Laundry Room Ideas
Organizing the laundry room has everything to do with the most efficient storage, an intelligent layout, and small details that make laundry day less time-consuming. Here are a few tips to help you better organize your laundry room.
Laundry Supply Storage
Keep items you need for the wash cycle such as stain removers, scrubbers and sponges in clear plastic containers either in a cabinet or a shelf above your washing machine. Another container should have sewing materials in it for quick fix-ups. Keep an open, bin-type container nearby to hold rags in the event of spills.
If you buy laundry detergent in mega-sized containers, transferring some into smaller containers makes them easier to manage. Make sure the containers you use are dishwasher safe for easy clean up later on.
Store laundry products and supplies according to how often they are used. Anything you use on a regular basis should be within arm's length. Place items you need but don't get used as often on a high shelf or some other out-of-the-way spot.
Retire your old hefty ironing board and invest in a new ironing board that is more lightweight, modern and stores easily. If your laundry room is short on space, look in to ironing boards that can be mounted on the back of the door or a table-top ironing board.
Laundry Room Tips
Counter space can make a huge difference to an organized laundry room. If your laundry room lacks counter space you should consider buying a small Formica table. Formica is a brand name for materials treated with melamine resin. It is stain and water resistant and has a very smooth surface to prevent snags and tears when treating or folding your clothes. If you don't have room for a table, you can install a fold-down shelf to the wall for folding the laundry.
If your laundry room does not have a sink, keep a large bowl nearby for soaking items.
Place a small container near your washer and dryer to toss in items you find in pockets or items you find at the bottom of the machines such as keys, buttons, and loose change.
Think Smart
Assess how much laundry you're doing. If you're using machines that are more than 10 years old, a new washer and dryer may actually save you money. When researching a new machine, be sure to look in to how much electricity or gas they will use in a calendar year. Other features that help save energy include moisture sensors, water level controls, and spin cycle adjustments.
If possible, switch the door on the washing machine or dryer to open the opposite way if that will make it easier to transfer the laundry from the washer to the dryer or to unload laundry.
Laundry Sorting
Looking at a large pile of unsorted dirty laundry is an overwhelming start to cleaning your clothes. Choose not to face that heaping pile of dirty laundry ever again. Buy laundry hampers and sorters and designate which bins are for lights, which ones are for darks, and which one is for dry-clean only. That way, everyone can help sort clothes and you don't have to!
Canvas hampers or laundry sorters can be embroidered or you can label them with a permanent marker. Homz also has laundry sorters with wheels which makes transporting your laundry easier.
Quick Tips
- Keep a drying rack close at hand for drip-dry only clothes
- Install a rod in the laundry room so you have a place to hang clothes as you iron or utilize over-the-door hooks
- Keep clothes hangers, clothes pins and mesh bags for lingerie with your laundry supplies nearby in separate open-top bins
- Use any free space in the laundry room for gift wrapping supply storage, ribbons and bows, scissors, tape, etc. The laundry room is a great place for wrapping presents
- Find a stain fighting cheat sheet online, print it out and tape it on the inside on the inside of a cabinet door to refer to on laundry day
