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Laundry Room Updates to Whip Your Cleaning Regime Into Shape
Transform your laundry into a more functional and efficient work zone with these easy fixes
Doing laundry isn’t the most fun of household tasks (then again, are there any chores that can be classified as enjoyable?), but with a few tweaks to your laundry room, you can make your clothes-washing routine a whole lot less painful and time consuming. Whether you’re planning a complete overhaul or doing a quick DIY upgrade of your space over the weekend, these easy laundry room updates will make your cleaning zone work better so you can spend less time tending to your dirty clothes and more time doing things you love.
Hang up a clothes rail …
Another handy laundry room addition that will whip your washing day routine into shape is an overhead clothes rail. Install one between two wall cabinets in your laundry so you have a place to hang clothes that are fresh out of the dryer, rather than throwing them in a basket to iron and put away later. This will ensure your garments remain crease- and wrinkle-free, which means they won’t take as long to press (or may not require ironing at all!).
The rail also provides a convenient spot to store clothes that have just been pressed and steamed, allowing you to work your way through your ironing basket uninterrupted, without having to stop after pressing one or two garments so you can go and hang them up in your closet.
Another handy laundry room addition that will whip your washing day routine into shape is an overhead clothes rail. Install one between two wall cabinets in your laundry so you have a place to hang clothes that are fresh out of the dryer, rather than throwing them in a basket to iron and put away later. This will ensure your garments remain crease- and wrinkle-free, which means they won’t take as long to press (or may not require ironing at all!).
The rail also provides a convenient spot to store clothes that have just been pressed and steamed, allowing you to work your way through your ironing basket uninterrupted, without having to stop after pressing one or two garments so you can go and hang them up in your closet.
… or clothes airer
There’s nothing worse than putting on a load of washing, only to find that the sun has disappeared and it’s started sprinkling just as your spin cycle finishes. Retractable or freestanding clothes racks are clever contraptions that will ramp up the functionality of any laundry, as they provide a spot to dry clothes when it’s cold or rainy outside. This will save you from having to re-wash a load that’s been left in the machine to wait out the bad weather and is starting to smell musty.
Clothes racks are also great for air drying delicates (such as pieces made from silk or lace, or that feature embellishments); garments that can stretch out of shape (lay these items flat across the rack to dry); as well as sun-sensitive pieces that may fade in harsh sunlight. Using clothes airers will ensure these launder-with-care clothes dry without sustaining damage, and help extend their life.
When choosing where to install a wall-mounted airer in your laundry, select a well-ventilated spot so your clothes dry quickly and evenly. Another practical position is above your laundry sink so any drips of water will fall directly into the basin below, rather than onto the floor.
More: 10 Drying Rack Solutions for Your Laundry
There’s nothing worse than putting on a load of washing, only to find that the sun has disappeared and it’s started sprinkling just as your spin cycle finishes. Retractable or freestanding clothes racks are clever contraptions that will ramp up the functionality of any laundry, as they provide a spot to dry clothes when it’s cold or rainy outside. This will save you from having to re-wash a load that’s been left in the machine to wait out the bad weather and is starting to smell musty.
Clothes racks are also great for air drying delicates (such as pieces made from silk or lace, or that feature embellishments); garments that can stretch out of shape (lay these items flat across the rack to dry); as well as sun-sensitive pieces that may fade in harsh sunlight. Using clothes airers will ensure these launder-with-care clothes dry without sustaining damage, and help extend their life.
When choosing where to install a wall-mounted airer in your laundry, select a well-ventilated spot so your clothes dry quickly and evenly. Another practical position is above your laundry sink so any drips of water will fall directly into the basin below, rather than onto the floor.
More: 10 Drying Rack Solutions for Your Laundry
Brighten up your work zone
Good lighting is a must in any laundry, as it will allow you to spot stains and tears, measure detergent and match socks up with ease. If your laundry room lacks natural light or the current lighting set-up just isn’t working for you, a simple fix is to attach stick-on battery-operated LED under-cabinet or tape lights to the bottom of your wall cupboards. These easy-to-install, energy-saving fixtures will deliver task lighting to the work zone below, so you won’t have any problem seeing what you’re doing when cleaning, folding or sorting your clothes.
If you don’t have any wall cabinets, a desk lamp with an adjustable arm and a shade that creates a concentrated beam of light will do the job just fine.
Good lighting is a must in any laundry, as it will allow you to spot stains and tears, measure detergent and match socks up with ease. If your laundry room lacks natural light or the current lighting set-up just isn’t working for you, a simple fix is to attach stick-on battery-operated LED under-cabinet or tape lights to the bottom of your wall cupboards. These easy-to-install, energy-saving fixtures will deliver task lighting to the work zone below, so you won’t have any problem seeing what you’re doing when cleaning, folding or sorting your clothes.
If you don’t have any wall cabinets, a desk lamp with an adjustable arm and a shade that creates a concentrated beam of light will do the job just fine.
Sort out your storage
If your laundry cupboards are cluttered and chaotic, it sounds like a decluttering session and storage upgrade is in order. Start by clearing out your cabinets and set aside any old detergents, softeners and other clothes and household cleaners that have been sitting unused in your cupboards for an age. Dispose of any chemicals that you no longer want or need by dropping them off the next time your local council holds a hazardous waste disposal day.
Next, it’s time to update your storage. If you have solid cabinet doors, consider replacing them with clear or frosted glass doors so you can easily see what’s stored in your cupboards. This will save you time and the hassle of digging around each cabinet while trying to find where your spare linens, laundry detergent, scrubbing brushes and other cleaning essentials are hiding. Plus, clear doors also make it easier to keep track of when you need to stock up on supplies. For added functionality, add labels to your cabinet doors to spell out what’s stashed in each cupboard – your family will have no excuse if they put something back where it doesn’t belong!
Once you’ve upgraded your cabinets, it’s time to organise your clothes and household cleaners and equipment by type, and place them in their designated cupboards in a neat, orderly arrangement. Then, take a step back, marvel at your hard work and then get to work and put on your next load of laundry so you can discover just how efficient your new and improved laundry is.
If your laundry cupboards are cluttered and chaotic, it sounds like a decluttering session and storage upgrade is in order. Start by clearing out your cabinets and set aside any old detergents, softeners and other clothes and household cleaners that have been sitting unused in your cupboards for an age. Dispose of any chemicals that you no longer want or need by dropping them off the next time your local council holds a hazardous waste disposal day.
Next, it’s time to update your storage. If you have solid cabinet doors, consider replacing them with clear or frosted glass doors so you can easily see what’s stored in your cupboards. This will save you time and the hassle of digging around each cabinet while trying to find where your spare linens, laundry detergent, scrubbing brushes and other cleaning essentials are hiding. Plus, clear doors also make it easier to keep track of when you need to stock up on supplies. For added functionality, add labels to your cabinet doors to spell out what’s stashed in each cupboard – your family will have no excuse if they put something back where it doesn’t belong!
Once you’ve upgraded your cabinets, it’s time to organise your clothes and household cleaners and equipment by type, and place them in their designated cupboards in a neat, orderly arrangement. Then, take a step back, marvel at your hard work and then get to work and put on your next load of laundry so you can discover just how efficient your new and improved laundry is.
Opt for wheelie (clothes) bins
Hampers that are filled to the brim with a week’s worth of school uniforms, work clothes and other dirty laundry can be heavy and hard to manoeuvre, which can make loading the washing machine a tricky and tiresome task. A simple fix is to replace your hamper with a deep bin with wheels so you can can transport laundry to the machine and out to your clothes line without any fuss, hassle or strain on your back.
When shopping around for a rolling laundry bin, look for one with a removable machine-washable liner that you can throw in the wash when required.
Hampers that are filled to the brim with a week’s worth of school uniforms, work clothes and other dirty laundry can be heavy and hard to manoeuvre, which can make loading the washing machine a tricky and tiresome task. A simple fix is to replace your hamper with a deep bin with wheels so you can can transport laundry to the machine and out to your clothes line without any fuss, hassle or strain on your back.
When shopping around for a rolling laundry bin, look for one with a removable machine-washable liner that you can throw in the wash when required.
Add open storage
Wall shelves and cubbies are a smart addition to any laundry, especially those that are compact in size. Not only do they maximise space and keep the floor free for your washer, dryer and laundry bins, but they also provide quick, easy access to laundry-day essentials.
A practical spot to install open shelving is just above your washer or dryer so your detergent, fabric softener and other clothes-cleaning products are easily accessible when putting on a load. Use baskets to maintain order and stop the shelves from looking cluttered.
Alternatively, consider investing in some glass containers and bottles that you can fill with washing powder or liquid, stain remover and colour-catching laundry sheets. Practical and visually appealing, clear jars will help make your shelves look beautifully organised and ensure these laundry essentials can be kept on display and within arm’s reach. They’re also handy as you can quickly check when your cleaning supplies are running low.
Wall shelves and cubbies are a smart addition to any laundry, especially those that are compact in size. Not only do they maximise space and keep the floor free for your washer, dryer and laundry bins, but they also provide quick, easy access to laundry-day essentials.
A practical spot to install open shelving is just above your washer or dryer so your detergent, fabric softener and other clothes-cleaning products are easily accessible when putting on a load. Use baskets to maintain order and stop the shelves from looking cluttered.
Alternatively, consider investing in some glass containers and bottles that you can fill with washing powder or liquid, stain remover and colour-catching laundry sheets. Practical and visually appealing, clear jars will help make your shelves look beautifully organised and ensure these laundry essentials can be kept on display and within arm’s reach. They’re also handy as you can quickly check when your cleaning supplies are running low.
Create order with a chalkboard laundry schedule
Keeping on top of your laundry can be tricky, especially if you or your kids require a steady stream of clean school, sport or work uniforms each week. And then there’s everything else that needs to be regularly laundered, like bath and hand towels, bedlinen and tea towels…
One way to streamline and take the stress out of your cleaning regime is to create a weekly laundry schedule. This will help you fall into a routine of doing one or two loads during the week so you don’t have to spend your entire weekend catching up on laundry … or worse, find yourself in crisis mode because the whole family is down to their last pair of socks or underwear. For example, you might like to wash school and work uniforms on a Wednesday so you and your kids have clean clothes for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, Sunday is an ideal day to launder bedlinen so you can start the week with fresh, clean sheets.
I love the idea of painting a chalkboard wall or panels on the back of your laundry door, and using the surface to draw up a schedule that’s on display for all to see and can be easily altered when needed. You can also use the chalkboard to share washing instructions and daily reminders, delegate household chores and start a shopping list, which will also help your home run smoothly.
Keeping on top of your laundry can be tricky, especially if you or your kids require a steady stream of clean school, sport or work uniforms each week. And then there’s everything else that needs to be regularly laundered, like bath and hand towels, bedlinen and tea towels…
One way to streamline and take the stress out of your cleaning regime is to create a weekly laundry schedule. This will help you fall into a routine of doing one or two loads during the week so you don’t have to spend your entire weekend catching up on laundry … or worse, find yourself in crisis mode because the whole family is down to their last pair of socks or underwear. For example, you might like to wash school and work uniforms on a Wednesday so you and your kids have clean clothes for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, Sunday is an ideal day to launder bedlinen so you can start the week with fresh, clean sheets.
I love the idea of painting a chalkboard wall or panels on the back of your laundry door, and using the surface to draw up a schedule that’s on display for all to see and can be easily altered when needed. You can also use the chalkboard to share washing instructions and daily reminders, delegate household chores and start a shopping list, which will also help your home run smoothly.
If you’re keen to implement this update at home, you might also like to draw a guide to common garment care symbols next to your laundry schedule. This nifty chalkboard cheat-sheet will help you decode what each of the symbols on your clothes tags mean so you can wash them appropriately, and prevent them from shrinking, pilling, becoming discoloured or falling apart.
Separate your laundry by type
Why wait until laundry day to sort out your lights, darks and colours when you can do it as you go? Streamline your washing day regime by investing in multiple baskets or a hamper with separate sections that will make sorting out colours and different laundry types (like delicates and dry-clean only items) quick and easy.
TELL US
Do you have any easy laundry room updates you’d like to share? Post your tips in the Comments.
MORE
10 Ideas for High-Functioning Laundries
10 Wash-and-Wear Laundry Ideas That Go Easy on Your Back
Give Your Cleaning Zone a Clean-Up
Designs for Living: Cheerful Laundries
Why wait until laundry day to sort out your lights, darks and colours when you can do it as you go? Streamline your washing day regime by investing in multiple baskets or a hamper with separate sections that will make sorting out colours and different laundry types (like delicates and dry-clean only items) quick and easy.
TELL US
Do you have any easy laundry room updates you’d like to share? Post your tips in the Comments.
MORE
10 Ideas for High-Functioning Laundries
10 Wash-and-Wear Laundry Ideas That Go Easy on Your Back
Give Your Cleaning Zone a Clean-Up
Designs for Living: Cheerful Laundries
Replace your cumbersome freestanding ironing board with a pull-out or fold-away design that can be conveniently tucked away when not in use. Nifty retractable boards like the one pictured here will not only free up floor and storage space, but also save you time and effort – you won’t have the hassle of digging out and setting up the bulky board every time you need it.
If you don’t have any available wall space or a drawer that you can retrofit with a retractable board, affix an ironing board holder to the back of your laundry door instead. This simple fix will ensure your ironing board doesn’t take up valuable cupboard or floor space and is easy to access, too.