Sunday reset: Your 7-step ritual for perfectly clean laundry and a fresh home

Sunday. Coffee, peace and quiet, and... a laundry basket full of clothes staring at you from the bathroom. You know that if you leave it there until Monday, the pile will only get bigger. And all you wanted was to enjoy your day off. But what if this Sunday could be a little more relaxing? A Sunday reset isn't about catching up on chores. It's a ritual that turns everyday household tasks into moments for yourself. Just like putting on a face mask or making time for a walk – except that this time, the result is a fresh and clean home.

We've put together 7 simple steps that will not only make your chores easier but also make them more enjoyable.

Step 1: Sort into three piles, not for three hours

Start without rushing. Place three baskets in front of you or make enough space in the bathroom to sort your laundry into three piles:

• one for whites and light colours,
• one for colours,
• and one for darks.

If you want to take your sorting one step further, separate towels and sportswear as well as garments made from materials that require special care.

Step 2: Clear the space, clear your mind

It might sound strange, but it really works. Before you start your first load, let some fresh air in. If you have a window in the bathroom, even better. If not, air out your entire home. The space where you do your laundry should feel fresh and pleasant. It also helps prevent excess moisture and unpleasant odours that can sometimes linger in the laundry room or bathroom.

How can you make this chore more enjoyable?

If you enjoy little rituals, light a lavender- or eucalyptus-scented candle. Put on your favourite music or a podcast. This can be your hour to do something productive while also enjoying some time to yourself.

Why does this matter? Because the space you're in affects how you feel about the task itself. A clean, beautifully scented space can make even doing the laundry feel more enjoyable.

Step 3: Wash with love (and the right products)

This is the point where you determine whether your laundry will come out truly clean, beautifully scented and pleasant to the touch – or simply “washed somehow”.

When using traditional laundry gels, clothes can sometimes be left with a musty smell. Plus, those large bottles take up far too much space. So what can you use instead? Try laundry sheets.

• Unlike traditional laundry gels, which contain water and numerous additives, laundry sheets are more environmentally friendly.
• What's more, you can fit several months' worth in a drawer, so they take up minimal space on your shelf.
• Another bonus is that laundry sheets are perfect for travelling.
• And they work equally well in cold and warm water.

TIP

If you love intense fragrances, give laundry perfumes a try. Citrus, musk, ylang-ylang, jasmine... which fragrance will you choose? You'll smell it every time you open your wardrobe.

Step 4: Hang it up or put it in the dryer

Once the washing is done, it's time to decide: dryer or drying rack? Both have their advantages. If you have a dryer, don't forget to add a few tennis balls. It may sound strange, but it works. They can reduce drying time by up to 30–40% and help prevent your laundry from clumping together.

If you're using a drying rack, try to hang your laundry up as soon as the wash cycle finishes. And if you have the option to dry it outside, make the most of it. Nothing quite compares to the scent of laundry dried in the fresh air.

A useful tip:

Drying laundry indoors can be more challenging in winter. To help prevent excess moisture and mould, choose the right room for drying – a living room with a balcony door or window, a well-ventilated bathroom or a hallway. You can also use a fan or dehumidifier.

Step 5: Ironing – therapy or an unnecessary chore?

To be honest, most clothes don't actually need ironing. If you hang damp laundry properly, gravity will do most of the work for you.

But if you're one of those people who love the ritual of ironing – the hiss of steam, the smooth ironing board and the satisfaction of transforming a wrinkled piece of fabric into something perfectly smooth – then go for it.

Practical tip

When ironing shirts, always start with the collar, then move on to the back and shoulders, and finish with the front. And remember: a lower temperature and a little patience are always better than scorched fabric and regret.

Step 6: Fold it so you can find it

Marie Kondo made it clear: every piece of clothing deserves respect. No, you don't have to sit down and thank your socks (although you can if that's your thing). But folding your laundry is the perfect opportunity to think about what you own.

Try vertical folding. You can see everything at a glance, nothing gets crushed underneath piles of other clothes, and the whole space becomes easier to navigate. It's like a shelf in a boutique, where every piece has its own place.

And here's a bonus: while you're folding, you can plan your outfits for the week ahead. Monday? That linen shirt and jeans. Tuesday? Black trousers and your favourite jumper. It's a simple way to save yourself five minutes of stress in front of the wardrobe every morning.

Step 7: Slip into a beautifully scented bed

This is the home stretch of your Sunday reset – changing the bed linen. Yes, it's another five minutes of work. But that feeling when you slip into freshly washed, beautifully scented sheets at the end of the day? That's the reward you've been waiting for all day.

If you really don't feel like changing all the bedding, at least change your pillowcase. Even this small change can make a difference to your sleep. A clean pillowcase can also contribute to better skin hygiene and help reduce the build-up of impurities.

Sunday reset isn't about perfection

No one expects you to have your laundry perfectly organised by colour, every item flawlessly ironed and your home looking like it belongs in a magazine. Sunday reset is about intention. It's about making time for something that would otherwise be just another item on your to-do list and turning it into something that genuinely makes you feel good.

Make life easier by organising things in a way that works for you. You don't have to follow every step. Maybe you'll start by simplifying your laundry routine with laundry sheets or trying scented laundry oils. Or perhaps ironing will become the moment when you finally put your phone away.

Taking care of your home is also a way of taking care of yourself. And sometimes, all it takes is one Sunday to truly feel the difference.