The washing machine is a well-used household appliance.
Laundry rooms often become catchalls for a family’s storage and day-to-day items. Practicing good organization in this space leads to better efficiency. No matter what the size of the space, a laundry room needs to accommodate specific functions. Adding storage and shelving or reorganizing the space can make it more efficient. Does this Spark an idea?
Space
Not every laundry room is spacious, so creating more space is often a priority. Washers and dryers take up the most space in a laundry room. Installing stackable appliances frees up a considerable amount of space. For laundry rooms that double as craft or playrooms, hide the washer and dryer by installing them inside a closet that has hookups. Create an ironing center by purchasing an ironing board cabinet. The height of the board can be specialized for comfort and the cabinet also stores other ironing products like starch and water bottles, minimizing clutter.
Laundry
Having separate sorting and folding spaces increases the efficiency of a laundry room. A long countertop allows for laundry to be folded and offers space underneath for sorting. Place pull out baskets or laundry hampers under the table and label them for sorting. The more people in the home, the harder it is to stay organized. Try labeling the folding table with everyone’s names so they can find their laundry easier and whoever is folding it can keep it separated. In her book, Leslie Plummer Caggett suggests installing a rod for handing clothes or a retractable clothesline that can be out of the way when not in use.
Detergents
Keep detergents and cleaners where they are easily accessible. Detergent should be stored out of reach of small children or in cabinets with safety latches, according to C.J. Petersen. Place detergents on shelves, or in cabinets, directly above or next to the washer and dryer for accessibility. Store-bought detergent comes in ungainly and unattractive containers. Transfer liquid detergents to decorative glass bottles with stoppers if they must be stored in the open.
Storage
Laundry room storage comes in many forms. Freestanding shelves and carts offer the most versatility, as they can be moved and rearranged or removed when no longer needed. The book "Cleaning Plain and Simple" suggest putting liners on shelves for ease of cleaning. Using reclaimed materials for storage saves money. Old kitchen cabinets installed above the washer and dryer offer a lot of storage and even old doors can be used as table and countertops. Many companies specialize in organization of spaces such as closets and laundry room and provide a storage plan along with custom-made storage options. Long-term storage should not be done in cardboard boxes, as laundry rooms stay humid. Instead, place storage items in durable containers with lids. These can slide under counters and stack.
Extras
Appliance stores sell pedestals for washers and dryers. These pedestals give the appliances a boost in height and offer a storage drawer underneath. This is handy for storing detergent and softener, and it also reduces the need for bending and straining to do laundry.
Tags: laundry room, space laundry, washer dryer, laundry room, laundry rooms
