An Easy Tip for Getting Kids to Help with Laundry

Originally published February 2011. Updated February 2025.

I have four girls still at home. We have a lot of laundry. There are two ways I make laundry chores easier for myself are:

#1 My two teen daughters do their own laundry. They have set days. Sarah’s laundry day is Sunday and Emily’s is Monday. This means I have less to do. And they cannot complain to me if something is not washed.

Teaching your kids how to do their own laundry is an important skill they will use the rest of their lives. And there’s no reason not to have your children help you with laundry. You don’t have to do everything yourself! Chores teach them responsibility and will aid them in being capable adults with a good work ethic.

#2 My two younger daughters have laundry buckets. When I fold their clothes, I place them in these handy dandy buckets which are labeled with their names. Then, they can easily carry the laundry up stairs to their room. The bucket is really just a re-purposed large sized dishpan.

I like using the large dishpans for the kids laundry because they easier for kids to carry than a large laundry basket. Makes it easy for kids to help.

Laundry is one of those chores that kids can definitely help with! Don’t feel bad about assigning your older children to the task of washing laundry and even younger kids can help fold.

If you are particular about the “right way” to fold clothes, have your children work alongside of you while you do the laundry. Teach them how to fold laundry and work with them until you are sure they properly understand. They can learn!