Stop Drowning in Clothes: Laundry Hacks for Executive Dysfunction

First, I want to share in your exhaustion and dread of the overflowing laundry basket.

Whether you live with roommates, pets, children, or a partner, it’s nearly impossible to stay caught up on laundry — because the clothes you’re wearing will soon need to be washed again. After spending the day doing my own laundry, I wanted to share some helpful tips that might make this care task feel a little less awful.

Laundry Basket Placement

Something I often recommend to clients who feel frustrated by family members leaving a trail of dirty clothes is to strategically place laundry baskets throughout the home. This helps catch clothes where they’re most likely to be dropped.

For example:

• Place a basket near the front door for those who work messy jobs and don’t want to track mud or dust through the house.

• Keep one in the bathroom to catch clothes and pajamas before a shower or bath.

• Have one near the washer and dryer for items like towels, blankets, and rags so you can easily build a full load and save water and energy.

You might be thinking, “But that looks so messy if guests come over!” The great thing is, it only takes about three minutes to move those baskets into a bedroom or closet and close the door. You deserve to make your space serve your needs instead of adjusting your lifestyle to fit your home.

Removing Stains

Stain removers often need to be applied 15–30 minutes before washing, which can be hard to remember. Or, you might spray the stain right before washing, giving it no time to work and the stain remains.

Instead of trying to remember to pretreat stains later, keep a bottle of stain remover attached to or inside your laundry basket. This way, you can treat the stain right after taking off the clothing and toss it in. Stain remover won’t harm most fabrics if it sits for a few days; in fact, it can sometimes remove stains more effectively.(Always check your clothing’s care label to be sure.)

When you do wash the clothes, consider adding a laundry booster like OxiClean to help tackle body oils, odors, or small stains you may have missed.

Forgetting About Clothes in the Machine

This is one of my most dreaded laundry hang-ups, I’ll start a load, get distracted, and hours later realize it’s still sitting in the washer.

If that happens to you too, try the “6-hour rule.”

• If it’s been sitting for less than 6 hours, it’s probably fine to move to the dryer.

• If it’s been more than 6 hours, it likely needs to be rewashed to prevent mold or mildew.

If your laundry area isn’t near where you spend time, it can be hard to hear the buzzer. Try setting a phone alarm, asking your smart home device to remind you, or using a show or movie as a timer, change the load when it ends.

Be gentle with yourself. Everyone forgets laundry sometimes; it’s not a reflection of your hygiene or cleaning ability.

Folding Clothes

Pssst! I want to tell you something no one talks about: you do not have to fold your clean clothes. You can live out of a clean laundry basket or simply place unfolded items in a drawer. If you’re worried about wrinkling or have dress clothes, hanging them up is an easy, low-effort option that prevents wrinkles altogether.

If you do prefer folding, try pairing it with something enjoyable, fold clothes while watching a show, listening to a podcast, or chatting with family. This combines a preferred activity with a non-preferred one, keeping your brain engaged and making the task feel more doable.