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Although doing laundry may feel overwhelming at first for people who are blind, learning helpful methods can make it much easier to handle.
If you’re blind or losing your sight, it’s completely normal to wonder, “How am I supposed to do laundry on my own when I can’t see?” The various control systems, buttons, dials, and touchscreens can make washing machines and dryers complicated, and much of the guidance on how to use these machines assumes that you can see everything.
No matter how overwhelming it may seem, doing your own laundry independently is absolutely doable. Thousands of blind people do it every day.
The Type of Machine Matters
One of the biggest differences between laundry feeling manageable or stressful often comes down to the washer and dryer themselves, especially how the controls are designed.
If you have control over the type of machine, you’re already at an advantage. Machines with physical buttons or dials are much easier to adapt than touchscreens. Many blind people choose to use bump dots or tactile markers on the buttons they use most.
Touchscreens are harder, but not always impossible. Some machines reset to default setting, make audible beeps as you turn a dial, or can be controlled through an accessible app.
Living in a place with shared laundry rooms can make adapting trickier. Sometimes tactile markers get displaced or removed, which is frustrating. Accessible machines or reasonable accommodations are often required, and many landlords are more willing to help than you might expect.
At the end of the day, if shared machines feel like too much, you can always opt for pickup-and-drop-off laundry services. That still counts as independence, and it gets the job done.
Sorting Laundry Isn’t as Important as It Sounds
Sorting laundry may seem like a necessary step to avoid damaging your clothes, but in reality, it’s just not that important. You may have heard your parents or grandparents talk about separating lights, darks, and colors into different loads. The truth is, many adults today don’t sort their laundry by color at all.
Cold water washes have become a game-changer. Washing everything on cold reduces color bleeding, protects fabrics, uses less energy, and removes a huge layer of stress.
Many people simply:
- Wash everything together on cold
- Separate only by fabric needs like towels, sheets, or delicate items
- Keep dryer-only and air-dry items separate
If you’re someone who still prefers to sort laundry, tagging clothes with tactile markers, knots, sewn-in buttons, or specific hangers can help you keep track of what can be washed together. Others simplify their wardrobe so that everything is safe to wash in the same load. There’s no single right method here, only what feels manageable for you.
Using Laundry Detergent
There are many different types of laundry detergent: liquid, pods, powder, or even eco sheets. Measuring detergent is often quite difficult, which is why so many blind people use laundry pods. Pods go straight in the machine, so there’s no pouring and guessing.
If you prefer liquid or powder detergent, try measuring by counting seconds or using the same scoop every time. You’ll figure out what feels reliable, and once you do, it becomes part of your routine.
Drying and Folding Clothes
Dryers are often easier to use than washers because they usually have large start buttons, dials that beep, and have significantly less setting options than what you’d find on a washer.
Many of us simplify drying by using one or two settings and sticking with them every time. Consistency is what makes the process manageable. Clothes are usually separated for drying by fabric type instead of appearance. Towels and sheets can be dried together, while everyday clothing should be run as a separate load.
To avoid wrinkles, some people choose to use dryer balls. They’re also great for helping clothes dry more evenly.
When the dryer is done and it’s time to fold, clothing can often be identified by texture, weight, seams, and fabric feel. Over time, folding becomes more automatic as your hands learn what to do. And if pairing socks feels like a hassle, sticking to the same style can remove the need to match them entirely.
Give Yourself Time to Learn
Learning how to manage everyday tasks is part of building independence. Something like doing laundry can feel intimidating when it’s unfamiliar, and that’s true whether you’re blind or fully sighted. Most of us have called a family member or friend, searched online, or asked for help the first time we tried to figure out a new household skill.
If you ever need reminders that you’re capable, resourceful, and not alone in figuring this out, we’re here for you. Check out our blog for more articles about living independently when you’re blind.