Cut Out the Middle Chore: Simplify Your Laundry Routine for Nomads

Simplify Laundry Tasks and Make Life on the Road More Manageable

Laundry may not be the most exciting part of life on the road, but it doesn’t have to be a major stressor either. If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed by piles of laundry and endless folding, it’s time to rethink your routine. By cutting out unnecessary steps like sorting and folding, you can save time and make laundry day a breeze, no matter where you are. Whether you’re living in an RV, van, or simply traveling light, these simple tricks will help you streamline your laundry process and get back to enjoying the journey.

We all know the phrase “cut out the middleman” — but what if I told you you could apply this to your chores too? Let’s start with something that often feels like a never-ending task: laundry.

In our house, we have four beds, and I was raised to wash sheets weekly. But when you’ve got four beds to tackle, that’s a lot of work. You’ve got to strip the beds, swap them out, sort the linens, wash, dry, and fold everything. Sounds like a lot, right?

Honestly, I dreaded it. I used to force myself into the routine by stripping the beds as soon as I woke up, just to push myself into putting clean sheets on. (Anyone else play “games” like this with themselves to get chores done?) Eventually, the dreaded task would bubble to the top of my list, and I’d have to figure out how to make it easier.

Simplify the Process: Small Tweaks for Big Time Savings

Here’s what I did: I stopped folding the sheets. I’ll let them sit on the bed until I’m ready to wash them, and guess what? No big deal! Sure, the beds might go a few hours without sheets, but that’s a small sacrifice for skipping the folding step.

I’ve applied this to towels too. Instead of tossing them in a laundry basket, I hang them up on hooks and take them straight to the washer when I’m ready. This eliminates the back-and-forth of sorting laundry before washing — and if you live alone, it’s even easier to wash as you go.

As for my kids’ pajamas, I store them under their pillows. When they’re ready to be washed, I pull them out, toss them in the laundry, and put them right back after they’re dried. No folding required. I also wash their pillowcases often — usually every 3 to 4 days. Fresh pillowcases not only feel great, but they may also contribute to fewer illnesses in the family.

Here’s the best part: this little change makes a huge difference in reducing stress. I used to feel so overwhelmed by a basket of laundry waiting to be done. Now, I skip the clutter and just keep things in place until I’m ready to tackle them. It’s a game-changer.

Challenge: Simplify Your Sheets

Start by picking your favorite set of sheets and donating the rest. If you’re not ready to part with them, box them up with a date 30 days from now. Try living with just one set of sheets for a month. At first, it may feel a little odd, but it’s totally doable and can be incredibly freeing.

For those of you with small kids, I understand the worry about accidents. It’s okay to keep an extra set of sheets. But you don’t need a spare set for every bed. When my kids were little, I had just one set of sheets per bed. If there was an accident, I’d clean it up and put them in another bed. It made the process simpler and less stressful. Kids are resilient — they can sleep just about anywhere for a few hours!

The key to all of this is having access to a washer and dryer at home, but if you do, this routine will save you time, reduce stress, and make laundry day a lot more manageable. Give it a try — you’ll be amazed at how much easier it makes your life!