Laundry Checklist for Kids

What this sheet is for

This sheet walks a child through a complete load of laundry from start to finish, divided into three clear phases. It is the sheet to pull out the first few times a child does laundry independently — or semi-independently — so they can stand next to the machine, read each step, check it off, and know exactly what comes next without having to ask.

How to use it

Work through the sheet in order. The Sort and Load section covers everything that happens before the machine starts — gathering, separating, pocket-checking, and loading. The Wash and Dry section guides the child through choosing settings, starting the washer, moving the load, and starting the dryer. The Fold and Put Away section covers what to do the moment the dryer stops, including how to fold common items and where to take them. Use the blank lines at the end of each section to add steps specific to your machine or household rules. The notes box at the bottom is for recording anything to remember next time, such as an item that shrank or a setting that worked well.

What is printed on the page

“Laundry Checklist for Kids” is laid out as single column: three headed sections of seven pre-filled checkbox items each down one column, optional blank extra lines per section, and a notes box at the foot. Under the title it reads “Follow these steps to do a full load of laundry on your own.”, and the line at the foot of the page says “Ask a grown-up before using the dryer for the first time — settings vary by machine.”.

The section headings slot holds three entries — “Sort and Load”, “Wash and Dry” and “Fold and Put Away” — so the sheet is already filled in for chores rather than left as blank rows to label yourself.

The section 1 items slot holds seven entries — “Collect all dirty clothes from your hamper or floor”, “Sort into two piles: lights and darks”, “Check pockets for tissues, coins, and lip balm”, “Read the tags — set aside anything marked "hand wash"” and “Put the light pile (or dark pile) into the washer” and two more — so the sheet is already filled in for chores rather than left as blank rows to label yourself.

The section 2 items slot holds seven entries — “Choose the correct water temperature (cold for darks, warm for lights)”, “Select the normal or regular cycle on the dial or screen”, “Press start and write the finish time here: ______”, “When the cycle ends, move clothes to the dryer right away” and “Check tags again — pull out anything that must air dry” and two more — so the sheet is already filled in for chores rather than left as blank rows to label yourself.

The section 3 items slot holds seven entries — “Remove clothes from the dryer as soon as the cycle ends”, “Shake out each item before folding to reduce wrinkles”, “Fold t-shirts flat: sleeves in, then fold in thirds”, “Fold pants in half lengthwise, then fold in thirds” and “Roll or fold socks and match each pair together” and two more — so the sheet is already filled in for chores rather than left as blank rows to label yourself.

The remaining labels on “Laundry Checklist for Kids”, the chores sheet, are “Load date” for the date label and “Notes for next load” for the notes heading.

Two things about this particular single column are settings rather than text, and “Laundry Checklist for Kids” has them set like this. Blank extras is on: add two blank lines at the end of each section for the reader's own items. Notes box is on: include the notes box at the foot.

Tips

Tape a sticky note to the dryer showing your machine's heat settings so the child can match them without guessing.

The first time, do the load alongside your child and narrate each step so the checklist words connect to real actions.

Keep a permanent marker near the sheet so the child can jot the finish time in step 3 of the Wash and Dry section.

The other layouts in this set

“Laundry Checklist for Kids” is one of nine sheets in this set, each a different fixed layout filled for the same topic. “Preschooler Daily Chores” uses the single column layout, “Spring Cleaning Chores for Kids” uses the single column layout, “Weekend Chore Checklist for Kids” uses the single column layout, “Age-Appropriate Chores List” uses the two columns layout, “Family Deep Clean Chore List” uses the two columns layout, “Weekly Chores: Ages 5–8” uses the two columns layout, “Chores to Learn Before Moving Out” uses the phased timeline layout and “Teen Chore Skill Builder” uses the phased timeline layout. Pick by how you work: the layout decides how much you write and where, not what the sheet is about.