As if laundry itself wasn’t tasking enough, laundry rooms tend to turn into the catch-all room of the home, seemingly, overnight. From clothing and dirty shoes to miscellaneous items that somehow find their way in there, it can be hard to keep on top of all of the clutter. Keeping your laundry room as functional as possible is just as important as keeping your clothing clean.
“Laundry organization is not just sorting colors and whites,” Laurie Lindemann, master-level KonMari certified consultant of Declutter Pronto, tells Shop TODAY. “It’s about having everything you need at your fingertips so doing your laundry doesn’t feel like a chore.”
While there is no robot that can do it all just yet (at least, not that we know of), there are plenty of ways to streamline the process and make your space functional enough to tackle laundry day. We reached out to professional organizers for all of the impressive — and easy — ways to revamp your laundry room, including the products that can make one of the most cramped and cluttered rooms in your home one that you’ll actually want to be in.
Tips from the experts | Organization ideas | Meet the experts
Related
Expert tips for laundry room organization
Keeping the essentials at hand means you’ll be able to get ahead of the inevitable clutter before it happens.
“Laundry rooms often serve multiple purposes like cleaning storage or linen closet overflow, but it is important to keep the items you need to actually do laundry in a convenient location,” organizing expert Rachel Rosenthal tells us. “This will vary based on your laundry room set up.”
If you can't prevent your laundry room from becoming a catch-all space, professional organizing expert Julie Naylon of No Wire Hangers suggests designating a basket for that exact purpose, which will help you put things back where they belong without adding to the clutter.
From mop grippers to collapsible hampers, these commitment-free hacks and products might make you look forward to your next trip to the laundry room.
Laundry room organization ideas
The Container Store Clear Plastic Storage Boxes
Rosenthal loves these plastic boxes because not only can you easily see what is inside of them, but you can also wipe them clean if something spills. "There is a lot of water and things like detergent or softener in laundry rooms that can get messy and need a quick clean," she says. "By selecting something like a multipurpose bin or acrylic bin vs. a seagrass basket to hold the messier items you will be able to clean vs. replace if there is a spill."
Lindemann also says these kinds of bins are great for storing bulkier items in your laundry room.
"Clear plastic bins hung on the back of a door are ideal for storing nature’s fabric softener — dryer balls."
The Container Store White Nordic Storage Baskets
Utilizing shelving space over the washer and dryer is another way to tuck things away without compromising the look of your space. These modern storage baskets can be labeled with a dry erase marker to help you identify what's inside, but the ventilated holes also offer a glimpse if you choose to use the bamboo lids.
Spectrum 35000 Diversified Wall Mount Hanger
Naylon recommends this wall-mounted device as another way to streamline the drying process. "I have one in my own laundry room," she says. "I use them a lot in small spaces where people need to have that drying space but don’t necessarily need it there all the time. And also for people who don’t have that much to line dry, it’s a very good space-saving option."
Related
Command Broom & Mop Gripper
Rosenthal encourages the back of the door to maximize space in your laundry room. "You can use it to hang your ironing board, a drying rack or even your cleaning supplies like brooms and mops," she says. This set of mop grippers won't ruin your walls or your doors and are a convenient way to prevent brooms, mops and other cleaning supplies from taking up space in closets.
Command General Purpose Variety Kit
"Hooks and utilizing empty space are key for organization," Lindemann says. "If you have limited space for laundry supplies, use the walls and the narrow area on the sides of the washer and dryer. Hang mesh bags nearby so they’re easy to grab and you always know where to find them."
This multipack of Command Hooks can be used on a variety of surfaces within your laundry room in order to capitalize on space that would typically go untouched.
iDesign Linus Pantry Bins
For smaller essentials, Rosenthal says these pantry bins are a convenient find. They can be wiped clean and replaced, unlike fabric storage bins.
mDesign Glass Storage Apothecary Jar
"Consider decanting your laundry supplies like pods or powdered detergents into pretty jars like these here to keep them handy while streamlining the look of your space," Rosenthal says. "If decanting isn’t realistic (think liquid laundry detergent) consider storing it out of sight either in a solid bin or in a drawer or cabinet."
Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls
Lindemann prefers eco-friendly dryer balls over dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener. They're relatively easy to care for, and can last for plenty of loads.
"Clean and refresh dryer balls by first washing them in hot water, and then adding your favorite essential oils," she says. "Just add two to three drops of essential oil to each ball and bounce them around in the dryer for a minute or two to make sure the oil has soaked in (this prevents oil stains on fabrics)."
The Container Store Round Collapsible Crunch Hamper
"Let’s be honest, laundry isn’t our most favorite task. If you add mounds of dirty clothes into the mix, it can be even more dreadful," Rosenthal says. "Invest in a couple laundry bins or baskets that help you create a system that works for your family (and keep things off the floor)."
She loves these collapsible hampers from The Container Store that are affordable and can easily fold flat to be stored when not in use.
Copco Cabinet Storage Bin
Solid storage bins can help keep items that might not match your decor out of sight, such as brightly-colored detergents and soaps, Rosenthal says. These bins are roomy enough to hold the essentials while looking sleek on a shelf.
Related
Brightshow 135L Laundry Cloth Hamper Sorter
Creating systems to keep dirty piles of laundry off of the floor is one way to make sure that your room stays clutter-free, Rosenthal says. This highly-rated option on Amazon has pre-labeled compartments so you'll always know where to throw things. Plus, it comes in nine different color combinations and is even available in sets of two.
iDesign Over the Door York Ironing Board Hanger
This space-saving tool is ideal for smaller spaces and is another one of Rosenthal's recommendations for over-the-door storage. It can hold a standard iron or laundry products and keep your ironing board off of the floor and within reach.
Fold-Away Wall-Mounted Clothes Drying Rack
If your laundry room already feels cramped, adding dryings racks into the mix might make your space feel tighter. These wall-mounted drying racks can be used to take up less space and are convenient for drying hand washables.
Neatfreak 3-Tier Cascading Drying Rack
Every space in the laundry room is "valuable real estate" and should not be overlooked, according to Rosenthal. Taking advantage of the backs of doors is another great way to make your space functional.
Steele Canvas Natural Laundry Cart
Finding what works for you and your family to keep your laundry room organized looks different for everyone.
"That might mean you have one basket for dirty clothes ready to be washed and one for clean clothes that need to be put away," Rosenthal says. "Or you have three for whites, darks and delicates. It is important to determine what works best for you and your family’s washing routine."
For larger laundry rooms, your system might have to look a little bit bigger, which is where these handy carts come into play.
Related
Meet the experts
- Laurie Lindemann is a certified KonMari consultant for Declutter Pronto, an organizing service based in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
- Rachel Rosenthal is an organizing expert and founder of Rachel and Company, a Washington D.C.-based professional organizing firm.
- Julie Naylon is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer and founder of No Wire Hangers.
