We put off doing the laundry not because it’s hard, but because it feels endless. It’s a task that’s never truly “done,” easy to delay, overwhelming when life is full of other responsibilities, and rarely urgent until we’re down to that one sweater we really wanted to wear. 

The pile grows quietly (or not-so-quietly, if you live with kids), and with it, a low-grade guilt that makes starting feel bigger than it is. Add decision fatigue (What’s delicate? What’s hand-wash? What needs a little extra care?) and laundry becomes less about the task itself, and more about the mental weight of beginning.

Sometimes, all it takes is simplifying the ritual—a quick and gentle Soak, a single basin, one small start—to turn it back into an act of care instead of a chore. Here are a few simple tips to turn that towering laundry mountain into a manageable hill.

Breaking tasks down into small steps

Instead of thinking, “I need to do laundry,” break it down into small, manageable tasks. This is known as "chunking" in education, professional and psychology settings (and is a really helpful skill for anyone with ADHD or if you are simply having a hard time starting something).

There's no need to do everything in the same day, especially if you’re feeling burnt out or overwhelmed. For example, you can sort your dark and light items one day, and then wash and fold them the next.

Multitasking while doing laundry

Most people have a designated laundry day, whether it’s a weekday or weekend. Why not make the most of it by multitasking? Here are a few tips:

→ Do some laundry in the shower

Make double use of the water you use for your shower, and do some laundry too. Take a Phil or Minnie basin into the shower with you, let some water fill it up, and set it aside. Once you’re done and the water has cooled, you can use it to wash your clothes, saving water. Eco-friendly AND Soakworthy!

→ Hand-wash more than one thing at a time

Many people hand-wash one item at a time, but you can definitely wash two or more things together. When deciding what to wash together, consider how dirty the items are, how bulky they are, what colour they are, and whether they need special wash care (like silk). For example, you could wash 2 or 3 lightweight  dark coloured knits, or a silk bra and a silk pillowcase together. You may not always think of washing them together, but you absolutely can. We always recommend washing lingerie sets together—and that's only the beginning.

Removing friction points in your laundry routine

Laundry can feel overwhelming due to various friction points in the process. Here are a few tips to make it smoother:

→ Have a dedicated delicates hamper

At Soak, we recommend tossing your delicate items straight into a Phil basin so that when you’re ready to wash them, they’re already sorted.  Just grab Phil when you are ready to Soak, and head to your bathroom or laundry room.

→ Keep socks together

Missing socks are a constant frustration. To solve this, use an Eco Wash Bag where you typically remove your socks. This ensures they stay together during washing and you can just throw the Eco wash bag straight into the machine.  Keep them in the Eco Wash Bag when machine drying too. Socks are a snap to pair together when they are in one group, rather than stuck inside a fitted sheet or the sleeve of a top.

Removing friction in your laundry routine is about making slight changes that reduce your mental load and create habits that fit your life instead of fighting against it.

Related Posts:
Organizing Your Laundry Space
Laundry spaces
Small space laundry