Preserving Our Memorable Outfits and THE BEST Laundry Tip

*Click on the link at the bottom for THE BEST laundry tip*

Over the last few weeks I have been going through the kids closets sorting clothes. The process always takes a long time for two reasons. One, because the kids always want to hang out and help, and two, because I get so sentimental over the outfits. They bring back such great memories. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing home our first baby from the hospital. Now he is ten and we have 4 children. Where does the time go?

My mom made it a point to save and preserve a lot of the clothes I wore when I was little. I am so grateful she did. When we had our daughter, she started giving me my old clothes for our little girl to wear. Three girls later and it is really fun to see our girls in things that I wore, and even things that my mom wore. These family heirlooms mean the world to me. I hope that one day my girls will want their girls to wear them too.

I am extra careful with these pieces. I only wash them in Dreft, they never go in the dryer, and I store them separate from all the other outgrown baby clothes.

My mom taught me that it was important to use Dreft because it is gently on babies skin. (Our pediatrician recommended it too). My grandmother used Dreft, my mom used it (and still does on grandkids clothes), and I use Dreft too.  I will never forget my mom showing up to our home, a few weeks before our first child was born, with that pink box in her hand. Every time I have a baby, she arrives with the same pink box of Dreft.

One of my very favorite outfits is this little knit dress that I wore when I was a baby. My mom took such good care of things. I wore that dress, and now all three of our girls have worn the same dress. It doesn't have a size on the tag, but always fits our girls when they are about 3 months old.

Dreft has kept all the beautiful details in the knit, soft, sweet, and clean.

 
Just looking at it brings back a flood of memories and emotions. It always will. Thanks to Dreft, I hope to see it on a granddaughter one day.

Whether you're a first timer or the greatest, grandest mother of them all, there's one thing moms have agreed on for over 75 years- Dreft makes your little one's fabric feel as clean and soft as can be.

Do you have a most memorable baby outfit? 

Do you get sentimental about baby clothes?

P.S. Want another great laundry tip? Read about how to stop the never ending laundry pile.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dreft. As a part of this program I received the product, the opinions and text are all mine.

Never Ending Laundry Pile

Dear Family Volley,

How can I get the laundry off the couch and still make time for the kids?  I swear it's the one household chore that takes up the most of my time. I try to do it at night but I am just too tired and I don't want to take care of it when the kids are napping since I like that to be "me" time so...??? 

Thanks for your help!

Meredith

_________________________ ---------------- _____________________

Dear Meredith,

Why can't laundry just do itself? Or, why can't we buy one of the machines the Jetson's used to use?

Unfortunantly the laundry never goes away, and it is haunting. It would always make me feel bad when someone yelled, "Mom, do I have underwear?", or "Honey, is my red shirt clean?"

When I got married and then we had our first child, I was so over whelmed by the laundry. I could get it washed and dried, it was the folded and put away that was a problem. I used to move the clean piles around the house for days, until I finally had to sit down and spend hours folding and putting away all the wash. It would make my back hurt so bad, and it made me dislike laundry even more.  I didn't want to sacrafice time with my family, and like you, when my children are sleeping, I need some time. And nights just don't work. I am tired and want to hang out with my husband. Then we had our second child and I was really in over my head. 

So...this is what I did. At first it might sound crazy, but stay with me.

As part of my morning routine, I start a load of laundry every morning when I wake up. By the time breakfast is made I can switch the load to the dryer, and by the time I return home from dropping our son off at school, the load is about dry and ready to be folded and put away. By 10am the laundry is done for the day. I don't have to think about it again. It gives me time and sanity. I consider it a little gift I give myself. 

Because I do this everyday the loads are small, they are not overwhelming. It only takes 15 minutes to take care of all of it. Then it is off my mind, my kids and husband have all they need, and I don't have to sacrifice time with my family, or my own time. It has completely changed my life as a mom. I feel great satisfaction knowing that I am on top of the laundry. I used to think about how I needed to do the laundry all day long. Now, it is one less thing to think about. 

It will take about two weeks to really see the benefits and get into the swing of this new routine, and I know the idea of laundry everyday might not sound promising, but it really works. 

Try it, get out of bed and throw the load in. 

It will allow you to get the clothes off the couch and be with your kids. After all, the last thing you want is for your children to feel that the laundry is more important than they are. They will remember the time you spend together for the rest of their lives. 

Happy Washing 

Family Volley 

Anyone else do laundry this way?