Why Folding Clothes Is My Happy Place

Old-School Laundry Days

Growing up, we had one washer. It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t even reliable half the time. But it worked. And when it didn’t, I remember Mama getting down on the bathroom floor, fiddling with the access panel like she was defusing a bomb. That little washer sat tucked in the corner of our tiny bathroom—think today’s powder rooms.

And for drying? We had the clothes line. Long, stretched-out ones for each apartment section. I’m thankful we lived in a single-story unit, so we only had to share our line with one neighbor. Those lines were in use year-round. Cold, hot, humid—it didn’t matter.

For the first 19 years of my life, that’s how laundry got done. No laundry room. No deluxe appliances. Just a beater washing machine and a community clothes line. And somehow, that’s where my love of laundry began.

“I’m Doing Laundry”

Now don’t get me wrong—plenty of folks would gladly give that chore away. But me? I find it relaxing. We call it “doing laundry” for a reason.

Ring, ring.
"Hey Dana, what are you up to today?"
"I’m doing laundry."

You got sayings for your chores too?

For me, it’s the little things—the aroma of the detergent, the swish of the machine, the rhythmic clink of a zipper tumbling in the dryer. That sound? It calms me.

Missing the Clothes Line

I even miss the clothes line sometimes. Just seeing an old-school wooden clothespin brings me back. You remember putting them on your bike spokes to make that satisfying click-click-click as you rode? Ahh, childhood.

There’s something about the scent of line-dried laundry too—especially in the cold months, when towels come off the line like stiff little boards. These days, thanks to the dryer, you can have any scent you want. And every once in a while, when I catch the warm smell of the dryer vent outside? Instant “ahhhh.”

My Favorite Part

If I had to pick my favorite part of laundry? Folding. Yep. Folding clothes is my good thing. I like to take my time, usually with the TV going in the background. And aside from fitted sheets (those are a nightmare, let’s be honest), I actually enjoy folding.

There’s a simple pleasure in stacking the clothes in neat little piles. I’ll sit back and admire my handiwork—then what do I do next? Toss the folded stacks back into the basket… where they sit. Because while I love doing laundry, putting it away? That’s another story.

And don’t even get me started on hanging things back up. A hair-pulling task, truly.

Let Me Have My Baskets

If I had my way, my closet would be lined with baskets—shirts in one, pants in another, socks over here. Don’t tell me I’m the only one.
LOL.

So yeah, folding laundry might not be everyone’s favorite chore. But for me, it’s peaceful, it’s nostalgic, and it’s a quiet kind of joy.

What's yours?