Diving into the realm of home organization, the laundry room often takes a backseat. Yet, this humble space is more than a mere repository for dirty clothes. It stands as the chamber where stained shirts are reborn, where garments reclaim their freshness, and fabrics breathe anew. Ironically, for a room dedicated to cleanliness, it’s easy for it to spiral into chaos and disarray.
While many homeowners have rightly embraced the wonders of products like a good laundry enhancer to amplify the effectiveness of their wash, the spatial organization of the room itself often remains an afterthought.
In this article, we will first outline the main decluttering principles every home owner should know. Also, we will explain about the laundry room essentials to prioritize when organizing your space, and suggest a step-by-step guide on how to achieve it.
Table of Contents
Decluttering Principles To Keep In Mind
Before diving into the finer details, it’s important to understand some of the fundamental principles of decluttering any space, including your laundry room.
1. Categorization
Start by categorizing all items into four groups: essentials, occasional use, rarely used, and unnecessary. Essentials include detergents, fabric softeners, and items you use for every load, like a lint roller and laundry enhancers. Occasional items might include specialty detergents for delicate fabrics and stain removers. Rarely used items could be things like dye packets for refreshing faded clothes or old cleaning rags. Unnecessary items are anything that doesn’t serve a particular purpose in your laundry room.
2. Elimination
Once you’ve categorized everything, it’s time to eliminate the unnecessary. Dispose of expired products, broken items, and duplicates. If something doesn’t belong in the laundry room, find it a new home.
Let’s say in the process of categorizing, you discover an old, half-used bottle of bleach that’s past its expiration date, a broken drying rack, and a pair of garden shears that somehow ended up in the laundry room.
The expired bleach can be safely disposed of following local guidelines for hazardous waste. The broken drying rack, if beyond repair, can be recycled or thrown away. The garden shears, while useful, do not belong in the laundry room and can be moved to a more appropriate location like the garden shed or garage.
Through this process of elimination, you are making the space more functional by ensuring that every item in it serves a specific, useful purpose.
3. Consolidation
Consolidate the remaining items. If you have half-filled bottles of the same detergent, combine them. Use storage containers to group similar items. This makes it easier to find what you need and keeps the space tidy.
4. Optimization
Make the best use of your space. Install shelves or cabinets if necessary. Use wall space to hang an ironing board or drying rack. Consider stackable appliances if you’re short on space.
5. Maintenance
Regularly reassess your organization. As you buy new products or your laundry needs change, you may need to reorganize. A good rule of thumb is to declutter your laundry room at least once a year.
6. Accessibility
Ensure that everything you need is easily accessible. Keep everyday items within arm’s reach, while those used rarely can be stored higher up or in less accessible cabinets.
Arrange items in a logical order; for example, laundry detergent and enhancers should be closest to the washing machine, while clean linen and ironed clothes should be near your ironing or folding area. This step-by-step organization can significantly streamline your laundry routine.
Consider The Laundry Room Essentials
The most crucial elements in any laundry room are undoubtedly the washing machine and dryer. The placement of these workhorses should be done with thought to ensure not only easy access but also to accommodate the necessary ventilation and plumbing.
Moreover, it’s worth considering the noise they produce. If your laundry room shares a wall with a living area or bedroom, opting for quieter models or using sound insulating materials can be beneficial.
Creating a Comfortable Sorting and Folding Area
A generous space for sorting and folding laundry can significantly improve your laundry routine. This area can be anything from a small table to a pull-out counter, or if you’re short on space, a countertop above your appliances would work just as well. This space serves multiple purposes, from pre-laundry sorting to post-laundry folding, and even spot-treating stains or sewing on a loose button.
Storage: Essential for an Organized Laundry Room
Secret to a well-organized laundry room is no secret at all – it’s ample storage! Shelves, cabinets, baskets, and bins can neatly store your detergents, fabric softeners, laundry boosters, and other cleaning products. A well-thought-out storage system keeps everything within reach, and maintaining inventory becomes a breeze. For a cleaner look, consider storage solutions that conceal items when not in use.
Drying Area: The Hidden Essential
Don’t underestimate the importance of a rod or drying rack in your laundry room. Be it a collapsible model that can be put away when not in use or a fixed rod or line; this space is crucial for air-drying clothes that are not suitable for the dryer.
Lighting: The Overlooked Aspect
Lastly, remember the importance of lighting in your laundry room. Adequate lighting makes laundry chores less daunting and helps you spot stubborn stains or prevent mixing colors with whites. Combining general, task, and accent lighting can create a bright and functional space that is also pleasing to the eye.
14 Expert Tips for Organizing Your Laundry Room
Organizing your laundry room can seem like a daunting task, but with a little planning and the right tools, it can become a breeze. Here are 14 expert tips to transform your laundry space into an efficient, functional, and pleasant area:
1. Sort Your Laundry
One of the most important steps in organizing your laundry room is to sort your laundry into different piles. This will make it easier to find items when you need them and help keep the space organized. You can sort items by color, type of fabric, or even by family member.
2. Store Detergents and Cleaners
Make sure that all detergents and cleaners are stored securely away from children and pets. Consider investing in a locking cabinet or closet if you have young children in the house. This will ensure that no one can get into the cleaning supplies without your permission.
3. Install Shelving
Installing shelves in your laundry room is a great way to store items such as detergents, fabric softeners, and other cleaning supplies. Shelves also provide a great place for extra towels, linens, and clothes hangers for easy access when needed.
4. Utilize Baskets
Adding baskets to your laundry room is an excellent way to organize smaller items such as socks, underwear, and delicates. That’s because otherwise, they may get lost in the mix of larger items like sheets and blankets. Labeling each basket with its contents will help you quickly find what you’re looking for when needed.
5. Hang Up Ironing Boards
Having an ironing board set up permanently in the laundry room can be a great space (and time!) saver since it eliminates the need for setting up an ironing board every time you need one. Installing wall hooks or brackets specifically designed for ironing boards is a great way to store them out of the way when not in use but still within easy reach when needed.
6. Add Hooks
Adding hooks to the walls of your laundry room is an easy way to put up clothes hangers or other small items such as lint brushes. They may otherwise take up valuable counter space, or get lost among other items on shelves or counters.
7. Get Rid of Clutter
Go through your laundry room periodically and get rid of any unnecessary items such as empty detergent containers or worn-out mops and brooms. If they are no longer useful, throw them away.
8. Use Vertical Space
Take advantage of vertical space by installing additional shelves higher up on walls where possible. Alternatively, add hanging racks for storing extra clothing or linens that don’t fit into drawers or closets elsewhere in the house.
9. Install A Drying Rack
Installing a drying rack near a window can be very helpful if you tend to line dry some clothing during certain months of the year when weather permits it. Not only does this save energy but it also helps cut down on wear and tear on clothes due to heat from dryers which can cause fading over time.
10. Invest In A Folding Table
If you have limited countertop space, investing in a folding table can be a great solution. It’s perfect for storing clothes after they come out of the dryer, sorting through clean clothes , sorting dirty laundry before washing, etc. Plus, it folds flat against the wall when not being used so it won’t take up much-needed floor space.
11. Hang Up An Apron Rack
An apron rack is another great way to make use of vertical space while keeping aprons neatly organized at all times. Simply hang it up near where you do most of your cleaning tasks (sink, washer, etc.) so aprons are always within easy reach.
12. Label Everything
Labeling everything from drawers and shelves to baskets will help make finding what you need much faster without searching through multiple drawers looking for something specific. Plus, labels also give any visitors who might enter your laundry room an idea about where things are located without having to ask questions.
13. Keep Cleaning Supplies Separate
Keeping cleaning supplies separate from other household products will help prevent accidental mixing. Consider using bins with color coded lids (red for bleach, blue for ammonia) so everyone knows exactly what each product is used for.
14. Have Fun With It!
Last but not least, don’t forget that organizing doesn’t have to be boring! Adding fun touches like colorful storage bins, bright paint colors, art prints on walls etc. will make doing chores more enjoyable while making sure everything has its own place!
Bottom Line
An organized laundry room turns a tedious chore into a smooth, efficient task. By prioritizing decluttering, focusing on essentials, and employing expert organizational strategies, you can transform this space into a functional and even enjoyable area of your home. Remember, the goal is not just cleanliness but also creating an environment that uplifts your laundry routine.
