
How Many Hours Does a Family of Four Spend on Laundry Each Week?
Laundry is one of those never-ending chores that often goes unnoticed—until you realize just how much time it consumes. At My Locker Laundry, we've received countless questions from families about how to better manage their laundry routines. One of the most common queries is: How much time does a typical family of four spend on laundry each week?
To answer that, we've gathered some insights and strategies to help you tackle the task more efficiently.
How Many Clothes Does an Average Adult Wear in a Week?
While clothing needs vary from person to person, our research shows that:
- An average man wears about 7 kg of clothes per week.
- An average woman wears about 5 kg of clothes per week.
For a couple, this adds up to around 12 kg of laundry weekly. Adding bedsheets, comforters, and pillowcases brings the total to approximately 12–14 kg per week.
Given that most household washing machines have a 6–7 kg capacity, a couple would typically need 3–4 loads of laundry per week. In Singapore's humid climate, clothes often take at least 24 hours to dry—longer during the rainy season. This means laundry is a near-daily activity, with clothes constantly in the washer or hanging to dry.
What About a Family of Four?
When you add kids into the mix, the workload increases significantly. Children, with their spills, sports, uniforms, and frequent outfit changes, generate more laundry than adults. However, since kids' clothes are lighter, their overall weight is slightly lower.
For example:
- A 5-year-old's weekly laundry weighs about 5 kg.
For a family of four (two adults and two children), the total weekly laundry load is approximately 26–30 kg. That's a lot of laundry—and likely requires running the washing machine every other day.
How Long Does It Take to Do Laundry?
Here's a breakdown of the time investment for a family of four:
Washing
- A full wash cycle typically takes about 60 minutes.
- With 30 kg of laundry requiring 7 loads, that's 6 - 8 hours of washing per week.
Hanging and Folding
- Hanging clothes takes around 15 minutes per load.
- Folding and putting them away takes about 20 minutes per load.
- For 7 loads, this adds up to an additional 3 - 4 hours.
In total, a family of four spends around 8 to 10 hours per week on laundry from start to finish.
Smart Strategies to Handle Laundry Efficiently
Laundry doesn't have to feel like an endless chore. Here are some strategies to lighten the load:
1. Use Separate Laundry Baskets
Designate baskets for darks, lights, and towels. When a basket is full, it's time to do a load. This simple system eliminates the need to sort clothes before washing, saving valuable time.
2. Simplify Your Wardrobe
Consider choosing clothes with similar colors and materials to wash them together. While this approach may appeal to men, many women prefer more variety in their wardrobe.
3. Turn Laundry Into a Family Activity
Make laundry a bonding experience. Teach your kids to fold clothes with you. Chat about their day, share stories, or ask about school while you're hanging or folding laundry together. This not only makes the chore more enjoyable but also instills responsibility in your children.
Our Recommendation
At My Locker Laundry, we believe in transforming chores into opportunities for connection. By involving your family, you can turn laundry into a shared activity, creating special moments and teaching life skills along the way.
Try it—and see how it changes your family dynamic!