Laundry! Not my favorite household chore by far. If you feel the same way, this post is for you, and if you don’t, we need to talk.
I have found recently that having a space that you don’t dread going to can make a world of difference. Our former laundry room (and I use that term very loosely) was beyond small, dark and inefficient. Even though our new laundry area is tiny, it’s bright and organized and I love the efficiency of our front loading washer/dryer. This is a picture of our laundry space and you might notice there is a shelf on top of the washer/dryer.
We installed the shelf recently and it’s super convenient! We have an outlet on the wall, so we use the shelf to charge our phones and iPad as well as store mail. An added bonus is it prevents things from falling behind the washer and dryer, because isn’t that where all the socks end up?? I squeezed the washer and dryer as close together as possible, and tucked a plastic container for laundry and an umbrella stand on the floor and just above them is a container for plastic bags.
If you’re lucky enough to have a large laundry room, consider adding an island. Just like in a kitchen, they’re work horses in the laundry room. They provide a handy surface for folding, as well as tons of storage, or as in the picture, you could have baskets installed for each family member. Sweet!
How many times have you had a stain and didn’t know how to treat it? Happens to me fairly often, since it seems whenever I eat I feel the need to share my food with my clothes. Having a stain chart handy is a great idea and a terrific time saver.
Here’s a variation on the basket theme. If you have a large family, stack two three inch high shelves on top of each other (or side by side) and label with family members’ names. Have each person be responsible for folding and putting away their laundry. Around 9-10 years of age is a good time to start for most children.
I really like the idea of raising the washer/dryer. It not only cuts down on the amount of bending needed, but you gain valuable space for storage as well.
So there are my five organizing ideas for today, but as they say in the infomercials…BUT WAIT! There’s more!
My favorite laundry room tips
- Stain removers, sponges, and scrubbers will be quite happy if they’re stored in their own container on a shelf or a cabinet. If you buy large containers of detergent, transfer it into smaller, see-thru containers that are easier to handle.
- The only thing I dislike more than folding laundry is ironing. Make sure your ironing board is not a hassle to get to. Hang it behind a door, or if you’re like me and don’t do much ironing, get one of these. They’re space savers and super easy to work with. I purchased mine from FreshFinds.
- Small things can make a huge difference when it comes to organizing. Having a place to put those small items that turn up in pockets is a convenience that every laundry room should have. Try labeling a clear glass jar ‘pocket finds’ and use it for this purpose.
It’s the Little Things
- Having decent counterspace in the laundry room is a key ingredient to getting in and out as quickly as possible. If you don’t have any but you have the room, purchase a small melamine table, which is easy to clean and stain resistant.
- Don’t have a sink? Buy a large stainless pail to have handy for soaking clothing.
Plan Your Space Wisely
- Evaluate how much laundry you do and buy a machine that meets your needs. Efficient washers and dryers can actually save you money.
- Switch the door on the washing machine and/or dryer to open the other way if that makes it easier to load and unload laundry. This is something that is often overlooked, but having both situations currently (our weekend place has a horrible set up!) I can tell you it makes a huge difference.
So fess up. Are you one of those rare individuals who like to do laundry? Come on over. I have a job for you.
susan moore says
In our tiny Florida get away I had a half size ironing board that was attached to the dryer and folded down between the two machines. The space between the machines was no more then perhaps three inches. Got it at bb&b. I just got one of the roll up pads last week and its nice too. Will probably work well for quilting get together.