Laundry rooms are often an afterthought when considering the ultimate efficiency of your home, but they are an essential part of your house’s design and can be a lot of fun. Making space enjoyable not only saves you time but can make it your favorite room to be in. A well-organized laundry room not only reduces the time it takes to keep the laundry up-to-date it also makes the whole laundry process less stressful. Plus, it reduces your family’s energy bills.
So why not try out a well-organized laundry room if you’re a renter or have your own home to keep up-to-date? Or, if you’re overwhelmed by your overflowing laundry pile, try having someone else come over and sort for you. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve got to organize; a simple laundry room organization system is all that’s needed to get on top of your washing-day work.
Laundry Room Setup
Making your laundry room your own is easy. The feeling of a new clean laundry room will wow guests and keep you motivated every time you need to do the laundry. A laundry system will save you time by limiting the number of steps you need to take when loading and unloading the washing machine.
Detergent pods and pods and reusable Ziploc bags are both good for this. The laundry pods are easy to use and take the place of eight or more loads of detergent. Also, think of ceiling lights to help light your way and easily see what you are doing. Use the tips below.
Label each box or barrel with the indication for long-term storage, such as baskets or tubs. You can label each one with the item it is holding, e.g., laundry baskets, detergent, or miscellaneous laundry supplies.
- For the items in the front, keep the majority of your washer/dryer items in the front of your laundry room to give your mind and hands easy access to the area
- Laundry products and clothes care products go into these containers/bottles
- Stain removers are put to the sink’s bottom while the powder goes to the top
- The shredded paper goes in the bottom of the laundry detergent
- Cleaners go into the bottom of the laundry detergent
- Create a system to help you organize your hot shower items so that they are easier to find and use
- Remove items that are no longer used but that you are afraid you may need in the future
- Place labels on items so you know what they are. Laundry detergent should have a blue label and your powder should have a red label. Make sure labels aren’t ripped off easily
Get Laundry Ready
If you can’t move your laundry basket to a convenient corner, consider putting it in a special laundry basket. Load the washing machine with three or four pieces of laundry. Wait for the washing cycle to finish and transfer to a dryer. Pile clean laundry on the basket. When it’s full, bring down the basket, fold the clothes and store it on the shelf above.
Organize and store the three piles of laundry—normal, dry clean, and delicates—in clear plastic boxes. Put the contents in baskets or bags according to the garment’s category, i.e., shirts, pants and shorts, skirts, etc. Label the basket with your family’s name to help keep track of the wash.
Put all the freshly washed clothes in plastic laundry baskets on the floor and stand up to reach the dryer. Put the clothes inside, return the basket to the wall, and throw the top load in the dryer.
To save time, place a basket or basket rack above your laundry basket. You can store towels, linens, and one of the more difficult loads of laundry—loose-fit, woven whites—in the basket with the detergent and fabric softener. When washing your whites, add a little water to your rinse bottle.
Laundry Day Tips
Set your laundry day based on the week you are on. Let your clothes sit in the washer for one to two extra minutes to cut down your water use and energy use. This way, you don’t have to store all the folded clothes in your laundry basket and have more room for other laundry. Many detergent companies also offer special detergent packets that can be added to a load to help reduce the amount of water needed.
Set your laundry room to start the washer at least 30 minutes before you intend to start doing laundry so your clothes will have time to finish. Laundry room storage may be limited, but you can turn any space into a cupboard or drawer for storing toiletries, as well as clothes you don’t wear anymore.
Having a functional laundry room is essential for your home, especially for young kids, since your busy days are a constant flow of dirty clothes. Now that you have the idea for a laundry room organization system in mind, begin implementing your plan. Don’t rush. Write it down and leave it out where you can read over it every day or whenever you need a reminder of what to do.
Once you’ve finished your laundry room organization, have your family show you the before and after pictures! Now that you have mastered the basics of creating an effective laundry-room organization system, it is time to dive in deeper and create your laundry room system that fits your exact needs. You can build a complete laundry-room system from scratch, or you can hire a professional organizer to come in and help you get started.
