Does laundry feel like a neverending task? Do you struggle with ADHD and are not sure where to start? These 5 helpful ADHD Laundry hacks will help you get a better handle on this daily chore, and help you not dread it quite as much.
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I have never been able to stay up on our laundry. As a family of four, I hear “Mom, did you wash my undies?” at least every other day. I was never able to stay up on it, because I couldn’t get over how overwhelming it felt.
Our laundry basket would be in our room, only used half of the time, and it was overflowing with weeks worth of clothes. I would then proceed to shut down and go into an anxiety spiral because it was just too much.
That’s when I figured out the best way to go about laundry that worked for ME and it has been so much better. I am self-diagnosed with ADHD, so I had to accept this was how my brain worked and find ways to make these tasks a little bit easier for me.
Do People With ADHD Struggle With Laundry?
“If a task is inherently boring to someone with ADHD, dopamine levels are so low that their brain is unable to “activate” to do the task. They can’t pay attention even if they want to. They are in a state of hyperfocus. This is like trying to move a car when the engine is turned off—the car needs to be physically pushed.”- From CHADD
Why Is It So Hard To Do Laundry With ADHD?
When we see a chore that has to be done daily, and it does not excite us, we are most likely going to drag our feet because it doesn’t bring us any dopamine, or joy. Laundry is a perfect example because we KNOW it needs to be done. But physically getting up to get it done is where we struggle.
How Do I Make Laundry ADHD Friendly?
There are a few ways you can go about this, which include:
- Playing music that creates dopamine
- Having a space to do laundry that makes you happy- put up some decor or put a yummy scent dispenser in the outlet; get a cute rug
- Splitting up the tasks between family members- yes, they can do laundry too
- Having products that make you happy- I LOVE the laundry products I use
For me, it finally clicked when I purchased a 3 compartment laundry sorter from Target. It’s beautiful, functional, and fits perfectly where I need it. When one compartment is full, I know it’s time to do a load. Once I got into my groove, one load a day was all I was doing to stay up on it.
ADHD-Friendly Laundry System
Step 1: Place a laundry basket in every single room of your home. Then you don’t have to walk all the way to the laundry room to put it away. Fewer steps mean you’re more likely to do it.
Step 2: Every day, go around to each basket (I do not care if it’s full. I just grab whatever is in there) and bring those items to the laundry room. This keeps the baskets from getting full and to the point of overwhelm.
Step 3: Sort each item into the correct compartment. Here are the 4 sections we have:
- Activewear/Everyday clothes
- Delicates/Husband’s work clothes
- Kiddos
- Towels, Sheets, Jeans, anything else that’s heavy
Step 4: Once one of those is full, to the top, I throw a load in. Bonus points if your washing machine has the Delay End function. Then I don’t have to worry about clothes being left in the dryer for too long, getting musty.
Step 5: Once the load is finished, I switch it to the drier
Step 6: FOLD IT RIGHT OUT OF THE DRYER AND PUT IT AWAY. This one step has changed the game for me. Then I only have 1 load to worry about folding and putting away.
Laundry baskets are the death of this system. I never carry a load to another place because odds are I will get distracted and leave it for days, then I have to start that load all over again.
These 6 steps have helped a ton, and keep up with my one load a day. Sometimes I have 2 or three, if I’m washing sheets that day, or if my kiddos get sick and I have to toss something in the wash unexpectedly.
But this system has been a complete game changer for me and my family.
My kiddos are even putting their clothes away themselves now. It’s been amazing.
Laundry ADHD Tools
These are my tried and true laundry ADHD tools, and I’m sharing them because they have truly made a difference.
Whether it’s a delicious scent from the laundry products or a helpful basket, all these things play a part in my laundry routine. I’d love to know down below which is your favorite, and which you are most excited to try.
Shop The Post
Downy Laundry Booster | Labels | Woven Basket | Bounce Laundry Sheets | 3 Compartment Laundry Sorter | Gain Laundry Soap | Drier Balls | Wire Basket Sorter | Drier Sheet Dispenser | Laundry Basket
No Fold Laundry System
Folding is all good and well, but if it truly is hard for you to follow through with your laundry system, you can incorporate a ‘no fold laundry system’. Especially when it comes to kiddos’ clothing, just toss them in the drawer!
Dedicate certain types of clothes you don’t mind not folding, like activewear, kid’s pants, shirts, etc. Just note that wrinkles may happen easier this way, but sometimes it works better than taking the time to fold and/or hang up.
I truly hope this post was helpful when it comes to getting back on track with your laundry, especially if you have ADHD. Things completely changed when I didn’t look at a huge, daunting pile, but instead broke them up into smaller, manageable piles. I actually enjoy laundry when it isn’t trying to smother me in my sleep.
I’d love to know from YOU, down below (yes, you’ll have to type), what your laundry system looks like, and if you’ll be incorporating any of these 5 Helpful ADHD Laundry Hacks into your daily routine.
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Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out Kelsey Farley! If you have given any of these 5 Helpful ADHD Laundry Hacks a try, I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience on Instagram with the hashtag #kelseyfarleyblog and tag me @tucsoncoffeemom so I can follow along and share your photos on my page/stories. Make sure you subscribe before you leave so you can snag your FREE Daily Plan Tracker. I hope it inspires you to take control of your day and make sure to tag me when you use it! I love you guys, and I’ll talk to you soon.
