Do a Load of Laundry with an Adult
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What you will learn
- 1Put the steps of doing a load of laundry in order
- 2Empty pockets and load the washer without packing it too full
- 3Explain why a grown-up handles the detergent and the settings
- 4Dry, fold, and put away clean clothes
Mini Lesson
Dirty clothes do not wash themselves! Doing laundry is a big job, and you can be a great helper. The washer and dryer are machines, and detergent is a strong soap. That is why you always do laundry with a grown-up. They are in charge, and you help with the steps.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- EMPTY the pockets: take out tissues, coins, and toys so nothing gets washed by mistake.
- SORT the clothes: help a grown-up put the clothes into piles that wash together.
- LOAD the washer: put the clothes in loosely. Do not pack it too full - clothes need room to move.
- DETERGENT and SETTINGS: the grown-up adds the detergent, picks the setting, and starts the washer.
- DRY: move the wet clothes to the dryer. Hang up things like swimsuits that should not go in the dryer. Hanging clothes saves energy.
- FOLD and put away: fold the clean clothes and put them back in the right drawer.
🧺 The Dryer Lint Screen
- LINT is the fuzzy fluff that comes off clothes in the dryer. It collects on a screen.
- CLEAN it with a grown-up: pull the fluff off the screen and put it in the trash can.
A grown-up handles the detergent and the machines. Keep detergent away from your face and mouth, and never play with detergent pods. Never climb into or play in a washer or dryer. Only use the machines when a grown-up is there with you.
Words to know
laundry
Clothes and towels that need washing, or the job of washing them.
e.g. We did a load of laundry on Saturday.
load
The clothes that go into the washer at one time.
e.g. This load is all towels.
detergent
A strong soap for washing clothes. A grown-up handles it.
e.g. The grown-up adds the detergent.
setting
The choice on a machine that tells it how to wash or dry.
e.g. The grown-up picks the setting.
lint
Fuzzy fluff that comes off clothes in the dryer.
e.g. We cleaned the lint off the screen.
fold
To bend clothes neatly so they lie flat.
e.g. Fold your T-shirt in half.
💡 Handy Tip: when you fold, match socks into pairs first. Then fold the big things, like towels and pants, and stack them by who they belong to. Putting away is fast when each pile has an owner.
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