The short answer: a simple laundry schedule ends the overflowing basket: give each load a day, do one load at a time and fold it before bed.
- Free printable: a blank weekly plan
- An example for a family of four
- How often to wash 15 common items
- Plan one catch-up day
- Next step: Get the free laundry schedule (we email it to you); want more? The Cleaning Schedule is $4.49.
A simple laundry schedule ends the overflowing basket. Give each load a day, do one load at a time and fold it before bed. This free printable has a blank weekly plan, an example for a family of four and a guide to how often to wash 15 common items. Get the free download and stick it near the washer.
What is in the free laundry schedule printable
| Page | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Weekly laundry schedule | Monday to Sunday rows with Load, Whose, Wash, Dry, Folded and Put away columns, plus an example plan for a family of 4 |
| How often to wash it | A washing guide for 15 items, a laundry day checklist and a supplies list |
How to make a laundry schedule
- Count your loads. For one week, tally every load you run. Most families land between four and eight.
- Give each load a day. Group by type: darks, lights, towels, sheets, kids' clothes or sports gear.
- Add a name. Write whose clothes are in each load, so everyone knows what to put away.
- Plan one catch-up day. Leave a day free for spills, sickness or a busy week.
- Finish every load. A load is done when it is washed, dried, folded and put away. The check boxes help.
Example laundry schedule for a family of four
| Day | Load |
|---|---|
| Monday | Darks and jeans |
| Tuesday | Kids' clothes |
| Wednesday | Towels (hot) |
| Thursday | Lights and whites |
| Friday | Sports and workout clothes |
| Saturday | Sheets and pillowcases |
| Sunday | Catch-up or rest day |
For one or two people, try three laundry days a week: clothes on Monday, towels on Wednesday and sheets on Saturday.
Laundry schedules for other households
Not every home needs a load a day. Pick the pattern that fits your size and your machine. Pair the schedule with our guide to how to do laundry for sorting, washing, and drying each load.
| Household | Suggested laundry schedule |
|---|---|
| One person | One or two laundry days a week: clothes, then towels and sheets together |
| Couple | Three days: clothes on Monday, towels on Wednesday, sheets on Saturday |
| Roommates | Each person gets set days on a shared machine; write names in the Whose column |
| Family of four | About one load a day with a catch-up day, as in the example above |
| Family of five or more | One or two loads a day; give each older child their own load day |
How to sort laundry
Sorting takes a minute and saves clothes. Use these simple piles:
- Darks. Black, navy, dark jeans and other deep colors. Wash in cold water.
- Lights and whites. White and pale clothes, washed apart so they do not pick up dye.
- Towels. Heavy and linty, so keep them away from dark clothes and delicates.
- Sheets. Wash on their own so they do not tangle around smaller items.
- Delicates. Put lingerie, tights and fine knits in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle.
- Very dirty items. Sports gear, work clothes and muddy kids' clothes. Pre-treat and wash apart.
How often to wash it
This guide is a starting point. Wash sooner if something is visibly dirty, smells or someone is sick, and always follow the care label.
Pillows need a wash too. Our guide on how to wash pillows covers down, polyester and memory foam, plus how to dry them.
| Item | How often |
|---|---|
| Underwear and socks | After every wear |
| T-shirts, tops and workout clothes | After every wear |
| Pajamas | After 3 to 4 wears |
| Jeans | After about 4 to 5 wears |
| Sweaters | After 3 to 5 wears, if worn over a top |
| Bath towels | After about 3 uses; hang to dry between |
| Hand towels | Every 2 to 3 days |
| Kitchen towels | Every 1 to 2 days |
| Bed sheets and pillowcases | Every week |
| Duvet cover | Every 1 to 2 weeks |
| Blankets and throws | Every 2 to 4 weeks |
| Pillows | Every 3 to 6 months |
| Bath mats | Every week |
| Coats and jackets | A few times a season |
| Dog beds and pet blankets | Every 1 to 2 weeks |
Save energy on laundry day
ENERGY STAR's clothes washer guide says water heating uses about 90 percent of the energy it takes to run a washer. Washing in cold water generally does a good job unless you have oily stains. It also notes that washers use about the same energy whatever the load size, so run full loads.
For dryers, ENERGY STAR's clothes dryer guide recommends cleaning the lint filter after every load to improve air flow and efficiency. Scrub it regularly if you use dryer sheets. Small loads can take longer to dry, so dry full loads when you can.
Empty the lint screen every load, and see dryer vent cleaning for how often to clear the duct itself.
Laundry day checklist
Once a month, clean the machine itself. Our guide on how to clean a washing machine covers front-loaders, top-loaders, the gasket and the dispenser.
- Sort by color, fabric and how dirty it is.
- Check pockets.
- Pre-treat stains (for pen marks, see how to get ink out of clothes). Grease needs its own steps: see how to remove oil stains from clothes. For spills from dinner, here's how to get red wine out of clothes.
- Use cold water for most loads.
- Clean the dryer lint filter every load.
- Fold or hang right away.
Stock detergent, stain remover, dryer sheets or wool balls, hangers, mesh bags for delicates and a lint roller. If you want safer cleaning products, look for the EPA Safer Choice label.
Make the schedule stick
Keep the schedule where you sort laundry, such as on the washer or inside a closet door. Give everyone old enough a job: carrying baskets, matching socks or putting away their own clothes. Older kids can own their load on their day. Keep a basket for each person so folded clothes do not get mixed up.
Choose supplies for your routine with our comparison of detergent formats and sensitive-skin options, based on published sources.
Plan the rest of the housework
Laundry is one part of keeping a home running. Our Cleaning Schedule Printable ($4.49) plans the rest of the cleaning, with daily, weekly and monthly checklists, a seasonal deep clean page, a room-by-room checklist, a family chore chart and a supplies list. The Household Binder ($6.99) keeps a weekly cleaning page next to your meal planner, grocery list and bill tracker. A load started as part of your night routine is folded and away before breakfast.
For the whole house, see our daily, weekly and monthly cleaning schedule, or if you rent, our apartment cleaning checklist.
A schedule is easier to keep in a room that works. See our laundry room organization guide for zones, storage and safety tips.
Make it easier
Tools for this
Printables
Cleaning Schedule
Daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal lists - plus a family chore chart.
Printables
Household Binder
Family info, emergency plan, calendars, meals, groceries, cleaning, bills and sitter notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a laundry schedule? A laundry schedule is a weekly plan that gives each type of load its own day, such as towels on Wednesday and sheets on Saturday. Instead of one huge laundry day, you do one load at a time, so the basket never overflows and clean clothes get folded and put away the same day.
How do I make a laundry schedule for a family? Count how many loads your family makes in a week, then give each load a day. A family of four often does about one load a day: darks, kids' clothes, towels, lights, sports clothes and sheets, with one catch-up day. Write whose clothes are in each load so everyone knows what is theirs to put away.
How often should you do laundry? Most households do best with a little laundry most days or two to three bigger laundry days a week. A single person may only need one or two loads a week. Run full loads when you can, since ENERGY STAR notes that washers use about the same energy whatever the load size.
How often should you wash bed sheets? Wash bed sheets and pillowcases every week, or sooner if someone is sick or sweats a lot at night. Duvet covers can go every one to two weeks, blankets and throws every two to four weeks and pillows every three to six months, following the care label.
How often should you wash bath towels? Wash bath towels after about three uses, and hang them to dry fully between uses so they do not get musty. Hand towels need washing every two to three days and kitchen towels every one to two days, because they get damp and dirty faster.
How many times can you wear jeans before washing? Jeans can usually be worn about four to five times before washing, unless they are visibly dirty or smell. Washing them less often helps the color and fit last longer. Underwear, socks, T-shirts and workout clothes should be washed after every wear.
Should I wash laundry in cold water? Yes, you should wash most laundry loads in cold water. ENERGY STAR says water heating uses about 90 percent of the energy it takes to run a clothes washer, and that cold water generally does a good job unless you have oily stains. Many people still wash towels and sheets in warm or hot water.
How often should I clean the dryer lint filter? Clean the lint filter after every load. ENERGY STAR says this improves air circulation and dryer efficiency, and recommends scrubbing the filter regularly if you use dryer sheets. A clean filter also helps clothes dry faster, which saves time on busy laundry days.
How do I get kids to help with laundry? Give each child one clear laundry job, such as carrying their basket to the machine, matching socks or putting away their own folded clothes. Older kids can run their own load on their day. Write their name in the Whose column of the laundry schedule so the job is clear.
What is the best day to do laundry? The best day is the one you can stick to. Many families put towels and sheets on the weekend, when there is time to make beds, and everyday clothes on weekdays. If you work long days, try starting a load in the morning and drying and folding it in the evening.
Is the laundry schedule printable free? Yes, the laundry schedule printable is free. The two-page laundry schedule PDF is free for personal use; we email it to you. It has a blank weekly schedule, an example plan for a family of four, a how-often-to-wash guide, a laundry day checklist and a supplies list. Print a fresh copy each week or use a sheet protector.
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Free printable
One load a day keeps the basket from overflowing
A weekly laundry schedule plus a how-often-to-wash guide. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with simple cleaning routines and chore ideas the whole family can help with.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: Clothes washers energystar.gov
- ENERGY STAR: Clothes dryers energystar.gov
- US EPA: Safer Choice epa.gov