The only guarantees in life are death and taxes – and laundry. It may be a never-ending job, but with a few simple changes to your routine, you can get it done faster and easier.

Reduce the volume of laundry.
Bath towels don’t need to be washed after every use; replace once or twice a week as needed. You’re also making more work for yourself if you’re laundering every item of clothing after it’s worn – and shortening the life of your clothes with too frequent washings.

Obviously, socks and underwear should be washed after every wearing. The same goes for stinky or stained clothing. But it’s okay to re-wear other items of clothing. Just air out, then put away for another day.

Develop a system.
A hamper in every bedroom is a must, preferably one with a removable bag for easy transport to the laundry room. Make it each resident’s responsibility to get it there.

But rather than tossing their dirty laundry into one big heap, have them sort it into your preferred wash types. Example: dark towels and jeans, light-colored clothing, and delicate items. Use a system of large baskets or a laundry sorter with bags. When you see one basket or bag getting full, you know it’s time to start a load.

Keep empty hangers on a rod near the dryer and hang items as you remove them. Immediately fold items that need folding. Use an empty laundry basket to return items to the appropriate rooms. Better yet, train family members to come get their clean clothes!

Dryer dos and don’ts:
DON’T overload your dryer. When clothes have room to circulate, they dry faster and have fewer wrinkles. Shake out items before putting them in the dryer. Loosely fold larger items such as jeans and sheets to help prevent tangling and minimize wrinkling.

DO toss in a few wool dryer balls. Better for the environment than dryer sheets, dryer balls reduce drying time by as much as 25% while also reducing static. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil if you want some scent. Or add ½ cup of scented vinegar in the rinse cycle of your wash.

Spiff up your laundry room.
Keep your laundry room clean and organized. Store laundry aids where they are most convenient for use. Keep the tops of your washer and dryer clean and clear of clutter so you have a place to fold laundry. Maybe even spiff up your laundry room with a fresh coat of paint and some artwork.

If all else fails, get a chimpanzee to do it for you....