do the laundry

Meaning

This phrase means to wash, dry, and fold clothes, sheets, or towels. It is a standard daily chore in most households. It is used in casual, everyday conversations when discussing housework or daily routines.

Examples

• I usually do the laundry on Sunday mornings.

  I usually do the laundry on Sunday mornings.

• Could you help me do the laundry this afternoon?

  Could you help me do the laundry this afternoon?

• There are so many dirty clothes; I really need to do the laundry.

  There are so many dirty clothes; I really need to do the laundry.

• She was doing the laundry when the phone rang.

  She was doing the laundry when the phone rang.

• Who is going to do the laundry this week?

  Who is going to do the laundry this week?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make the laundry.

  ✓ I need to do the laundry.

  In English, we use the verb 'do' for chores and repetitive tasks like laundry, not 'make'.

• ✗ I am going to wash the laundry.

  ✓ I am going to do the laundry.

  While you wash individual clothes, the standard idiomatic phrase for the entire process of cleaning clothes is 'do the laundry'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have no clean shirts left, so I must ___ today.

  💡 Use the base form of the verb after 'must'.

  Show answer

  do the laundry

• He ___ yesterday, so all his clothes are clean now.

  💡 Use the past tense.

  Show answer

  did the laundry