Laundry Hacks Every Adult With ADHD Needs

A young woman sits on the floor in a laundry room, loading clothes from a wicker basket into a washing machine.

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Deceivingly, laundry seems simple. You take your clothes, throw them in the machine, add some detergent and voila!

But let’s be real: it’s so much harder than that! Each piece of clothing has its own washing instructions, there are different cycles and temperatures to consider, and don’t even get me started on the dreaded folding and ironing.

Add ADHD into the mix, and laundry can feel like a never-ending, overwhelming task. There are so many bits and pieces to remember, and it can be easy to get distracted and forget about your laundry in the midst of everything else going on.

But I’ve got you! As an adult with ADHD myself, I’ve learned some handy laundry hacks that make this tedious chore a little bit easier. Here are my secrets to conquering the laundry mountain.

Sort as You Go

One of the biggest struggles for adults with ADHD is staying on top of tasks and avoiding overwhelming piles of things to do. So why not tackle your laundry in smaller, more manageable chunks?

Instead of waiting until you have a massive pile of dirty clothes, try sorting them into different loads as soon as they come off your body or out of the hamper. This way, you can easily throw in a load of whites or colors without feeling like it’s an insurmountable task.

Keep a Timer Handy

Another struggle for adults with ADHD is time management. We often get lost in the vortex of hyperfocus and lose track of time. To avoid forgetting about your laundry in the washer, set a timer as soon as you start the cycle. This will help remind you to switch loads and prevent having to rewash clothes sitting wet for too long.

Use Visual Cues

For those who are visual learners, which many adults with ADHD are, use color-coded baskets or bins to sort your laundry. This way, you can quickly and easily see which basket you need to wash next without having to read labels or remember what is in each pile. You can also use this method for organizing clean laundry—use different colored baskets for each family member or type of clothing.

Invest in a Pegboard

Always struggle to find your detergent, dryer sheets, or other laundry supplies? You need a pegboard for your laundry room to help organize your laundry supplies. Hang small bins or baskets on the pegboard to store frequently used items. This will save you time searching for supplies and also prevent clutter on your shelves or countertops.

Make Folding Fun

Folding laundry can be a mundane task, but it doesn’t have to be! Turn on some music or a podcast while you fold your clothes to make the process more enjoyable. You can even turn it into a game by seeing how quickly you can fold each load or trying different folding techniques.

Hang Clothes Right Away

Folding laundry isn’t always realistic for everyone. If you find yourself leaving clean clothes in baskets for days (or even weeks), try hanging them up right out of the dryer instead. This will prevent wrinkles and make it easier to put away later on.

Laundry may never be an adult with ADHD’s favorite chore, but with these hacks, it can become a more manageable task. So don’t let your clothes, towels, and sheets pile up—use these tips to conquer your laundry so you can have clean, fresh-smelling clothes whenever you need them.

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Lacy Estelle

Lacy Estelle is the writer of Lacyestelle.com and the Podcast host for An ADD Woman.

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