Laundry Overload: 10 Reasons Your Laundry Is Always Out of Control
If your family laundry pile seems to multiply while your back is turned, you’re not imagining it. Laundry is the one household task that never really ends — it just keeps recreating itself. But it takes thought to prevent it from quietly taking over. Here’s what might be going wrong — and how to fix it.
01 | You’re Simply Doing Too Much
The quickest way to cut laundry is to make less of it. Not every item needs washing after a single wear. Jeans, jumpers, hoodies and anything only lightly worn can often be used again. Even wearing something twice cuts your laundry volume by 50%. It’s better for your bills, the planet, and your clothes will last longer too.
02 | You Don’t Have a Proper System
Without rhythm, laundry becomes a daily scramble. Set specific days for lights, darks, towels, bedding. Consistent regularity removes guesswork and stops the Saturday wash-mountain from forming.
03 | The Laundry Zone Isn’t Working for You
If your machine is crammed in a corner with nothing easily to hand, no wonder it feels relentless. A well-thought-out laundry space saves hours. Add shelves for products, baskets for sorting, and a clean surface for folding. Even a slimline trolley, peg rail or wall hooks can transform your setup. And if it all feels out of control? CiD’s professional space organiser will make light work of it — helping you arrange space and introduce storage solutions so it functions efficiently.
04 | The Machine Is Holding You Back
Small drum? Long cycle? Slow spin? You’re working too hard. Next time you’re buying a washing machine upgrade to a larger capacity machine with a wide range of programmes. Make sure the washer is wedged firmly in place and well balanced: a stable spin cycle allows the machine to centre the energy being used and operate more quietly.
05 | Drying Is the Bottleneck
Drying can be the slowest part of the process. For heavy items like towels, run a 2nd spin cycle when the wash has finished, to wring out as much water as possible first. This can reduce drying time dramatically. Separate heavy towels from lighter fabrics when tumble drying. Dryer balls help to reduce drying time further. And whenever you can, dry outdoors — it keeps the laundry out of the way while you tackle another wash, and in good weather is faster and fresher.
06 | Bulky Items Are Gumming Up the Works
Sheets, duvets and towels dominate the drum and take forever to dry. Send them out. A good local service will return them clean, folded and ready — and you’ll free up your machine and your evening.
07 | You’re Skipping Maintenance
A neglected machine goes wrong more often. There’s nothing like an out of action washing machine to create laundry chaos. Run a cleaner through monthly, and check filters regularly. If there is a ‘fluff rinse’ setting on your machine, make good use. For tumble dryers remember to clean the lint trap every other cycle. Small habits help you avoid big downtime.
08 | It’s Too Far from the Action
If your laundry zone is two floors away from bedrooms, the whole cycle stalls while you’re carrying loads back and forth (or leave it on the stairs). If you’re renovating, there’s a brilliant opportunity to rethink this and create a laundry room closer to bedrooms and dressing rooms where clothes are stored. A landing laundry will transform things.
09 | You’re Still Trying to Do It All
Let’s be honest — your time is too valuable to spend it matching socks. There are other ways to have the job done. Children can sort colours, hang out clothes or deliver folded piles back to bedrooms. Ask your cleaner to fold laundry as part of their visit. Send out the ironing or bring in a housekeeper to take on the lot. London is full of excellent laundry services offering collection, next-day turnaround, eco options, and doorstep delivery. Better still, ask a Virtual EA to coordinate everything — from booking services to restocking detergent. Laundry doesn’t need to be your job anymore.
10 | You Haven’t Reframed the Role Laundry Plays.
Most people treat laundry like an annoying chore to tick off. The problem is, it never really ends — and approaching it as a ‘job to finish’ just creates more pressure and frustration. Reframe it. Laundry is background rhythm, not a one-off task. When it’s integrated into your week — delegated, systemised, paced — it stops being a point of friction and becomes something you barely think about. The aim isn’t perfection. It’s flow.