As a mom of a large family, outside of the kitchen, the laundry room is the next most used room in our house. Well getting some good sleep in our bedrooms is nice, but I mean as far as meeting our family’s needs.
So I feel fortunate to have an inside laundry room in this house. It wasn’t always that way. When my husband and I first got married we had to go out into the garage to wash and dry clothes.
Years later we had a house built, and you know how that is, you go through the laundry room to get to the garage.
Then we bought an old house and while it was inside, it was also a bathroom. Now while that is just a small problem, it was awkward having 2 doors to the laundry room.
If someone was using the restroom and I needed in the laundry room, let’s just say, make sure to lock both doors.
While these aren’t big deals, I really like my laundry room now. It is small but located inside, I don’t have to go out in the heat or cold to do laundry and there is only one access to it.
Now while I say that, we have made some renovations to it to make it more tailored to fit my family’s needs. We have painted it and tiled the floor just to name a couple of things.
One thing I love is my new shelves. The shelves that were in there before weren’t spaced out enough for good storage, like putting cubes for organizing things.
Since the shelves needed to be upgraded anyway, I changed the style of shelves we put back in the laundry room to a more farm style.
I am into the farm look even though our house is very much not a farmhouse. However, I just really enjoy that theme and have it all over my house.
We still have some things that we want to work on but today I have 11 tips to keep your laundry organized.
There are few things more frustrating than trying to get organized and realizing that you have too much stuff.
Not only do you have to deal with the task of organizing everything, but you also have to find a place to put it all.
HOW TO GET STARTED
The very first thing to do before you can organize is to purge the laundry room. Mine became a collect-all for various things that didn’t have a home.
Maybe you have more than one item of the same thing, or perhaps there are things in there that need to be moved to another room as mine did.
I am learning when it comes to organizing less is more. Meaning I just have too much stuff.
I find the easiest way to organize is to get rid of things I don’t need and the laundry room is no exception.
If your organizational system isn’t working, start purging your laundry room before implementing these tips in your home.
1. Evaluate Your Needs
The first step in organizing your laundry room is to evaluate your needs. What type of laundry room do you want? What all do you want to put in there? What type of storage do you need?
As I said earlier, all kinds of things can be collected in the laundry room. So you need to know what you really need or want in there. That is the only way to know what your needs are for organizing efficiently.
2. Create a Plan
Once you have evaluated your needs, you can create a plan for how to organize your laundry room. This plan should include the layout of the room, as well as where each item will go.
3. Don’t Buy More than You Need
One of the biggest mistakes people make when organizing their laundry room is buying more than they need. Only buy the items you need to organize your space.
I have to resist this temptation. My first thought is to go to the (not so Dollar Tree anymore) I digress and go get cute little matching baskets or cubes. I love to organize that way but if I’m not careful, I would just end up with more stuff to keep up with.
4. Use Storage Containers
Storage containers are a great way to keep your laundry room organized. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they can be used to store everything from clothes to detergent.
However, just like in step 3, evaluate how many you will need before buying them. This step saves space and money.
5. Use Labels
Labels are another great way to keep your laundry room organized. Label each container with the contents, so you know exactly what is inside each one.
I just love labels. You don’t have to go searching through every basket, cube, bucket, or whatever you have your items stored in.
Labels, let you know what’s inside, saving you time and money, and quickly keeping your things organized.
Besides, how many times have you gone out to purchase an item you already have at home but can’t find it?
I know that can be a problem for us when things aren’t organized and labeled.
It’s ok to have it organized in a basket but if you don’t know what’s in the basket, your item is good as lost.
LABEL, LABEL, LABEL, it really is a win-win.
6. Keep Like Items Together
When organizing your laundry room, it’s important to keep similar items together. This way it makes it easier to find what you’re looking for and keeps the space looking neat and tidy.
7. Use Baskets for Small Items
Baskets are perfect for storing small items, such as socks or underwear. This helps keep them organized and easy to find.
Also, consider recycling small boxes, pans, or plastic containers instead of throwing them away. Some of these items are just the right size for smaller things such as safety pins, sewing needles or buttons.
Plus it saves you money on buying more storage baskets.
8. Use towel bars in the laundry room
Putting up and using a towel bar for the laundry room is a great way to get wet towels, rags, or wet clothes off the floor.
I have had kids put wet clothes in their laundry basket or I have to deal with wet clothes and towels all over the laundry room floor.
Since my youngest is 9, I don’t have those problems as much anymore, yet one way is hanging a towel bar in there. Now clothes can be hung to dry rather than leaving them on the floor to step around plus it just looks terrible.
9. Hang Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softener on a Hook
When not in use, dryer sheets and fabric softeners can take up a lot of space in your laundry room cabinets or shelves.
A great solution is to hang them on a hook when they’re not in use. This saves space and keeps them organized.
10. Color-Code Your Laundry Room Shelves
If you have multiple members in your family, it can be helpful to color-code your shelves according to who’s clothes are stored there. This makes it easy to find what you’re looking for and prevents confusion over whose clothes are whose.
11 Use the walls for storage
Sometimes we overlook vertical space for organization. Use the wall to hang ironing boards and irons. Add additional shelves or baskets. The basket could be used for socks needing a mate, or things in people’s pockets.
I keep a basket on the shelf for cleaning rags, trash bags, etc. Even though it’s not technically on the wall. I put it in here because it’s on one of my shelves.
Another great feature to add is another clothes hanging rack. I like to fold laundry and hang clothes right in my laundry room. While that doesn’t always happen, when it does, it keeps clean clothes from being all over the couch or in our case the pool table for folding.
A wall-mounted drying rack is also nice for those articles of clothing that can’t go into your dryer. There are a lot of things you can do with wall space even in small laundry rooms.
12. Create a System that Works for You
The best way to keep your laundry room organized is to create a system that works for you. This system should be simple and easy to follow, so you can keep your space looking neat and tidy.
13. Follow Your System
Once you have created a system for organizing your laundry room, it’s important to follow it. This will help you keep your space looking its best and prevent the frustration of dealing with a messy laundry room.
14. Stay Organized
The key to keeping your laundry room organized is to stay organized. This means taking the time to put things away after you use them and not letting the space get too cluttered.
By following these tips, you can create an organized and functional laundry room that will make your life much easier. So take the time to evaluate your needs, create a plan, and follow your system. Your laundry room will thank you!
I hope these tips help you get your laundry room organized!
What tips do you have for organizing your laundry room?
Share in the comments below!