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How To Teach Your Older Children About Laundry Safety

In partnership with Tide

I have three children and quite a big age gap between them all. My oldest is 12 and my youngest is 4. That means that we are dealing with tweens and a preschooler at the same time. Very different needs, right?! On any given Sunday, our dinner table conversation could revolve around boy crushes or Pokemon! It’s all up for grabs. LOL! I love it that way – don’t get me wrong. My husband and I have very full hearts. However, just because two of our children are “in the clear” doesn’t mean that we can start taking it easy. In fact, I find that we have to work just a bit harder because we have a responsibility to teach the concept of safety to our eldest two in order to protect our third child.

Just because Natalie knows not to mess around under the sink, doesn’t mean that Caleb can grasp that concept. In fact, we recently had to have a sit down with Natalie and Liam to teach them about laundry safety considering the two are now fully responsible for their own clothes. Not to mention that Natalie has just been asked to start babysitting.. Not only is she responsible for her own siblings, but soon she will be caring for others as well. 

So, we put together a checklist of laundry tips and ideas for our children for their reference. If you are ready to have a conversation with your teens about laundry safety, be sure to use the below bullets to guide you. 

  • When doing laundry, make sure you don’t overstuff the machine.
  • Follow the instructions for liquid/powder/pod measurements that can be found on the tub/bag. Properly dose at all times.
  • When using detergent or fabric conditioner, be sure to wash your hands immediately afterwards and never touch your eyes or mouth while engaging.
  • Don’t leave the detergent or fabric conditioner on the ground while working on your load. These items should always be kept up high and away from prying hands.
  • Always close the detergent or fabric conditioner as soon as you use it. Seal it completely.
  • Never store detergent or fabric conditioner in the drawer under the washing machine. Use the designated shelving above the machines to ensure young children cannot access.
  • Don’t open the machine while it is in the process of washing your clothes. Wait until the cycle is 100% done.

And as always, if anyone in your house ever has a question about laundry packets, or if something happens that you have questions about, be sure to tell your teens to call 911 if it’s an emergency or call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) for more assistance. This is a number that your teens should absolutely have access to. Our children each have it set up on their phones and we have it on the refrigerator as well.

The first few times our older children did their own laundry were disasters. I’m not going to lie. But now they are pros! They aren’t happy about being pros – but here we are! One less chore for me and a little more responsibility for them. It’s a win-win in my book! We only use Tide PODS and it makes doing laundry that much easier for the kids. They take two and throw them right into the washing machine. No measuring caps required! I love that because it gives me peace of mind knowing that they aren’t going to overflow my hallway with suds. Truthfully, it’s just one less thing for me to worry about.

Since I have a four-year-old, I make sure that Natalie and Liam understand to lock up the bag and place it high above the machines on the shelving we have in our laundry room when they are done. We never want to have any of these pods on the ground. Not only do I have a 4-year-old, but I also have a dog. Safety comes first. 

Do you have teens in your house? Are they doing laundry yet? Would love to hear how you instilled laundry safety into their routine.

*I’ve partnered up with Tide to talk about laundry safety. All opinions are my own.

Carol Cassara

Sunday 17th of December 2017

Laundry is such an important chore to learn especially since the kids can use it when they grow older and have their own home. I think these are really good tips on how to start teaching them!

AnnMarie John

Sunday 17th of December 2017

Chores are really important for me, especially since the kids can use it once they start living on their own. Love these laundry safety tips for teens!

Our Family World

Sunday 17th of December 2017

My boys are in their late teens and sometimes they do their own laundry, but most of the time, it is me. I like your tips. I mean even if we don't have small children in the house, we have a dog that is fascinated with anything new. Yes, I agree. Safety first!

Shannon Gurnee

Saturday 16th of December 2017

These are all super great tips for teaching older children laundry safety! I learned not to mix white clothes with red clothes when washing when I was younger. It was a tough mistake to learn. Ha ha!

Sara Welch

Friday 15th of December 2017

It's definitely easy to forget the dangers of things such as laundry. It seems like it wouldn't be dangerous but it definitely it.

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