Laundry Chores for Kids by Age

Here are the common wash day chores and the ages by which most kids are able to do them. Once a child reaches an individual skill or age level, he can generally do the chores for his age group and those for the age groups below.

If your child has been doing some of the wash with you for a few years now, he may be ready for some of the wash-day tasks above his age level, if safety isn't an issue. This guide to laundry chores for kids by age to help.

Laundry Chores for Kids By Age 

Ages 2 and Under:

  • Put dirty clothes in the hamper if the top is low enough.

Ages 3 To 5:

  • Previous chore, plus:
  • Remove clothes from the dryer.
  • Help fold clothes.
  • Take clean, folded clothes to his or her room.
  • Air-tumble throw pillows in dryer.

Ages 6 to 9:

  • Previous chores, plus:
  • Take hampers to the laundry room on wash day.
  • Fold simple clothes items.
  • Match socks from dryer.

Ages 10 to 13:

  • Previous chores, plus:
  • Sort, wash, and fold clothes.
  • Change bed linens.


Ages 14 to 17:

  • Previous chores, plus:
  • Clean the dryer exhaust vent.
  • Sew on buttons and mend torn clothes. (This could be a heavy-duty chore for extra pay or privileges.)
  • Remove dust ruffle from beds to wash or dry-clean.


You might like these:

  • Garage cleaning with kids is the ideal time to ooh and ahh over all your old treasures and reevaluate whether to keep them.

    Garage Cleaning With Kids

    Garage cleaning with kids is the ideal time to ooh and ahh over all your old treasures and reevaluate whether to keep them.

  • Getting kids to help with cleaning isn't easy, especially in the beginning. This guide to kids chores can help.

    Assigning Kids Chores by Age

    Getting kids to help with cleaning isn't easy, especially in the beginning. This guide to kids chores can help.

  • This guide to bedroom kids chores by age can help keep cleaning expectations for children realistic. Once a child reaches a certain age or skill level, he can generally do the bedroom kids chores for his age group and the age groups below.

    Bedroom Kids Chores by Age

    This guide to bedroom kids chores by age can help keep cleaning expectations for children realistic. Once a child reaches a certain age or skill level, he can generally do the bedroom kids chores for his age group and the age groups below.

  • This patio chores list for kids details age-appropriate chores little ones can help with on the patio or in the backyard.

    Patio Chores for Kids by Age

    This patio chores list for kids details age-appropriate chores little ones can help with on the patio or in the backyard.

  • When doing laundry with kids, you'll need to go over the laundry basics to prep them for the dirty jobs ahead. These tips and strategies can help.

    Doing Laundry With Kids

    When doing laundry with kids, you'll need to go over the laundry basics to prep them for the dirty jobs ahead. These tips and strategies can help.

  • Here's a guide to cleaning chores for kids in the home office. After all, since they often help muck it up, why shouldn't they help clean it up?

    Home Office Cleaning Chores for Kids by Age

    Here's a guide to cleaning chores for kids in the home office. After all, since they often help muck it up, why shouldn't they help clean it up?

  • You want household chores to be shared by everyone in the family. But are you sabotaging those beginner efforts instead of encouraging them?

    Household Chores: 10 Rules for Teaching Kids

    You want household chores to be shared by everyone in the family. But are you sabotaging those beginner efforts instead of encouraging them?

  • Here's a guide to which garage kids chores kids can do to care for and clean up the garage..

    Garage Kids Chores by Age

    Here's a guide to which garage kids chores kids can do to care for and clean up the garage..




Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.