How much is too much?

[Momasita]

I have done a bizillion loads of laundry over the past few days, I am friggin tired!! All I have done is wash and fold too, putting away is another issue.

Anyways, how many pieces of clothing do we need???? I for one don't have much since Im preggers but the rest of the family, well it's out of control!!!!!

Any suggestions on downsizing the wardrobes? I have been working on DH and he's done pretty good. The kids, it's my fault I know. I just want them to have a few pairs of shorts, jeans and sweatpants. I don't care how many pairs of undies and socks they have since we never seem to have enough of that crap!

Part of my issue is keeping stuff for the younger siblings to grow in to. Is this dumb? DS1 and DS2 are complete opposites. DS2 at 5 is wearing stuff now that DS1 wore when he was 3-4. Does it make sense to keep stuff that long? I am going with a No in my head but can't seem to just get rid of stuff. THEN what about consigning? Is it worth it? I do it sometimes and donate sometimes. I just want things to be easy :)

[kandjmomma]

I have the same issue mainly with my dd who is 5. She has the same size closet as DH and I and her clothes take up the ENTIRE thing where we both have half of the closet and dont fill up most of our half. DS (1) has probably 15 or so shirts and pants to match and no socks because he throws them off and our dog eats them.

Anyway, I have saved most of her stuff but once we had a son instead of another girl everything that she is currently outgrowing either gets given to a friend or consigned. Consigning is nice but you dont make much. I asked once upon a child how they come up with their prices and she told me they sell it for half of what the store sells it and then they give you thirty percent of what they sell it for. I dont buy anything over 20 bucks so I make nothing pretty much. I am saving his stuff too until we have a 3rd and then I will get rid of everything of the opposite gender (prob just goodwill it). I do go through dd's stuff every few months and get rid of stuff she says is uncomfortable or has been hard to match or whatever. I have gotten rid of 4 pairs of shoes she refused to wear after I bought them...why do I keep buying her more??? Its a sickness!

[Liz]

I decided to downsize to 7 full outfits (per season) for each family member so I can do laundry once a week for each person. I'm not quite there yet but it's helping. I'm pregnant too so I don't have many clothes which means more loads for me during the week lol.

[Hethyr]

I do a load of laundry daily to keep it manageable - especially since some days I wear 2 or 3 outfits! (When I work out not just for the helluva it :giggle) and same with DH. Otherwise we're pretty good - but how would limiting clothing options help minimize laundry? I guess I don't understand that. For me, when I do slack, I find that we start running out of things if I don't stay on top of laundry (go a week between clothes loads, for us, is a long time!) so it seems you'd have to do laundry more often? Or am I missing the point (very likely true)?

[Mommy2boo]

I cram all the laundry into Sundays (except of course the almost daily washing of my 2 year olds sheet - boy can he pee!) I usually have 5+ loads but console myself by saying that doing it all at once is good for the planet since the dryer is already warm...

[BeckMom]

When my 2 were little I think they had about 10-15 outfits each. I wanted to cut it down, but I realized they were too messy when they played outside and would end up changing at some point during the day. I think it boils down to frequency vs volume for laundry. I had alot to do, but I didn't have to do it anymore than once a week...

[Emily]

I found this great trick! Put all of the hangers on the rod backwards. When you wear an item and wash/putaway, swap the hanger the right way. After 2 months for the kids and 6 for adults, Donate the ones that are still on backwards hangers (ie not worn) :grin

[BeckMom]

Emily- I LOVE that idea!!! I am going to get more hangers at the store today and do that with my 2 middle schoolers this weekend! DS has a dresser full of clothes, but it seems like he always wears the same few outfits all the time. DD is almost as bad...

[Momasita]

My issue with laundry is that we can go SO long without doing it that I will procrastinate and then it's out.of.control! Plus, DS1 wears a uniform so he doesn't 'need' so many clothes. Even when he's not in school, all he likes to wear is gym shorts/sweat pants and t-shirts. DS2 will wear a uniform soon so I am thinking all these clothes need to go. Then during the summer they mostly wear swimsuits.

We get so many hand-me-downs from my nephews that we get so much of the same thing. My boys love the stuff and almost refuse to give it up. I a slowly putting things to the side that they don't need.

I also have a problem! I want to keep their t-shirts from sports/activities and make them into a quilt someday. I don't have room so what do I do? I need a designated box on the shelves in the garage. That's a great idea :)