When you think of a laundry room, does your mind immediately
think of a stark, undecorated room illuminated by a bare bulb in the basement?
You're not alone. But considering how often we all do laundry, why don't we put
any care or thought into this room?
It's time to make your laundry room a pleasant place to be.
And you're going to start by getting your room cleaned up and organized. Here
are our six quick tips to get started.
1. Keep Supplies Stocked and Ready to Go
There's nothing worse than running out of laundry detergent
just as the washer is filling with water. Or scrambling to find the proper
stain remover to take on spaghetti sauce on a white shirt. The first step
toward having a functional, organized laundry room is to make sure you're fully
stocked to tackle anything that comes your way.
Make sure you are ready to go with…
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Laundry detergent
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Stain removers
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Dryer sheets
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Scent boosters
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White vinegar (perfect for naturally removing
stains)
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A small repair kit to fix holes or missing
buttons
Then, make it a habit to add an item to your shopping list
whenever you start running low.
2. Sort and Organize Those Supplies
Don't throw everything together on a single shelf in your
laundry room. Make it easy to find whatever you need right away by keeping
those supplies separated and organized. Sort those items by purpose and make
sure everything is easily within reach.
The storage possibilities are endless here. You can use…
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Clear glass jars
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Canisters with lids
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Durable bins with handles
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Wicker Baskets
Whatever you choose, add a label! Choose whichever storage
style fits the laundry room size, your aesthetic, or your household's activity.
We don't recommend using many glass jars on lower shelves if you have small
kids running around, for example.
3. Set Up A Sorting System
Are you guilty of sorting clothes on the floor of your
laundry room? (It's OK to admit it, we've all been there!) From here on out,
you'll never have to do that again. Invest in a sorting system that works
better:
-
Use multiple wicker or plastic baskets to sort
clothes.
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Get a multi-bin hamper (bonus points if it's on
wheels!)
-
Start using a partitioned laundry basket to sort
clothes right away.
Consider using a sorting system that fits in with the style
of your laundry room. Remember, you want this to be a nice, comforting place
since you'll be using it regularly.
4. Create a Place for Hanging Out
A hangout place for clothes, of course. Hanging clothes
straight from the dryer avoids wrinkles, but freshly dried clothes rarely make
it into closets that fast. Instead, install a rod underneath your cabinets or
get a free-standing one to hang clothes up right away.
This solution also works well for any clothes you're washing
that can't be dried – or needs to be hand-washed. Just make sure you always
keep a set of hangers handy!
5. Dedicate a Household Lost and Found Area
Lonely socks. Loose change. Bobby pins. Grocery lists. The
list could go on of things that end up tucked in pockets and reach the laundry
room. Instead of leaving these items lying around, dedicate a space for these
discarded objects. We recommend a small basket or bin for this.
6. Bring Life, Style, and Color to the Laundry Room
This final tip is a bit more open and looser than the
others. You're going to be spending a good amount of time in your laundry room
(whether you like it or not), so why leave it bare and bland? If your laundry
room is open to your kitchen or another room on the main floor, add in design
elements that tie it together. If it's in the basement, bring in whatever style
you want. Paint the walls, add pops of color with laundry bags or artwork, and
get matching storage solutions.
Don't make your laundry room unpleasant to be in just
because it's mostly functional. Brighten it up and keep it organized, and
you'll never dread laundry day again!
