Laundry rooms can include everything from the washer and dryer to the toolbox,
home batteries and light bulbs, extra pantry items, paint cans and other items
which would typically be kept in other storage areas. If storage is tight in other
areas of the home, the laundry room can end up becoming a "catch all." This
requires some strategic storage planning. Let's begin:

  • Keep your laundry specific supplies together in the same basic area
    nearest your washer and/or dryer. There are often small bottles or tubes
    of stain removers, small brushes or sponges and other fabric care
    gadgets. These small items are best kept together in a basket, container
    or bin.

  • Laundry rooms typically produce a lot of lint and dust. All storage is
    laundry rooms is more effective if it closes (cabinets with doors as
    opposed to open shelving) or containers with lids instead of open
    baskets. For items which you access often, a basket is more easily
    accessible. But if the basket can be kept in a cabinet with the door closed,
    it will help keep lint collection down to a minimum.

  • Just as with kitchens, laundry gadgets and devices can become
    numerous. Try to stick with the favorites which get utilized often and keep
    your supplies basic.

  • The most frequently unused space in laundry rooms are the upper walls.
    Utilize this space for hanging brooms, mops, a rag bag or basket which
    can hang from the wall and be out of sight, a long hook or peg for hanging
    coiled extension cords.

  • If you need to utilize laundry room space for other types of storage,
    remember to use clear containers with lids.  Paints and household
    chemicals which need to be kept temperature controlled, can be stored in
    a laundry room. Also bulky paper products like large packages of toilet
    paper or paper towels are easily stored high in a laundry area as they are
    not a safety threat if they fall on you!

  • Most laundry rooms are small so laundry sorting typically needs to occur
    in another room of the house, across a made bed or on the couch. Just
    make sure it all gets folded and put away, or another mess has just been
    made!

  • Empty laundry baskets can sit on the dryer, but if you have room in your
    laundry area for a shelf unit standing by a wall, allow one shelf to be large
    enough to house the baskets, if you can. This will allow them to be either
    full or empty and be off the floor and off the machines, giving you more
    room to pre-treat clothing, etc.

These steps will give you a good start on clearing out your laundry area and
provide ease in accessing items you use often.  There are several other steps
that can be taken to make your laundry room functional, efficient and easy to use.  
Call Sheri for an in-depth customized laundry room make-over.
JULY
Your mission, should you choose to accept it:  Laundry room.
Sheri's Organized Life
Phone: 615-394-4525
Email: sheri@sheorganizedlife.com
This page will guide you through organizing a different area in your house each month.
To tackle your home for the first time, or keep it maintained after you've organized it, requires constant attention.
A project as big as a house needs to be broken down into chunks of manageable size, so you can have success!  
To review
other monthly tips,
click the desired
month(s)
listed below:

January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
If you'd like to learn more
about becoming a
professional organizer,
click here!