Learning to organize a laundry room is simple, if there is a lot of space to work with. If the nook holding the washer and dryer is rather small, organizing tips generally fail to address the clutter and poor storage problems – until today.
It holds the washer and dryer, is frequently no larger than a closet, occasionally features moisture problems, holds numerous items needed for proper laundering while concurrently having to be efficient; in short, the laundry room is a problem area.
Due to its small size, clutter accumulates quickly. Because of bulky washer and dryer machine setups, reaching up high to get items off shelves is difficult. What’s the home organizer to do?
Tip: Begin organizing the laundry room by taking stock of the problem areas. Grab a pencil and notepad, critically inspect the space and write down areas where clutter accumulates. Be specific! What kind of clutter do you see? Are there three bottles of laundry soap? Do the kids’ shoes and coats seem to end up draped over the dryer?
Address Laundry Room Clutter
Remove any items that do not belong in the laundry room. For example, if your kids like to store their school projects or coats in this space, it is time to ask them to find alternate storage solutions in their rooms. If you keep your winter clothes or other items there, consider donating that which does not fit into your closets or other home storage areas. De-cluttering is frequently synonymous with getting rid of things. It’s okay.
Tip: Banish all items that do not contribute to the task of doing laundry.
Empty, Clean, Paint and Illuminate
Move out the washer and dryer, any cabinets and shelves. Clean the laundry room from top to bottom. If needed, paint the walls and ceiling in a somewhat reflective off-white color. Opt for a satin finish, which washes down quickly. Evaluate the lighting. Small laundry rooms in particular frequently rely on an exterior lighting source. Since the area already contains outlets to hook up a washing machine and a dryer, consider adding task-, accent- or ambient lighting.
Tip: Install task lighting as an under-cabinet option if you have hanging shelves. Clear Christmas lights are a whimsical yet quite functional alternative; wrap them around an impromptu art object, such as a metal towel holder: you now have wall art.
Contemplate and Increase Storage
Is there room above the washer and dryer for a hanging cabinet? Install one! Whenever possible, opt for a model that features doors. This heightens the look and feel of organization. If funds permit, invest in a stacking washer and dryer combo to increase available floor space. Next, buy a roll-out trolley to hold bigger items, such as warehouse store sized laundry detergent and fabric softeners, laundry bins and other such items. Hang the ironing board on the inside of the door.
Tip: If all else fails, use hanging closet shoe-organizers and add heavy duty grommets. Attach the organizer to the wall with screws and store odds and ends in the various compartments. Consider installing a couple of wall-hanging soap dispensers to hold laundry soap and liquid fabric softener, which cuts down on the need to store unwieldy plastic bottles.
