OT: Please HELP!!

[hugabearjo]

I am in a major declutter, organize need. I sure wish I was better at it. SO the clothing is this weekends tackle. I have 3 boys 17,15,13. I don't now what a reasonable amount of clothing is for each to have. I do laundry about once a week so we have to have some to spare too.

While I am at it, how many outfits does one woman need too.

Please help. Our house has gotten way out of control as I have been ill this last year and I must do something. I can't stand it any longer.

Thanks in advanced. I know the diser's will come through. Truly I am in need of all kinds of declutter, organize, what ever else clean house anyone can give me. My house has never ever been this bad and it is making me crazy

Thanks

 

[EthansMom]

I have clutter issues too and go through periods where I spend A LOT of time decluttering.

I would worry less about how many clothes you and the kids need and instead focus on getting rid of the easy stuff first: clothes that are too worn, clothes that don't fit, clothes that the wearer doesn't like. Ask each of the boys to go through his own clothes... give them a box and a garbage bag. Have them throw worn clothes in the garbage bag and clothes that don't fit or that they don't like go into the box. Go through the older boys' boxes to see what can be stored to hand down to the younger boys.

Likewise, in your closet/dresser, get rid of anything that doesn't fit or is worn. Also, check to see if there are clothes that haven't been worn in a while and, if so, make a good decision about whether you will wear them in the future.

Also, those boys are old enough to start doing some laundry themselves, IMO. I'd teach them to use the washer and dryer, expect them to run a load or two twice each week and then buy them fewer clothes in the future (since their laundry should be getting done twice a week instead of just once a week).

I hope this helps!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Also, those boys are old enough to start doing some laundry themselves, IMO. I'd teach them to use the washer and dryer, expect them to run a load or two twice each week and then buy them fewer clothes in the future (since their laundry should be getting done twice a week instead of just once a week).

I hope this helps!

You do laundry twice a week??? Jeez, If I do it once a week its a lot (though now that I've been working out 2x a day I do it more often), but I just feel guilty doing more than that... its a waist of water!!! I try and wait till I have a lot and just do it all at once, but I only have myself, DH and two small girls, so at least their clothes don't take up that much room in the washer!

 

[EthansMom]

You do laundry twice a week??? Jeez, If I do it once a week its a lot (though now that I've been working out 2x a day I do it more often), but I just feel guilty doing more than that... its a waist of water!!! I try and wait till I have a lot and just do it all at once, but I only have myself, DH and two small girls, so at least their clothes don't take up that much room in the washer!

My family of 4 produces about 6 full loads of dirty laundry each week, which I wash on an as-needed basis, usually 3 days of 2 loads each. We are on a well, so I don't worry about wasting water. And I wash everything in cold water, so I don't worry too much about the electricity. Also, washing more often doesn't create more loads of laundry... but does mean that you don't need to own as many of the staple clothes (jeans, underwear) since you can wear the same item more than once in a week.

For the OP, if her boys threw their laundry together and worked on washing another load or two in the middle of the week, she could easily cut down on the number of jeans they need by one or two pair.

 

[DVC Sadie]

You do laundry twice a week??? Jeez, If I do it once a week its a lot (though now that I've been working out 2x a day I do it more often), but I just feel guilty doing more than that... its a waist of water!!! I try and wait till I have a lot and just do it all at once, but I only have myself, DH and two small girls, so at least their clothes don't take up that much room in the washer!

I must be loopy because I do a load of laundry everyday for just 2 of us.

We change our sheets, pillowcases, tableclothes and napkins, 2x a week (or more, for napkins and such) and my dh changes shirts 3x a day. Add towels, dusting clothes, mopheads it would be impossible for me to wash less.

 

[GoofyFairie]

I average 1-2 loads a day for a family of 4. That includes towels and bedding and they are full loads. I don't buy more clothes than a person can wear, it is just too expensive.

 

[mommytoone]

I do laundry once a week because I do not have time during the week. I wash about 6-7 loads for 3 of us. DD, DH, and Myself, I wash all together except DH's work clothes, Whites, towels and bedding, usually I have to do 3 loads of just our clothes. Sometimes less, sometimes more. I wish the clothes would wash themselves though.

 

[momxx5]

First off, WOW - how do you manage to only do laundry once a week? I am very proud of you.

Then again, I have 5 children so the laundry around here is endless and with sports it hyst adds to the piles.

I was actually laughing today because not only do I sepearate the whites, I actually do a whole load of dark reds, a whole load of pinker/lighter colors, a whole seperate load of tourquise-ish and a least 2 loads of khaki shorts alone. That does not include bedding, towels, darks, whites, baseball uniforms, etc.

Okay...enough babble...
Per child I would say:

7-10 t-shirts
5 pairs of shorts
1-2 khaki pants
3-4 colored polo type shirts
10+ boxers/underwear
10-12 pairs of socks
3-4 jeans
1 lighter jacket/sweatshirt

NOW, all that is a very minimum. My boys wear colored polo/golf type shirts all the time. They just like the look, after school or weekends t-shirt and shorts are the norm.
I have 2 boys that wear the same size but somehow that doesn't mean I have less clothing to buy.

Unless I was extremely organized, having a set number of clothes would stress me out.


As far as mom's clothes, working would need 6-7 outfits, a few pairs of jeans, some jammies, 3-4 pairs of shorts, 5-6 shirts, etc.

I guess I am not much help.

 

[hugabearjo]

[/QUOTE]I guess I am not much help.[/QUOTE]

actually you were a lot of help.

I must have miss spoke on my original post. The boys do have the chore of laundry all of them know how and help. We are just so busy during the week with school/work, sports, church, lessons etc. that Saturday has become the Laundry day. we do 7-10 loads and bedding/towels every other week. We each have 3 towels that last us the 2 weeks.

I was thinking 10 pairs of pants/shorts, 15 t-shirts, 3 dress shirts, 3 jammies, 15 socks/underwear. it just seems like so much when you times it by 3 am I way off or on target?

Other home organtzing tips please....... my house has never been like this before I am so overwelmed.....this last year has kicked my behind.....

thank you for all the responses, please keep any ideas (not limited to clothes coming)