Hellen Buttigieg

By: Hellen Buttigieg



Article Summary:

Lighten your load by organizing the laundry room.

Organize the Laundry Room

Lighten Your Load
Do you dread doing laundry? Are the piles growing out of control? Putting it off won't make it go away. Let's face it - dirty laundry is a fact of life. But doing laundry becomes less of a chore when you have an efficient, pleasing room to do it in. If you want to create a laundry room that not only looks good but also works well, here are some tips to help.

Purge First
Before making any attempt to organize the laundry room, do a thorough purge of old, unused supplies. Toss out misshapen hangers, the box of hardened laundry detergent and all those socks without partners you've been saving in hopes of a reunion. Any items that don't belong in a laundry room can be placed in a `move elsewhere' box for now and distributed to the appropriate room later.

Creating Zones
Consider the various tasks that have to be done and create proper places for these activities. In addition to a washer, dryer and sink, you'll need an area to sort, air-dry and iron. You'll also need a convenient storage area for supplies.

Sorting Strategies

  • Save time and trouble by keeping a hamper for dirty clothes in each bedroom. Lightweight hampers with handles can be carried to the laundry room easily. Vented hampers let clothes breathe to prevent mildew.
  • Use a laundry sorter to divide dirty clothes into three basic groups: whites, darks/colours and delicates/hand washables. Invest in a durable sorter; one with canvas bags that hang from a metal frame will hold up well.
  • To avoid the missing sock syndrome and make it easier to distribute clean socks to their rightful owners, give each family member a colour-coded mesh laundry bag for his or her dirty socks. Wash and dry the socks while they're still in the bag. Then, deposit the bag of clean socks in each person's laundry basket.

    • Drying Delicately
    To air-dry delicate items, use a retractable clothes line, a folding drying rack, or a shower curtain tension rod hung over the washer and dryer.

    Ironing With Ease
    If you have a front-loading washer and dryer, install a countertop over the machines for folding clothes. If you want to use it as a handy ironing surface, build the countertop out of MDF, glue some foam on top and cover it with heat-resistant sailcloth. Alternatively, you can install a hinge-top table that hangs from the wall and folds out of the way when not in use; hang the ironing board and iron on an over-the-door hanger to save space.

    Storing Strategies

  • Store laundry supplies in built-in cabinets or shelving over the machines or in a near-by freestanding unit. For both convenience and safety, make sure you install these at a height where you are not reaching too high: no more than about 6 inches above shoulder height.
  • If space is tight, slide a skinny rolling caddy in the gap between the washer and dryer to store laundry supplies.
  • Use wicker baskets or clear plastic bins to house dust rags, mesh garment bags and dryer sheets. Designate a basket for stain removal products and sewing supplies (for quick repairs). Group items by type and label each container for easy access.
  • A mini-sized wastebasket on a shelf is a handy place to keep lint from the dryer or used dryer sheets until garbage day.
  • A small clear jar can act as a temporary home for loose change and buttons that mysteriously appear in the machines after you've done a load.

    • More Timesaving Tips

  • Designate a laundry basket in a different colour for each family member. Label it with their name so there's no confusion. As clean clothes come out of the dryer, place them in the appropriate basket. Deliver each person's basket to their bedroom and have them fold and put away their things.
  • Teach everyone in your home (over the age of about ten) how to do his or her own laundry. This is a life skill that everyone needs to learn eventually. Post instructions on the wall for easy reference. If your children are too young, get them involved by helping to match socks or fold towels.

    • Brighten Up
    Now that you've made your laundry room functional, reward yourself by making it esthetically pleasing as well. Paint it a cheerful colour, add a colourful throw rug and hang something decorative on the wall.

    Following these simple tips will wash away your laundry day blues, making the chore quicker, easier and more pleasant. Once you've created an attractive, functional space with easy access to all your supplies, you'll spend less time doing laundry and more time enjoying life.

    Hellen Buttigieg, CPOŽ, is an award-winning Certified Professional OrganizerŽ, life coach, Gemini - Nominated TV Host and President of We Organize U. For free tips on organizing your home, your office and your life, visit www.WeOrganizeU.com and sign up for her newsletter, emailed to you monthly. To contact Hellen or for information on hiring a We Organize U organizing specialist, call 905-829-2219 or e-mail info@WeOrganizeU.com.

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