Comments for The Minimalist Mom http://www.theminimalistmom.com a rich life with less stuff Thu, 17 May 2012 17:17:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Emily http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7572 Emily Thu, 17 May 2012 17:17:46 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7572 Same here, but I have to bring the clothes in from the line to fold them because the mosquitoes eat me alive if I don't! Same here, but I have to bring the clothes in from the line to fold them because the mosquitoes eat me alive if I don’t!

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Beverley Smith http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7571 Beverley Smith Thu, 17 May 2012 16:44:25 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7571 I don't own a laundry basket and i do try not to leave piles of clean laundry about the house. However it's not the same when it comes time for my two university (at different uni's) to come home for the holidays. I spend weeks getting everything in order - well never mind. When they leave again it's time to start again. I also only have enough clothes to wear and not loads and loads of extra that do not need. I don’t own a laundry basket and i do try not to leave piles of clean laundry about the house. However it’s not the same when it comes time for my two university (at different uni’s) to come home for the holidays. I spend weeks getting everything in order – well never mind. When they leave again it’s time to start again. I also only have enough clothes to wear and not loads and loads of extra that do not need.

]]> Comment on How To Have An (Almost) Stress Free Move by Emily http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/movingstress/#comment-7570 Emily Thu, 17 May 2012 16:24:58 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=2821#comment-7570 We are prepping for what we hope to be a final move to our "forever" house. I have been a snail on my path to minimalism, but the hare in me has popped up with this move for 2 reasons. I feel very protective of our new home and how I want us to be able to live in it. And, having just moved a year and a half ago, I can clearly see all of the stuff that I packed and moved last time that hasn't been used this entire time. And then the stuff that has been used once or twice. In the past, I would have said that the past year and a half has been very busy and intense, but so were the years before that. I shouldn't have to make time to use the stuff!!! The stuff we really enjoy, we magically found time to enjoy. Hmmm... So, I have spent most of the last month, eking out spare moments whenever I can with a toddler running amuck, purging and purging and purging. The stuff I have sold will pay for most of our moving expenses! I have enjoyed many smiles of folks thrilled with the free stuff they came to pick up, and we've take several loads to thrift stores. And we have finally crested a hill where the move to a house we are so excited to live in is joyous and not a burden! We are prepping for what we hope to be a final move to our “forever” house. I have been a snail on my path to minimalism, but the hare in me has popped up with this move for 2 reasons. I feel very protective of our new home and how I want us to be able to live in it. And, having just moved a year and a half ago, I can clearly see all of the stuff that I packed and moved last time that hasn’t been used this entire time. And then the stuff that has been used once or twice. In the past, I would have said that the past year and a half has been very busy and intense, but so were the years before that. I shouldn’t have to make time to use the stuff!!! The stuff we really enjoy, we magically found time to enjoy. Hmmm…
So, I have spent most of the last month, eking out spare moments whenever I can with a toddler running amuck, purging and purging and purging. The stuff I have sold will pay for most of our moving expenses! I have enjoyed many smiles of folks thrilled with the free stuff they came to pick up, and we’ve take several loads to thrift stores. And we have finally crested a hill where the move to a house we are so excited to live in is joyous and not a burden!

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Nancy http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7569 Nancy Thu, 17 May 2012 15:25:07 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7569 Hi minimalist mom, I have another idea that I thought I would throw out there for your viewers: A friend of ours (single guy so a bit easier for one, but it still could be done for a family!) keeps his closet of clothes right beside the washer and dryer in that room, so it is his 'dressing room' and minimalizes the laundry process! Nancy Hi minimalist mom,
I have another idea that I thought I would throw out there for your viewers: A friend of ours (single guy so a bit easier for one, but it still could be done for a family!) keeps his closet of clothes right beside the washer and dryer in that room, so it is his ‘dressing room’ and minimalizes the laundry process!
Nancy

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Jennifer http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7568 Jennifer Thu, 17 May 2012 15:23:21 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7568 Both DH and I work outside the house and we use cloth diapers so we have come up with a system that has really helped and, for the most part, we have been able to keep up with the laundry, do not own a laundry basket, and eliminated having to fold mounds of clothing, caused us to keep our clothing to a minimum (only what fits hanging in the closet is acceptable, we do not buy more hangers, if we run out of hangers it means time to get rid of unused clothing). I have the separate laundry sorter in our closet (1 for delicates (underwear and socks), 1 for towels, 1 for darks, 1 for lights), then 1 laundry bin for DS clothes (all together), then my diaper bin. That is 6 separate loads, already sorted. Each morning I grab a load and start it before leaving for work. In order to put a new load in in the morning I have to put the one from the previous morning in the dryer or hang dry which then means I have to put the load in the dryer on the couch. That evening when hubby has play time with 2 year old DS he has to fold/stuff diapers, whatever is on the couch, while I am cooking dinner. Since the laundry is sorted already it only takes about 5 – 8 minutes in the morning to do this (we timed it). The thing that has helped, believe it or not, is I started hang drying everything (minus towels, diaper inserts, socks and underwear) from the wash I immediately hang on hangers to dry then I just have to put them directly in the closet. Of course this meant making sure everything was hung in closets and nothing is in drawers (got rid of those pieces of furniture). It took some time getting used to it, but by making it a habit that every morning I start a load and by not really having a lot of laundry to fold it has made for an easier laundry duty and it is pretty much kept up. I am sure if one is a stay at home person then this method can be altered, but no one is home during the day for us so this system works for us and doesn’t really take that much additional time. Because I am doing the 1 load/per day and there are 6 loads, that means each load is done 1/wk except diapers are done 2 x/wk, the amount of laundry on hangers is not a lot and can be taken to the closet in 1 load. No need for a basket because they are ready to go straight to the closet. I second the “I don’t iron, if it needs ironing I don’t buy it!” rule. However, if an article of clothing does need to be ironed, it gets ironed when we pull it out of the closet to wear it. Not before being hung up. 9 x’s out of 10 the hanging in between the other clothes gets it “good enough” that it doesn’t need ironing. Both DH and I work outside the house and we use cloth diapers so we have come up with a system that has really helped and, for the most part, we have been able to keep up with the laundry, do not own a laundry basket, and eliminated having to fold mounds of clothing, caused us to keep our clothing to a minimum (only what fits hanging in the closet is acceptable, we do not buy more hangers, if we run out of hangers it means time to get rid of unused clothing). I have the separate laundry sorter in our closet (1 for delicates (underwear and socks), 1 for towels, 1 for darks, 1 for lights), then 1 laundry bin for DS clothes (all together), then my diaper bin. That is 6 separate loads, already sorted. Each morning I grab a load and start it before leaving for work. In order to put a new load in in the morning I have to put the one from the previous morning in the dryer or hang dry which then means I have to put the load in the dryer on the couch. That evening when hubby has play time with 2 year old DS he has to fold/stuff diapers, whatever is on the couch, while I am cooking dinner. Since the laundry is sorted already it only takes about 5 – 8 minutes in the morning to do this (we timed it). The thing that has helped, believe it or not, is I started hang drying everything (minus towels, diaper inserts, socks and underwear) from the wash I immediately hang on hangers to dry then I just have to put them directly in the closet. Of course this meant making sure everything was hung in closets and nothing is in drawers (got rid of those pieces of furniture). It took some time getting used to it, but by making it a habit that every morning I start a load and by not really having a lot of laundry to fold it has made for an easier laundry duty and it is pretty much kept up. I am sure if one is a stay at home person then this method can be altered, but no one is home during the day for us so this system works for us and doesn’t really take that much additional time. Because I am doing the 1 load/per day and there are 6 loads, that means each load is done 1/wk except diapers are done 2 x/wk, the amount of laundry on hangers is not a lot and can be taken to the closet in 1 load. No need for a basket because they are ready to go straight to the closet. I second the “I don’t iron, if it needs ironing I don’t buy it!” rule. However, if an article of clothing does need to be ironed, it gets ironed when we pull it out of the closet to wear it. Not before being hung up. 9 x’s out of 10 the hanging in between the other clothes gets it “good enough” that it doesn’t need ironing.

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Amy http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7567 Amy Thu, 17 May 2012 15:20:45 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7567 When we were able to line dry our clothes our laundry was folded as I took it off the line. Now that we use the dryer, we aren't allowed a line in this rental, I will let the piles sit on the table or floor until I get to it. When we were able to line dry our clothes our laundry was folded as I took it off the line. Now that we use the dryer, we aren’t allowed a line in this rental, I will let the piles sit on the table or floor until I get to it.

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Pony Rider http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7566 Pony Rider Thu, 17 May 2012 15:03:58 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7566 Yeah, don't have one of those either :) We put away the clean clothes when they are dry. Yeah, don’t have one of those either :) We put away the clean clothes when they are dry.

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Katie http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7565 Katie Thu, 17 May 2012 14:54:03 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7565 Our laundry is down the hall in our large condo building. We have a 3 bin wheeled sorter where the dirty clothes get placed (and sorted!) once they're dirty - I love that the sort is done and I don't have to do it again to start the process! The wheels are necessary for getting all that laundry down the hall with a baby in her ergo. The sorter has a bar above so I hang most things as I pull them out of the dryer, any odds and ends (socks, towels, etc) get placed back into the bags then folded and put away the next time my daughter is sleeping (grimy hands "help" fold around here too!). I noticed several people commented about the paperwork... that's one we're still trying to figure out! Our laundry is down the hall in our large condo building. We have a 3 bin wheeled sorter where the dirty clothes get placed (and sorted!) once they’re dirty – I love that the sort is done and I don’t have to do it again to start the process! The wheels are necessary for getting all that laundry down the hall with a baby in her ergo. The sorter has a bar above so I hang most things as I pull them out of the dryer, any odds and ends (socks, towels, etc) get placed back into the bags then folded and put away the next time my daughter is sleeping (grimy hands “help” fold around here too!).

I noticed several people commented about the paperwork… that’s one we’re still trying to figure out!

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Mama Minou http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7564 Mama Minou Thu, 17 May 2012 14:34:04 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7564 I love it! WOuld you please do a post on how you have dealt with minimizing papers and paperwork? I tell you, this is the bane of my existence. Piles everywhere! I love it!
WOuld you please do a post on how you have dealt with minimizing papers and paperwork?
I tell you, this is the bane of my existence. Piles everywhere!

]]> Comment on One Simple Thing: No Laundry Basket by Monique http://www.theminimalistmom.com/2012/05/laundrybasket/#comment-7563 Monique Thu, 17 May 2012 14:25:56 +0000 http://www.theminimalistmom.com/?p=3002#comment-7563 *forces *forces

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