Laundry Supplies and Tips
washing pillows or large quilts, the oversized laundromat washers will do a better job than your ordinary-sized one will do.
Other Helpers
Laundry hampers: have one for each member of the family, encourage children to put their clothes in the hamper ONLY when they are dirty. Kids are prone to gathering up everything in sight and throwing it into the hamper, often mixing clean clothes in with the soiled ones. It's faster to clean up the room that way. Don't let them get away with this.
Ironing
I don't believe in ironing, but there are times when you need to touch up something or you may have cotton items that need pressing. Try not to buy things that need ironing, but if you do have a few things get yourself a small travel ironing board and get rid of the big one.
If you have a separate room for laundry and don't mind having a big board set up that's great. If you have stuff that needs ironing then you can get to the board easily, otherwise you may tend to pile up the ironing until you can get around to setting up the board. Somehow it never gets done.
Don't buy the most expensive iron there is. One with steam and dry is fine. Too many settings just complicate matters.
Washers and Dryers
Follow your manufacturers instructions and always clean the lint filter on the dryer after drying each load. Your dryer will last longer and clothes will dry faster.
Give the appliances a wipe each time you use them and a good cleaning inside every month or so to keep them looking like new.
If you can put up a clothes line outdoors, get cloths-pins and keep them in a plastic drawstring bag right out on the end of the clothes line so they are always handy.
There may be other items for doing laundry, but this covers the majority of them. Everything is easier to keep up with if you have the proper supplies on hand. You're always going to have laundry to do, if you see a good bargain, stock up if you have room to store your items. If you do this you'll never have to run out at the last minute or put off doing your laundry until you get around to buying what you need.
References
The Soap and Detergent Association An extremely interesting and informative site with a section for children and an answer
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