There have been plenty of laundry fatalities in my home. Family members really trying to be helpful ruined the load. I’m talking about stains setting, grayish-yellowish whites that were once whiter than white, tops shrinking and placing damp clothes (they promised they weren’t damp) on a wood surface.
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Now, I know the laundry room may not be your favorite place, but it sure is one of the hardworking spaces in any home. Not every home has a spacious laundry room though, which is why adequate storage is so important to avoid a chaotic mess – or worse, another laundry fatality.
How to Choose Your Laundry Room Space
When it comes to your laundry room, your first thought should always be about functionality. Not only in terms of storage, but for the practical use of appliances too. Whether you have a full laundry room or are using free space somewhere in the house, you’ll want to make sure you’re close to utilities. Both your washer and dryer will need access to electrical outlets. Additionally, washers need access to hot and cold water while also requiring a draining system. Once you’ve got this in order, you can set up appropriate storage areas that work for your unique laundry space.
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5 Super Smart Laundry Room Storage Ideas
When you’re working with limited space, getting creative with your laundry room is the only option. Luckily, there are plenty of clever laundry room storage ideas – these are some of the best:
- Give yourself an instant hamper by creating a small laundry room area in the mudroom. This becomes incredibly handy when family members come through the door with mud, sand, and dirt. The mess stays local, rather than tracking through the house, saving you time with annoying cleanup.
- For practicality, let the bathroom provide double duty with a washer-dryer doing what it does best. Family members pass through this room constantly which may help when it comes to sorting and starting a wash.
- Put closet space to good use. Behind closed doors even better! Sure, we all need room for extra hanging and storage but eventually, you’re going to need to launder your finery, so why not make it closet friendly?
- Stacking washer dryers save space and is a smart solution for a small area. An easy bet is to hang shelving (and there are many options from wire to wood) around the unit for supplies.
- Think out-of-the-box with a clever solution. Hallways and stair landings (a commonly unused area) can house your laundry needs. Depending on how much you have to work with, built-in cabinets with a long countertop for folding can give you the space you need.
11 Tips to Make Laundry Easier
Trial, error and reading labels certainly do help. But there are definitely tips, tricks and hacks that can make doing the laundry easier.
Recommended reading:25 Whip Smart Cleaning Hacks from the Best Organizing Experts
Here are some laundry tips that are super simple and work like a charm!
- Catch stains quickly. That’s the key to outing the culprit that’s about to ruin your garment. As soon as possible, rinse, and if you can, soak the garment in cold water for 30 minutes. Saturate with the stain remover, and get it into the washer. (Tip: Always remember to put your hand or a towel under the stain when you are applying stain remover so it doesn’t bleed to other areas of the garment.)
- It’s a good habit to use less detergent. Overdosing results in extra suds that are re-deposited on your clothing.
- Wash dark clothes inside out in cold water to keep them from fading.
- Take your chances and skip washing jeans in a machine and keep them in the freezer between wears. (So says the jean manufacturers.)
- Put socks in a mesh bag so they all stay together.
- One of the best ways to halt the dreaded shrinking and stretching of garments is to wash in cold water. Use a mesh bag for extra protection and dry on a low cycle or lay flat to dry.
- Bras and delicate items want to hold their shape too. It’s best to wash them in cool water by hand. Then use a towel to pat (do not squeeze) them dry afterward to release some of the extra water. Dry flat. If you’d rather use the machine, place delicates in a mesh laundry bag and use the delicate cycle.
- Dry delicate tops and sweaters on a flat surface to prevent stretching. Never on a hanger.
- For brighter and whiter, add 1/4-1/2 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle.
- Save time and energy by throwing a dry towel into your dryer with your wet laundry.
- Minimize wrinkles by removing clothing from the dryer as soon as the cycle stops. Then right then and there, fold or hang them.
6 Laundry Room Storage Ideas to Make the Most of Your Space
Consider these laundry room storage and use ideas to make the most of a small space:
Items that you should always have on hand in your laundry room include:
- Hangers – my favorites are from All Hung Up Hangers
- Laundry supplies
- Lint brush
- Mesh laundry bags – these from Macy’s are superb quality
- Old towels
- Rags
- Rubber gloves
- Sewing kit
If you don’t have one, invest in a solid table that has plenty of room underneath it to store baskets and hampers, preferably on wheels, for sorting.
Save space by hanging your ironing board. Have a carpenter install a pull-out or flip.
When space is tight, buy an over the door storage rack to keep your supplies.
Install sturdy hooks to hang your laundry after drying.
Keep a basket nearby for lost socks so you can reunite them as soon as their better half reappears.
What are your best laundry room storage solutions?
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Comments 10
Having a big and bright laundry room is such an indulgence, isn’t it? I have had a variety of laundry spaces during my life, and my favorite is the one I have now. When my children were little, I had to haul all of the laundry down two flights into an unfinished basement. Laundry is a task we spend hours doing, so it is worth investing to make the process as positive as possible!
I hear ya! I’ve had laundry rooms in the basement and I never liked them. I love the one that I have now as it’s so convenient. It really makes a huge difference in getting the laundry done and put away.
I have never heard that about putting jeans in the freezer instead of washing them. I love the way they feel when they come out of the dryer, so I don’t think I’ll be trying that.
I have to admit that I never heard of that until about a year ago. It may work for some but it would not work for me. (I’m all about options.) Just the thought though of putting my jeans in the freezer makes me laugh.
I am challenged with a tiny laundry room so I made it as efficient as possible. I’t the walk way between the garage and the house, so we have lots of hooks for coats and things. I have cabinets above the machines for cleaning supplies and a few other things. I use collapsible laundry baskets that fits next to the dryer (that’s the only place they will fit) to get them off the machines. That way I can use the top of the machines to fold.
No doubt it’s a great design because it works perfectly for your needs. With a small space, sometimes we just have to think outside the box to make something work. And you did! By the way, I do a lot of folding on the machine.
This is an excellent article with many many tips to make my laundry day so much easier
Thank you,Ted! I’m so glad you liked the article. Anything to make laundry easier.
Loving all the tips and ideas to make laundry day easier and effective. Thank you so much, I’m going to try the dry towel tips next laundry day.
Hi Karen!
Thank you so much for your kind comments. Are you referring to tossing a towel in with your drying load? Let me know how it works!
Best,
Ronni