Few places in the house get quite as cluttered as quickly as the laundry room. Despite its small size, it often becomes a catch-all for various items, from cleaning supplies to mismatched socks. Transform your laundry room from a chaotic space into an organized oasis with our step-by-step decluttering guide. Let’s say goodbye to the clutter and hello to an efficient, serene laundry room.
Redefining Your Laundry Experience
Laundry rooms can quickly become overburdened with a medley of detergents, fabric softeners, clothes, and other washing essentials, making the task of laundry seem more overwhelming than it needs to be. However, with a well-organized laundry room, the process of washing and drying clothes becomes much more efficient and less stressful. Whether your laundry room is a snug closet or a spacious area, let’s explore how you can revamp it for a streamlined experience.
Step 1: Planning and Preparation
Begin by examining your laundry room’s size, layout, and function. Does it double up as a storage area or an ironing room? Understanding its usage can help you plan its organization better. For this process, you’ll need:
- Sorting boxes: Bankers Box STOR/File Storage Boxes
- Trash bags
- Organizational tools: Consider tools like Simple Houseware Heavy-Duty 3-Bag Laundry Sorter Cart, ClosetMaid Adjustable 8-Tier Wall and Door Rack, storage bins, or mDesign Metal Wall Mount Ironing Board Holder
Step 2: The Decluttering Process
Here is a comprehensive guide to decluttering your laundry room:
Large Appliances:
- Evaluate and Clean: Start with your washer and dryer. Clean them thoroughly with a washing machine cleaner and ensure they’re in good working condition.
- Consider Space: If you’re dealing with limited space, stackable washer/dryer units or dont care 6” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>a combo unit can save significant floor area.
Cleaning Supplies:
- Sort and Organize: Review all cleaning supplies like detergent, fabric softener, bleach, and stain removers. Dispose of expired products responsibly and take stock of what needs replacement.
- Store Smartly: Use a storage caddy or dedicated shelving for these items. Arrange them within easy reach of the washer/dryer for convenience.
Laundry Baskets and Hampers:
- Sort and Store: Empty, clean, and assess all laundry baskets and hampers. Replace worn-out ones if necessary, Sterilite has a variety of options.
- Organize: Implement the use of laundry sorters to separate darks, lights, and delicates, streamlining your laundry process.
Other Items:
- Unpack and Sort: Go through any other items stored in boxes or bins, sorting them into categories of keep, donate, sell, or discard.
- Clean and Repack: Ensure the items you’re keeping are clean before repacking them into clear, labeled storage bins.
Step 3: Maintenance
Though organizing your laundry room is not a one-time job, but a routine process, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Once your laundry room is in order, you can streamline your washing and drying routines – keeping the laundry room in order alongside it.
- Regular Checks: Ensure your laundry room stays organized by conducting regular checks.
- Weekly Cleaning: Dedicate some time each week to wipe down all surfaces and clean up any spills.
- Annual Clean-out: Once a year, review all your supplies, replace expired or nearly empty products, and discard any items you no longer need.
With a decluttered and organized laundry room, you’ll find that your laundry tasks become more efficient and less stressful, contributing to a smoother household routine. For more insights and expert tips on home organization, check out the wealth of articles available at Martha Stewart’s website.
Interested in other areas of the house? Read our other decluttering guides for home interior spaces: the basement, attic, garage, home gym, home office, or our ultimate guide to decluttering and organizing every area of your house.
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