Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teen kids don't do laundry. I'm sorry about it but I've got a billion other things to worry about and I'm not going to fight this particular fight.

I don't have a maid, and I do laundry for everyone in the family.

One was going off to camp a week ago, so suddenly she was receptive to learning it.

If I could do it over again, I would have taught them when they were very little and kept it going. I didn't because I was trying to be efficient and get it done while they napped. I figured I could teach them when they were more coordinated, but I failed to see that waiting that long ages them out of that developmental place where they want to learn and want to help.

But having missed that window, I'm not going to pound it into them now; I am going to wait until just before they leave for college when they see a need to learn it.

I'm not sure why you'd need to pound it into them. Laundry is just like any other chore. If I were desperate, I'd just shut down the wifi and the verizon phones until it's done. I can do that from my app on my phone sitting at work. I can also do that by ip address and just cut off 1 or 2 of my kids who aren't pulling their weight

We have a summer shore poster board posted in our kitchen with all the things that need to be done before they start their day, or head off to their jobs. Looks a like this, but is laminated so I can switch things around. They have to "x" out their name each day under each chore as its complete. I work FT and can't have teens laying about all day and come home to a house that's a mess. We don't have a maid either and DH and I aren't Alice.



This list is modified during the school year since they have sports and school work.

I like this very much, except I wouldn't make it Mom's chore chart, I'd make it the "_________ Family chore chart." or the Kids Chore Chart.

It's like this. This is not my chore chart. I borrowed this concept, but laminated at fedex. I only laminated the grid lined and days of the week. I then modify the chores and who does what using my dry erase.

Love it, all tasks delegated. Nothing left for mom

Unfortunately there is plenty left for mom and dad. Maintaining an organized home and eating healthy meals at home is a never ending battle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying their kids can do laundry would never in a million years let these kids do their laundry.

Can they do laundry, yes
Do they do laundry, yes.
Do they really know how to, no.

My kids DO do their laundry. I have no idea what makes you think how you do laundry is special and different, but I haven't touched my kids clothing since they took over laundry last summer. Doing laundry is not complicated in any way: sort, put dirty clothes in machine, add soap, turn on. Move clothes to dryer. Remove clothes. What makes someone "really know how to" do laundry?

Doing laundry wrong would be -
Too much detergent
Too many clothes in load
Washing towels with other more delicate clothes
Not understanding the concept of dye bleeding

So the kids have a basket in their room that is washed when it's full. We was both sets of sheets once a week. We wash towels once a week. These are all separate things, and it's really hard to screw them up.

So they wear stained clothes or you throw them out when stains don't come out?

When I notice stains I pull the item aside and treat and we go on with our life. ?? Why is this something that has to be controlled by mom? Seriously, not seeing how kids doing laundry is so upsetting to some of you!

Or you can teach him so he knows how to do laundry.

My mom turned doing laundry into an a complicated art. It involved Woolite and not putting certain things in the dryer, etc.

She still expected us to do our own laundry. She got mad if we touched her intricate arrangements in the laundry room or if we broke her washer or dryer, which we actually sometimes did, usually from overloading.

As a result I only buy durable fabrics and have never handwashed a delicate item in my life.

And my kids learned to do their own laundry early and did not need further supervision after learning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teen kids don't do laundry. I'm sorry about it but I've got a billion other things to worry about and I'm not going to fight this particular fight.

I don't have a maid, and I do laundry for everyone in the family.

One was going off to camp a week ago, so suddenly she was receptive to learning it.

If I could do it over again, I would have taught them when they were very little and kept it going. I didn't because I was trying to be efficient and get it done while they napped. I figured I could teach them when they were more coordinated, but I failed to see that waiting that long ages them out of that developmental place where they want to learn and want to help.

But having missed that window, I'm not going to pound it into them now; I am going to wait until just before they leave for college when they see a need to learn it.

I'm not sure why you'd need to pound it into them. Laundry is just like any other chore. If I were desperate, I'd just shut down the wifi and the verizon phones until it's done. I can do that from my app on my phone sitting at work. I can also do that by ip address and just cut off 1 or 2 of my kids who aren't pulling their weight

We have a summer shore poster board posted in our kitchen with all the things that need to be done before they start their day, or head off to their jobs. Looks a like this, but is laminated so I can switch things around. They have to "x" out their name each day under each chore as its complete. I work FT and can't have teens laying about all day and come home to a house that's a mess. We don't have a maid either and DH and I aren't Alice.



This list is modified during the school year since they have sports and school work.

I like this very much, except I wouldn't make it Mom's chore chart, I'd make it the "_________ Family chore chart." or the Kids Chore Chart.

It's like this. This is not my chore chart. I borrowed this concept, but laminated at fedex. I only laminated the grid lined and days of the week. I then modify the chores and who does what using my dry erase.

Love it, all tasks delegated. Nothing left for mom

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying their kids can do laundry would never in a million years let these kids do their laundry.

Can they do laundry, yes
Do they do laundry, yes.
Do they really know how to, no.

My kids DO do their laundry. I have no idea what makes you think how you do laundry is special and different, but I haven't touched my kids clothing since they took over laundry last summer. Doing laundry is not complicated in any way: sort, put dirty clothes in machine, add soap, turn on. Move clothes to dryer. Remove clothes. What makes someone "really know how to" do laundry?

Doing laundry wrong would be -
Too much detergent
Too many clothes in load
Washing towels with other more delicate clothes
Not understanding the concept of dye bleeding

So the kids have a basket in their room that is washed when it's full. We was both sets of sheets once a week. We wash towels once a week. These are all separate things, and it's really hard to screw them up.

So they wear stained clothes or you throw them out when stains don't come out?

When I notice stains I pull the item aside and treat and we go on with our life. ?? Why is this something that has to be controlled by mom? Seriously, not seeing how kids doing laundry is so upsetting to some of you!

Because these people are insecure than they have no disciple, routines, or responsibility in their households.

Doing laundry wrong would be -
Too much detergent
Too many clothes in load
Washing towels with other more delicate clothes
Not understanding the concept of dye bleeding

The school should add a chapter on Doing laundry to the math course. Everybody would learn fast. You think they are capable
of add two plus two but the can not grasp concept of amount of detergent measured by one predesigned scoop, they can not count pieces of laundry put in or they can not comprehend delicate and rough clothing let alone that some colors might bleed? If so then the only thing between them and learning is YOU. How are they suppose to learn if you are a gate keeper and protect the secrets?

Come on.. just save a bunch of old clothing of each kind and use them for "practicing" the mistakes, do something crazy with them, let the kid do it and let them see the results and laugh together. Throw one pink sock with white load.. use hot water for woolen sweaters..
shrink something, color something.. can be done, can be fun!

Anonymous wrote:Very basic kind.

I do more sorting, use different kinds of pre-treatment, different products, different cycles and different drying methods.

You are either making it very complicated for fun or have very old washing machine and you have to do everything yourself.
Any newer machine and any recent detergent based on enzymes take it all.

Easiest pretreatment under the sun is to pour as spoon of a liquid detergent dirercly on a spot or grass stain and throw it with other stuff into the wash. For the most stubborn oil stains or food stains, you know the kind, the ones that are left behind something that had grees inside that dropped on a kids' shirt... easiest way is a hand safe, gentle dishwashing liquid, have one in the laundry room and put a tea spoon size righ ton the spot and wash as usual, just throw iwith the rest into the wash. It does not discolor, it does not damage, not even silk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying their kids can do laundry would never in a million years let these kids do their laundry.

Can they do laundry, yes
Do they do laundry, yes.
Do they really know how to, no.

My kids DO do their laundry. I have no idea what makes you think how you do laundry is special and different, but I haven't touched my kids clothing since they took over laundry last summer. Doing laundry is not complicated in any way: sort, put dirty clothes in machine, add soap, turn on. Move clothes to dryer. Remove clothes. What makes someone "really know how to" do laundry?

Doing laundry wrong would be -
Too much detergent
Too many clothes in load
Washing towels with other more delicate clothes
Not understanding the concept of dye bleeding

So the kids have a basket in their room that is washed when it's full. We was both sets of sheets once a week. We wash towels once a week. These are all separate things, and it's really hard to screw them up.

So they wear stained clothes or you throw them out when stains don't come out?

When I notice stains I pull the item aside and treat and we go on with our life. ?? Why is this something that has to be controlled by mom? Seriously, not seeing how kids doing laundry is so upsetting to some of you!

Because these people are insecure than they have no disciple, routines, or responsibility in their households.

I was an RA in college. Each fall I would host an event where I would take freshman residents to the laundry room and walk them through how to do their laundry. Most of them knew at least the basic concepts and just needed a lay of the land, but every year there were at least a couple who had never done laundry.
My middle schooler does most of the household laundry as her major chore, and her younger siblings help. It's pretty awesome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying their kids can do laundry would never in a million years let these kids do their laundry.

Can they do laundry, yes
Do they do laundry, yes.
Do they really know how to, no.

My kids DO do their laundry. I have no idea what makes you think how you do laundry is special and different, but I haven't touched my kids clothing since they took over laundry last summer. Doing laundry is not complicated in any way: sort, put dirty clothes in machine, add soap, turn on. Move clothes to dryer. Remove clothes. What makes someone "really know how to" do laundry?

Doing laundry wrong would be -
Too much detergent
Too many clothes in load
Washing towels with other more delicate clothes
Not understanding the concept of dye bleeding

So the kids have a basket in their room that is washed when it's full. We was both sets of sheets once a week. We wash towels once a week. These are all separate things, and it's really hard to screw them up.

So they wear stained clothes or you throw them out when stains don't come out?

When I notice stains I pull the item aside and treat and we go on with our life. ?? Why is this something that has to be controlled by mom? Seriously, not seeing how kids doing laundry is so upsetting to some of you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people saying their kids can do laundry would never in a million years let these kids do their laundry.

Can they do laundry, yes
Do they do laundry, yes.
Do they really know how to, no.

My kids DO do their laundry. I have no idea what makes you think how you do laundry is special and different, but I haven't touched my kids clothing since they took over laundry last summer. Doing laundry is not complicated in any way: sort, put dirty clothes in machine, add soap, turn on. Move clothes to dryer. Remove clothes. What makes someone "really know how to" do laundry?

Doing laundry wrong would be -
Too much detergent
Too many clothes in load
Washing towels with other more delicate clothes
Not understanding the concept of dye bleeding

So the kids have a basket in their room that is washed when it's full. We was both sets of sheets once a week. We wash towels once a week. These are all separate things, and it's really hard to screw them up.

So they wear stained clothes or you throw them out when stains don't come out?

It's the weird Laundry Troll again, or her relative. Seriously, it's just laundry.

We also have a chore chart for our teens.

Everyone is responsible for their room & laundry. I will help fold if the mood hits me. I will not bring down their hamper, and start laundry for them. Nor will I put their laundry away.

Teens have two chores per week, some of them need to be done more than once a week. We rotate each week. Before they can leave the house or have friends over they know we will check to see if their chore was done.

- trash/recyclables & kitty litter box (teen 1)
- unload dishwasher & sweep kitchen (teen 2)
- clean teen bathroom & keep living room picked up (teen 3)

My husband and I pretty much handle the rest of the house, lawn and cars. This is just the minimum to maintain a half way clean home, and to teach them responsibility and cleanliness. It's definitely not perfectly clean at any given time. (unless we are expecting company).

We also share cooking duties. Everyone has to cook one meal per week. Fridays is leftovers, Saturdays are out or on your own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teen kids don't do laundry. I'm sorry about it but I've got a billion other things to worry about and I'm not going to fight this particular fight.

I don't have a maid, and I do laundry for everyone in the family.

One was going off to camp a week ago, so suddenly she was receptive to learning it.

If I could do it over again, I would have taught them when they were very little and kept it going. I didn't because I was trying to be efficient and get it done while they napped. I figured I could teach them when they were more coordinated, but I failed to see that waiting that long ages them out of that developmental place where they want to learn and want to help.

But having missed that window, I'm not going to pound it into them now; I am going to wait until just before they leave for college when they see a need to learn it.

I'm not sure why you'd need to pound it into them. Laundry is just like any other chore. If I were desperate, I'd just shut down the wifi and the verizon phones until it's done. I can do that from my app on my phone sitting at work. I can also do that by ip address and just cut off 1 or 2 of my kids who aren't pulling their weight

We have a summer shore poster board posted in our kitchen with all the things that need to be done before they start their day, or head off to their jobs. Looks a like this, but is laminated so I can switch things around. They have to "x" out their name each day under each chore as its complete. I work FT and can't have teens laying about all day and come home to a house that's a mess. We don't have a maid either and DH and I aren't Alice.



This list is modified during the school year since they have sports and school work.

I like this very much, except I wouldn't make it Mom's chore chart, I'd make it the "_________ Family chore chart." or the Kids Chore Chart.

It's like this. This is not my chore chart. I borrowed this concept, but laminated at fedex. I only laminated the grid lined and days of the week. I then modify the chores and who does what using my dry erase.

Tom tricks a bunch of boy into thinking that work – the thing that he doesn't want to do – is fun, so that he can spend the afternoon goofing off. He even get the boys to pay him for the "privilege" of painting. He turns punishment into pleasure, and pleases Aunt Polly in the process.

Yeah... remember how Tom Sawyer made kids to paint the fence for him? It is all how you motivate them..

He turns punishment into pleasure, and pleases Aunt Polly in the process." border="0" class="embeddedImage" />

Meh.. they can catch up even if they don't know how..
Just tell them that the laundry process is so much fun, it is like using a vending machine and a cell phone at the same time!
You put laundry instead of mney in the little opening.. or large one.. then you press few buttons and tada..
clean laundry jumps at you!

Soooooooooooo much fun. Don't let your mother take it away from you!