by Megan Spears
Laundry is a never ending job.
If you have a big family (or even a small one), the laundry room will always be one of the most used rooms in your home. The other problem with a laundry room is that it can be a breading ground for clutter and anything random (like a secret hiding spot).
Here are five simple steps to avoid the clutter and keep your laundry room in order.
1. Keep the surfaces clear. As tempting as it may be, keep your surfaces clear. Always. You need the surface area for folding, so stacking things on top of the washer or dryer only makes it harder for you to complete you task. Because the laundry room is an open space to “hide” those random things we don’t have a home for, or don’t know what to do with, it’s important to make the time to clear off surface areas and put things away just as you would make the time to clear any other surfaces in your home.
2. Go vertical. Vertical space is an unknown organizational tool that is commonly overlooked in most spaces. Use hooks for hanging brooms or mops, shelves for laundry soap or cleaning supplies, and any cabinets for larger storage items. Sometimes a small investment of shelving can make the biggest difference in keeping surfaces clear and/or utilizing a small space to it’s maximum capacity.
3. Laundry room is for laundry. As much as I know it’s easy to make the laundry room a multipurpose room (or space), try to keep it to managing less rather than more. As I mentioned, this is one of the most used spaces in your home so it’s imperative to keep it organized!
4. Install a rod for hanging items. This is one of the best $9.99 investments you can make in a laundry room. By using a simple tension rode in the door jam or between a cabinet and a wall, having a hanging rod can make a ton of difference in processing your laundry! In addition to making your job easier, you have a place to hang all those unused hangers!
5. Create a schedule. Because laundry can really “pile up” literally and figuratively, it’s important to keep on top of it! If it’s specific days of the week or once a month, create a schedule for yourself that will help you stay on top of the mountain. Not only will that allow you plan ahead, but it’s an important element of good time management!
Sometimes it just takes a few simple changes in a space in your home to make all the difference in keeping an active room organized. Although I do laundry twice each week, I am almost assured at least three days of being laundry free!