speedy laundry depot

In my home, there is often a vast divide between doing the laundry and actually getting it put away.  It isn't too hard to load up the washing machine, or even to hang the clothing out on the line or plop it in the dryer.  But, somehow, I seem to have difficulty with actually putting it away.  Many days, it is just too easy to just pile it in the laundry basket to be dealt with "later." 

 

Today, I remembered the old Flylady mantra, "If you make it fun, it will get done."  I piled up a couple of loads of laundry on the loveseat and then issued a challenge:  Whoever's stack was highest at the end of four minutes would win the contest.   The rules?  All items must be folded neatly or placed on hangers and stacked in an assigned pile.  When we were done folding and stacking, it was time to race!

Ready, set, go!  We each grabbed one item of laundry and ran it to the room in which it belonged, putting it away.  Charging down the hall to fetch another shirt, towel, or sock ball, we would run into one another, leap over the dog, or stumble across the sliding rug.  Even Katie got in on the fun, shuttling laundry from the couch to the bedroom (floors!). 

We put away two or three loads of laundry in ten minutes, tops, and had a great time doing it.  All of Alex's clothes were put away, towels are stacked (semi)neatly in the bathroom, and socks are actually matched and rolled.

Go Mom!