Clothing: Doing Your Laundry

Adding just a few steps to your routine can help you with household chores…no matter your level of vision. Here are a few tips that can make sorting and washing clothes a little easier.

The first thing you can do is make sure your laundry room has good lighting. It will not only help you see things easier but also helps identify colors. See our resource list in this workshop for lighting options.

Be sure to read the manufacturer’s label for cleaning instructions. And if they’re hard to read, use a handheld magnifier.

Use a basket that has two different sections. Or, two baskets or bags so you can put light clothes in one and dark clothes in the other. And if your baskets are a different height or size, that can also help you know which one has lights or darks. If you’re having difficulty identifying light from dark, check out Hadley’s clothing organization workshops for helpful tips and tricks.

Pinning socks together as you sort them will keep them in pairs. And to prevent the pins from stretching or damaging them, pin them at the toes where the material is thickest.

You could also wash all your socks and smaller items in a mesh bag. Or, sort them by texture where you can feel the difference between a black dress sock and a white sports sock.

There’s also something called a sock tucker. It’s a small device used to keep a pair of socks together. See the resource list for more information on them.

Now, we’ll go over some tips for measuring laundry products like detergent and fabric softener. First, measure your laundry products over a large sink or wide container to keep excess detergent out of the washer or on the floor. You may want to use different measuring cups to match the size of the load you’re washing. For example, a 1/3 cup for small loads and a ½ cup for larger ones.

For liquid detergent, you can place your index finger inside the top of the cup as you pour. That way when you feel the detergent touch your finger, you know to stop pouring.

Of course, while premeasured detergent pods may be more expensive, you’ll know you’re using the correct amount every time.

And here’s a helpful technique that makes loading clothes a little easier. Put an old sheet or towel on the floor in front of the washer. This creates contrast and helps you see clothes that may fall out as you’re putting them in or taking them out of the machine.

Now, using the palm of your hand, make small sweeps left, right, up and down the walls inside the washer to make sure it’s empty.

Adjust the settings for water temperature. Help with labeling your washer’s settings are among the tips you’ll find in Hadley’s labeling series of workshops.

Now, if you’re unsure about the color of some items, just wash them in cold water with a cup of white vinegar to lock in the colors.

Always check the floor for any dropped items. Then close the door and start the machine. Note the time you start the cycle to keep track of how long it takes to wash a load. Listen to make sure the washer has stopped before opening the door or removing the clothes. You can also feel with your hand to make sure It has stopped vibrating before you open the door or lid.

When you’re sure the washer has stopped, remove your clothes, using the same technique you used earlier to make sure no clothes are left behind inside the machine. Using the palm of your hand, make small sweeps left, right, up and down the walls.

Now, on to the dryer: Just like with the washer, put an old sheet or towel on the floor in front of the dryer. Using the same technique with the palm of your hand as you did with your washer - make sure the inside of your dryer is empty.

Next, adjust the temperature settings. Labeling your preferred dryer settings, for instance, 30 minutes and 60 minutes, can be really helpful. Use a handheld magnifier or task lighting if it’s hard to see the temperature settings on the dryer. Check out Hadley’s labeling workshops on appliances for even more on this topic.

Dry your clothes by weight and texture. For instance, keep dry, lightweight clothing, such as underwear, separate from heavy clothing like denim jeans or large towels. That way the clothes will all dry at the same time without any of them over-drying.

Check the floor for any dropped items, close the door and start the machine. And remember, if you remove clothes from the dryer as soon as it stops, you’ll prevent wrinkles.

Now, use the palm of your hand again and make sure the dryer is empty and no clothes are left behind inside the machine. To avoid static in the dryer that can cause certain items to stick to the walls of the dryer, static free dryer sheets can help.

And a few final tips: always keep hangers on hand. If possible, have a clothesline put up in your laundry room. You can also use hooks or a rod. And some laundry carts come with a hanging bar for your clothes.

Contact a learning expert if you have questions or your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience and practice and you’ll get here.