Dannyhill ResidenceTraditional Laundry Room, Los Angeles
Bethany Nauert Photography
What Houzz contributors are saying:
Clean all itemsBefore you store any clothing away it’s important to clean it, otherwise any little stains can become permanent and attract pests such as clothing moths, which can eat through natural fibres including wool and silk. After you have washed all the items you wish to store, hang them outside in the sun (if possible) to dry. Allow items to dry completely to avoid mould developing once they are stored.While your clothes are drying, use the opportunity to give your wardrobe a thorough clean. Vacuum into the far reaches and corners, and wipe down all doors and shelves.
Install a hanging railA hanging rail or tension rod, even a fairly narrow one, can be one of the most useful additions to your laundry. Use it to air dry wet clothes, hang freshly ironed items, or leave swimmers to dry. A wall-to-wall style is ideal, but if that’s not an option in your laundry, consider an upside-down style that can be mounted under shelves or wall cupboards. Alternatively, consider a space-savvy, ceiling-mounted clothes airer.
Tell usWhat’s your top tip for organising a small laundry? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation. MoreRead more ‘How Do I… ?’ stories
5. Use vertical spaceHaving a hanging rod and two laundry hampers on wheels is a great way to use vertical space. In this set-up, the laundry baskets are completely accessible and don’t clutter the circulation area, while providing easy access to the washing machine. The upper cabinetry also makes good use of the space, and provides additional storage for those items not required on a regular basis. A compact wall-mounted clothesline is a clever idea for laundry smalls.
10. Organise laundry essentialsApril is a good month to get your laundry space under control as the temperatures are reasonable enough to work in – especially if you have a bit of handyperson work to do.Storage is the key to a well-organised laundry, so make the most of the walls and ceiling by putting up shelves and even a drying rack that pulls out of the wall, or is suspended from the ceiling on a pulley system. Be practical and rearrange your products and supplies according to how often you use them. Consider having a ‘washed and folded’ basket for each person, so that they become responsible for returning their own laundered clothes and items to their rooms.Tell usWhat are your cleaning or sorting tips for autumn? Share them with us in the Comments below, like this story and join the conversation.MorePrefer to outsource your home organisation? Find a professional organiser near you who can whip your house into shape
Opt for wheelie (clothes) binsHampers 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.
7. Stow laundry baskets and binsWhether you call them hampers or baskets, large deep bins used to hold dirty clothes need to be stored neatly out of the way in a busy laundry to avoid tripping over. They also need to be easily accessed for when loading the washing machine, so having them on wheels is ideal. Most often they are rolled under a bench, but they can also be housed in integrated cabinetry in paired chutes for dark and light clothing.
What Houzzers are commenting on:
Like the idea of hanging up delicate wet clothes and the laundry baskets.
drying rack idea from Ballard designs and also the open area to hang clothes with laundry basket
Walking into laundry room on right side, an idea for the laundry baskets with rod to hang clothes including cabinet.
Small side cabinet to the right for storage? Drying rack above that cabinet. Sharp clean lines, shaker style cabinets.
Photos in Dannyhill Residence
