A sorting system that actually gets used
Short answer: Stick to three categories. A system with six baskets rarely gets used in practice, and you still end up with a pile of clothes on the floor.
Why simplicity wins
A sorting system needs to work for everyone in the household without anyone having to think it through each time. With more than three choices, the decision takes too long during a busy day, and people end up leaving clothes wherever is easiest right there.
The three that cover most of it
White, light and dark. Terrycloth and sportswear can go into the category they belong to by color, and only get sorted out separately once the machine needs filling anyway. That keeps the system simple without compromising how clean the laundry ends up being.
Make the baskets easy to see
Colored baskets or large signs mean no one in the household has to think about it when clothes need to go. It is the small detail that often decides whether a system lasts for months instead of falling apart after just a couple of weeks.
Place the baskets correctly
See bamboo clothing for men for examples of garments taken off several times a day, where a basket within reach makes a real difference. If the basket is far away, clothes end up on the floor instead, no matter how well thought out the system otherwise is.
Exceptions that stay simple too
Items that need washing separately, like fine underwear or wool sweaters, can go in a small bag inside the basket they otherwise belong to by color. See bamboo underwear for men for examples of garments that often need that extra bag.
Teach the system to the household
During the first few weeks you may need to remind the others in the household about the system a couple of times before it becomes a habit. Hang a small sign by the baskets at first, and take it down again once everyone has grown used to the routine.
Tidy up the system now and then
Even a good system can grow cluttered with exceptions over time if no one keeps an eye on it. See bamboo towels and reconsider once a year whether towels and bedding still fit well into the three fixed categories or need a fourth.
Avoid too many adjustments
Resist the urge to add more baskets just because a few items feel hard to place. Find a fixed rule for the tricky cases instead, and stick with it, so the system does not gradually grow as unwieldy as the one you started with in the first place.
In short about sorting
Three categories, clearly marked baskets, and a basket placed exactly where clothes come off. That is the whole recipe, and it works because it is easy for everyone in the household to remember, no matter how busy everyday life otherwise gets.
Frequently asked questions
What about items that need washing separately
Put it in a bag inside the basket it belongs to by color, and take the bag out again when you fill the machine.
Does everyone in the household need to be able to use the system
The whole household needs to manage it without trouble. If they cannot, the system is too complicated and should be simplified.
Where should the baskets stand
Wherever clothes come off. If the basket is far away, clothes almost always end up on the floor instead of in the basket.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
