is as simple as folding clothes, towels and sheets as you take them off the line.

The reason this helps is because you’re turning two steps into one and getting started before the frustration of folding has a chance to ruin your motivation.

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Pair with TV, music or a podcast

If you don’t like the idea of folding straight into the basket, pairing can be a good way to make folding more fun.

Pop on your favourite show or some good tunes and the folding will feel like a mindless and almost meditative activity.

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Use a mesh bag for socks

One of the most annoying parts about folding is trying to match up all the socks, especially when you can’t find one of a pair.

To prevent losing socks and have them all grouped together try putting them in a large mesh bag. They can be tossed in the dryer like this but if you’re hanging on the line these can then all be hung together easily.

You could even give one mesh bag to each family member to keep each person’s socks together.

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Learn folding techniques

Make folding an art form or a challenge by watching videos of different folding techniques and trying them out yourself.

One source of inspiration is The Folding Lady who not only has a book on her tips and tricks but shares video tutorials across social media.

You might just find a towel or shirt folding method that completely changes the folding and organising game for you.

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Folding gadgets

Like folding techniques, a gadget like a folding board makes the task a little more fun because you have something new to try.

And if you like using it, especially with the meditative flipping action and the perfectly folded shirt that emerges, you’ll be more motivated to get folding sooner.

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Separate baskets

If the people in your household are old enough to fold their own clothes then lighten the load on yourself and put the dry washing into a basket for each of them.

Then it’s up to them to fold their own washing. If they don’t they will find out how much harder it is to find what they need and that things look worse for wear the longer they sit in the basket, which brings me to my next tip.

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Think of the creases

The longer clothes and sheets are left in a pile in the basket the more likely they are to end up creased.

You may find some items are creased so badly that only a thorough iron will fix them so as my mum says when the washing is removed from the line and left waiting all day for her to fold; “You’re making more work for me”.

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Hang straight away

While most of us peg clothes straight to the clothesline some people like to pop them on plastic clothes hangers first and then peg those to the line.

Doing this for items that can be hung up, such as shirts, means you won’t need to fold them, instead just remove and put straight in the wardrobe.

If you’re doing this make sure you use plastic coat hangers as felt and metal ones can cause damage if used while clothes are wet and don’t hang knitwear as it will stretch.

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Timer

Setting a timer for five, 10 or 15 minutes is a tried and tested hack for general house cleaning so why not give it a go for folding.

See how much you can get done in a set amount of time and you might even have the motivation to do more.

If you have children, make it a game or competition and see who can fold their basket of washing the quickest and neatest by timing them.

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