Laundry Room Organization Tips

For many, there's a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from taking a load of laundry through the cycle: gather, sort, clean, dry, fold, put away. But it's hard to feel "at peace" with this chore when there are toppling stacks of clean and dirty laundry on the floor, couch, chair... you name it!

From organization suggestions to basic machine maintenance, here are some tips and ideas to help you confine dirty clothes to your laundry room and get it organized for efficiency and maybe even enjoyment!

• If space allows, install shelves or cabinets that can be easily accessed from your machines for storing stain-removing agents, detergent, and fabric softener. A table or countertop at an appropriate level is helpful for folding clothes and will help keep you from getting a sore back from bending over.

• Install a bar on the wall for hanging clothes straight from the dryer, such as shirts and slacks. And don't forget a folding drying rack for clothes that need to air dry.

Keep a small basket or bowl in the laundry room for "found" items such as money, lipstick, receipts, and buttons. Hang a bulletin board for socks without mates, a stain-removal chart, and fabric care instructions.

• Designate a bag for dry-clean only clothing, and set a weekly or monthly schedule of when the clothes get dropped off and picked up.

• Use separate hampers for whites, darks, jeans, and delicates. Teach your family members to put clothing items in the proper hampers. It'll save time on laundry day. 

In Working Order 

In any factory, to produce a quality product, the machines must be in proper working condition. The same goes for your laundry room:

• Don't forget to clean the laundry room. Use Swiffer ^® on the floors and shelves and Dawn ^® and warm water to clean the outside of the washing machine and dryer.

• For maximum equipment performance, you should periodically clean your dryer vent. It also reduces the risk of fire.

• Remember to clean out the lint filter in your dryer, and periodically check the washer and dryer hoses for damage and dust.

 Brighten the Space 

Laundry rooms don't have to be undesirable spaces. If you're planning on spending any kind of time in the room, then it should be inviting and pleasant. Try spicing up the room with an energizing color of paint on the walls and complementary window treatments. For additional décor, hang a few framed pictures or your child's artwork. A few houseplants and a rug in front of the washer and dryer complete the look.

Helpful Hints 

• Don't let clean laundry lay around in baskets. Not only can you avoid wrinkles by folding and putting away clothes immediately, but you also won't have this chore hanging over your head and staring at you from the bedroom floor.

• If you don't wear it, get rid of it. Cleaning out your clothes and keeping only what you wear will help make room in dressers and closets so that there is room for every piece of clothing.

• Use a large mesh bag to wash items that can't be dried in the dryer. When the washer is finished, simply pull out the mesh bag and throw the rest of the items in the dryer. You won't have to search through wet clothes, and you won't accidentally dry (and shrink) a piece of clothing that should be hung up.

• Make each family member responsible for getting his or her own clothes to the laundry room. It may help to have a portable laundry hamper or basket in each child's room. It's then his or her responsibility to put dirty clothes in the receptacle and bring it to the laundry area once a week. And have your kids help you do the laundry so that they can learn the basics.

• Place a Bounce ^® dryer sheet in your dresser drawers or linen closets, and your clothes, sheets, and towels will smell freshly washed for weeks. Hang sheets freely or place them in an open envelope to avoid direct contact with fabrics.

• Have a predetermined day of the week to do laundry. You won't feel like you're always doing laundry.

• Add a dry bath towel to a dryer full of wet clothes to help it dry faster.