Beyond an efficient washer and dryer, there's much you can do to ease the laundry-day blues with these organizing tips.
Collecting
Place a hamper in each person's closet, or a laundry bag on the back of each bedroom door. For a small family, think about having just one central container. Choose hampers that can double as easy-to-carry laundry baskets. Put a container for dry clean-only items near the front door if it can be stored discreetly.
Sorting
Set up three containers – one for lights, one for darks, and one for delicates and hand-washables – near the washer. Container options include plastic tubs on casters, hampers or attractive baskets for under the bottom shelf of a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit, or labelled laundry bags that hang on the wall or on a unit.
Washing
Consider a standard washer and dryer; space-saving stacked units; or front-loading ones, above which you can install a convenient folding surface. Use easy-to-reach shelves (or a locked cabinet if you have small children) for detergent and other frequently used items. Post care-label instructions over the machine, along with stain removal charts.
Keep one or two small plastic tubs for handwashing. On a shelving unit, stock clear jars for storing clothes pegs, loose change and special soaps; rags for mopping up spills; mesh bags for delicates; and a container for small bottles of stain removers and related tools.
Drying
For hang-to-dry clothes, you'll need a clothesline (retractable ones are convenient for small spaces), a drying rack or a tension rod (it can be hung in a doorway); pant, skirt and, for shirts and blouses, broad-shoulder hangers; and clothes pegs. For sweaters and other clothes that can be dried flat, use a mesh drying rack or a shelf on an adjustable plastic-coated wire shelving unit or a stainless-steel cart. Be sure to also stack some clean, fluffy towels for squeezing excess water out of sweaters.
Folding
Reserve a flat surface, like a table, and keep it clean and clear. If there's no space for one, a wall-mounted fold-down shelf is a good alternative.
Ironing
Wall-mount an ironing board caddy (get one that holds an iron) or a fold-down board that flips out of sight.
Storing
Discourage clutter with frequent mini-cleanups; keep a garbage can in the room. Have your laundry room double as storage space for other items; for instance, create a vertical broom closet for household cleaning supplies. Hang hooks for mops, brooms, a dust pan, feather duster and vacuum hose. Add a small shelving unit for pails, cleaners and their caddy, and a container for dust rags.
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Collecting
Place a hamper in each person's closet, or a laundry bag on the back of each bedroom door. For a small family, think about having just one central container. Choose hampers that can double as easy-to-carry laundry baskets. Put a container for dry clean-only items near the front door if it can be stored discreetly.
Sorting
Set up three containers – one for lights, one for darks, and one for delicates and hand-washables – near the washer. Container options include plastic tubs on casters, hampers or attractive baskets for under the bottom shelf of a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit, or labelled laundry bags that hang on the wall or on a unit.
Washing
Consider a standard washer and dryer; space-saving stacked units; or front-loading ones, above which you can install a convenient folding surface. Use easy-to-reach shelves (or a locked cabinet if you have small children) for detergent and other frequently used items. Post care-label instructions over the machine, along with stain removal charts.
Keep one or two small plastic tubs for handwashing. On a shelving unit, stock clear jars for storing clothes pegs, loose change and special soaps; rags for mopping up spills; mesh bags for delicates; and a container for small bottles of stain removers and related tools.
Drying
For hang-to-dry clothes, you'll need a clothesline (retractable ones are convenient for small spaces), a drying rack or a tension rod (it can be hung in a doorway); pant, skirt and, for shirts and blouses, broad-shoulder hangers; and clothes pegs. For sweaters and other clothes that can be dried flat, use a mesh drying rack or a shelf on an adjustable plastic-coated wire shelving unit or a stainless-steel cart. Be sure to also stack some clean, fluffy towels for squeezing excess water out of sweaters.
Folding
Reserve a flat surface, like a table, and keep it clean and clear. If there's no space for one, a wall-mounted fold-down shelf is a good alternative.
Ironing
Wall-mount an ironing board caddy (get one that holds an iron) or a fold-down board that flips out of sight.
Storing
Discourage clutter with frequent mini-cleanups; keep a garbage can in the room. Have your laundry room double as storage space for other items; for instance, create a vertical broom closet for household cleaning supplies. Hang hooks for mops, brooms, a dust pan, feather duster and vacuum hose. Add a small shelving unit for pails, cleaners and their caddy, and a container for dust rags.
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