Did you know that ‘Washday Monday’ was a long-established tradition in Australian households that continued well into the 1950s? Before washing machines became commonplace, setting aside a regular day for the weekly wash helped households organise what was an especially time-consuming chore.
Why Has Laundry Become Such a Time-Consuming Chore?
Managing Laundry for the Whole Family
The washing machine and dryer should have made laundry day a breeze, but many households still find that managing the laundry for their whole family is a hugely time-consuming chore. Different fabrics, colours and levels of dirt and grime can mean that several separate loads are required to properly wash clothes for the whole family.
Finding Time for Washing, Drying and Folding
In many households, laundry has to fit around work, school and family schedules; late-night loads, early morning hanging out to dry (and hoping the weather stays good!) and piling up dry clothes for folding when there’s a spare moment can all make it difficult to stay on top of the laundry.
3 Practical Ways to Make Laundry Day Easier
Create a Regular Laundry Schedule
Our grandmothers were onto something with their Washday Mondays – a regular washing schedule takes the mental load of thinking about when to do laundry right down. You have to look at your household’s needs to create a schedule that works for you – that might look like washing and drying on a Saturday, folding and putting away on a Sunday, or a small load every morning to keep on top of things; whatever schedule you find works for you, stick to it consistently.
Sort Clothes as You Go
Create a system that the whole family can participate in without thinking about it; separate laundry baskets for everyday clothes, whites and heavily soiled items make it easier to put a load on and not have to sort through the washing first. Clearly label baskets and make sure the whole family knows what goes where.
Make Folding and Putting Away Clothes Easier
If you air dry your clothes, it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to fold and sort the washing as you take it off the line. That way, you bring in a laundry basket of clothes ready to be put away rather than a pile that’s easy to leave until later. Similarly, fold clothes as you take them out of the dryer. Putting away can then be designated to each member of the household or done quickly by one person without having to deal with a giant pile of washing at once.
When Does It Make Sense to Outsource Your Laundry?
When You’re Struggling to Keep Up with Household Chores
Laundry involves several separate tasks: sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting everything away, and the workload can quickly build up. If you’re struggling to keep up with the volume or the laundry backlog is taking time away from other priorities, outsourcing some or all of it can provide practical relief.
When Work and Family Commitments Leave Little Free Time
Time constraints are a huge factor in laundry struggles. Busy households can find it difficult to manage the multi-step laundry process, with competing schedules and commitments leaving little free time for doing the washing. If this happens every week, a weekly laundry service can take a regular household chore out of the schedule rather than waiting for the washing to pile up.
Seasonal and Incidental Washing
If your family has a seasonal wardrobe, outsourcing the washing before packing items away can make the change of season much easier to handle. Similarly, a one-off laundry service can be useful for doonas and other bulky bedding that may not fit into your home machine, or when you might not have the drying capacity for them.
How Does Laundry Pickup and Delivery Work?
Laundry pickup is different from dry cleaning; everyday clothes and household washing can be collected, washed, dried and returned to your home. The exact process varies between providers, but a typical pickup-and-delivery service includes:
- Arranging collection – you select an available pickup time and leave your laundry in the agreed location. Some services offer contactless collection, so you don’t need to be home.
- Washing, drying and folding – your laundry is then professionally washed, dried and folded.
- Delivery back to your door – your clean, folded laundry is returned ready to be put away.
What Should You Consider When Choosing a Laundry Service?
Collection and Delivery Options
For households across Sydney’s Northern Beaches and North Shore, collection days and times can vary by suburb. A laundry pickup and delivery service in Sydney should clearly show which areas it covers, the available pickup windows and expected turnaround so you can choose an option that works with your household schedule.
Pricing and Transparency
Whether you’re interested in a weekly service or a one-off laundry service, always check that pricing for all available services is clearly stated on the company’s website. If you’re going for a regular service, make sure it’s clear what that service includes, or doesn’t, so there are no surprises on laundry day.
How Your Clothes Are Washed and Handled
You want to look for a laundry pickup company that offers flexibility in how items are washed according to their needs. Check whether you can specify preferences such as separating whites and colours, selecting wash temperatures or requesting particular handling for certain items. If you need clothes professionally finished, also check whether ironing or steaming is available as an optional service.
Making Laundry Easier Gives You More Time for What Matters
Ultimately, the laundry is a task that can become a stressor for households, and whether you implement a stricter laundry schedule to manage it or outsource it entirely, the payoff is having more time for what really matters in your day and your week.
