How I Cut My Laundry Time in Half: Simple Hacks That Changed Everything

Laundry used to be one of those chores I dreaded. It always felt like it took forever- sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting everything away. It wasn't just one task; it was five- rolled into a never-ending cycle. No matter how hard I tried, there was always a pile waiting to be done. But that all changed once I discovered a few key hacks that dramatically cut my laundry time in half.

Now, laundry feels like a manageable routine rather than a time-sucking monster. If you’re constantly battling Mount Washmore, here’s exactly how I hacked my way to faster, easier laundry days- without sacrificing clean clothes.

1. I Ditched Laundry Day for Laundry Pockets

The first thing I did was stop saving all my laundry for one day.

It’s a common habit to pile everything up and tackle it once a week. But here’s the thing: that just turns laundry into an overwhelming chore that can easily eat up half your Saturday. Instead, I started doing small “pockets” of laundry- just one load every couple of days.

Not only did this make each load quicker to manage, but I also never had to deal with a laundry backlog again. It’s far easier to fold and put away one small load than to face a six-load marathon.

Time saved: At least 2 hours per week.

2. I Got Ruthless About Sorting

Sorting laundry used to be a 15-minute puzzle. Whites here, darks there, delicate somewhere else...until I realized that I was over-sorting.

Now, I sort my clothes into just two categories:

• Everyday wear (regular wash)

• Special care (delicates, items needing cold water, etc.)

I use two labeled hampers, so I don’t even have to think about sorting on laundry day. The clothes are already separated.

If you're not dealing with high-maintenance items (like wool or lace), this simplified system works great- and slashes sorting time to zero.

Time saved: 10–15 minutes per load.

3. I Bought Mesh Bags (and Use Them Religiously)

Mesh laundry bags aren't just for lingerie- they’re time-saving superheroes.

I now keep multiple mesh bags around for:

• Socks

• Underwear

• Delicates

• Baby clothes

Every time I undress, I toss small items directly into their mesh bags. That way, I don’t have to search for missing socks, and I never lose delicate items in the wash again. Plus, unloading is so much faster when you’re not chasing loose socks around the drum.

Time saved: 15 minutes per week just from not matching socks.

4. I Learned to Fold Smarter, Not Slower

Folding used to feel like the slowest part. I’d watch a show and still find myself with unfolded piles by the end. That changed when I learned a faster folding method: the KonMari fold for shirts, and the file-fold method for pants and towels.

Now, I fold directly out of the dryer and stand clothes vertically in drawers- no more messy piles. Plus, everything is visible at a glance.

Want to go even faster? Get a folding board. It speeds up shirt folding by 3x and creates perfect, space-saving stacks.

Time saved: 30 minutes per week.

5. I Let the Dryer Do the Ironing

I never liked ironing. So I started using a simple trick: tumble clothes in the dryer with a damp washcloth or a couple of ice cubes for 5–10 minutes. The steam smooths out wrinkles.

Even better, I pull clothes out as soon as the cycle ends and hang them immediately. This alone removed ironing from my life 90% of the time.

Time saved: 1–2 hours per month depending on how much you iron.

6. I Streamlined Storage

Putting clothes away was a bottleneck. Then I realized it wasn’t the folding that slowed me down- it was having to dig around drawers and crowded closets to put things in the right spot.

I simplified my closet system:

• One drawer per category

• Labels on drawers and bins

• Hanging organizers for accessories and socks

Now, everything has a clear home, and it takes seconds to put a shirt away instead of minutes.

Time saved: 10 minutes per load.

7. I Started Using Dryer Balls

Dryer balls cut drying time by up to 25% by improving airflow and softening clothes without fabric softener. That means my clothes are ready faster, and I don’t have to worry about static cling or chemical residues.

I use wool dryer balls and add a few drops of essential oil to them for a fresh scent—no dryer sheets needed.

Time saved: 15–20 minutes per load in the dryer.

8. I Switched to a Faster Detergent System

Measuring liquid detergent takes more time than you think- and creates mess. I switched to laundry pods and detergent sheets. Just grab and toss. No measuring, no drips.

This shaved off small but significant minutes every load. Bonus: they’re compact and easier to store.

Time saved: 5 minutes per load.

9. I Delegate (Yes, Really)

One of the best hacks? Stop doing it all yourself. I started assigning small tasks to family members- even kids.

• Kids put their own folded clothes away

• My partner handles their own socks and underwear

• We alternate who starts loads

Laundry became a shared task, not a solo burden.

Time saved: Depends on household size- but for me, at least an hour a week.

10. I Treat Stains Immediately (or Not at All)

The longer you wait to treat stains, the harder they are to remove—and the more time you’ll waste scrubbing. So I keep a stain stick in the laundry hamper and another in the bathroom.

Got a spill? I swipe it with the stick and forget about it. No soaking, no panic. 90% of stains are gone after one wash.

Time saved: 30+ minutes of soaking and rewashing per month.

Final Thoughts: The Laundry Game Has Changed

Once I started using these hacks, I couldn’t believe how much time I had been wasting before. The big secret? Laundry doesn’t have to take over your life. With a few smart systems and tools, it can become just another quick and easy task in your routine.

Here's a quick recap of what worked for me:

• Small, frequent loads instead of laundry marathons

• Simplified sorting and labeled hampers

• Mesh bags to stop the sock hunt

• Faster folding methods

• Steam tricks to skip ironing

• Dryer balls for quicker drying

• Detergent pods for no-mess loads

• Delegating tasks to others

• Quick stain treatment

• Smart storage and organization

With all these changes, I easily cut my laundry time in half- and then some. Now, I spend less time on chores and more time doing what I actually enjoy. And you can too.

Start with one hack this week- and let the laundry magic begin.