For a space whose sole purpose is meant for cleanliness, the laundry room is quite often the very opposite. Mismatched socks, used dryer sheets, piles of things you wish you had remembered to take out of your pockets before you threw it in the washer-� the laundry room can quickly turn into a cluttered and chaotic place if you're not careful.
If you're struggling to keep your laundry room organized, here are seven decluttering hacks that will make a big difference:
1. Start with the closet
The key to an organized laundry space is an organized closet. If you or your family are constantly digging through the laundry basket to try to find something to wear at the last minute, clean clothes can quickly pile up on the floor or be strewn throughout the laundry room. Start by taking a thorough inventory of your family's current wardrobe.
Has the clothing been worn in the last six months, or does everything fit? If not, it might be time to donate. Additionally, you should consider swapping out seasonal clothes into storage elsewhere in your home. For example, there's no need to keep thicker, heavier winter garments in your closet during the summer.
Are there clothes you don't wear because of stains, minor tears or rips, or are missing buttons? Put these clothes in a pile for a trip to your local AZ Tide Cleaners.
Decluttering your closet will help lengthen the lifespan of your clothes, and will save you time when strategizing what to wear.
2. Install closet rods in your laundry room
Closet rods are an inexpensive, easy solution to make your laundry room more organized. Closet rods are space-savers and can be used as a drying rack for delicate items. Not to mention, hanging up clothes rather than piling them in baskets on the floor will help to declutter your space.
3. Use baskets for-� everything!
Baskets are your new best friend. Designate baskets for separate purposes. Big baskets should hold separate piles of clothes like delicates, jeans, towels, and bedsheets. Small baskets should arrange soaps, 'lost and found' items like change and anything else that may fall out of pockets, and especially for socks which always seem to go missing.
4. Have a designated place for folding
Clean laundry is one thing, but folded and put away is quite another. So often, people leave cleaned clothes in a basket which gets left in the laundry room, on the stairs, or sometimes they make it all the way to the bedroom but still doesn't get folded or put away. That is until someone needs something to wear, and everything is wrinkled.
If you have side-by-side appliances, top them with a piece of affordable, laminate countertop that is a dedicated folding space. That way, everything that comes out of the dryer will- theoretically- get folded before going into the basket!
7. Stick to a schedule
Sit down with your family and figure out what everyone's needs are and the best process which fits busy schedules. For example, dedicated one day to washing towels and sheets, and another day to making sure the kids' sports uniforms are ready for the big game. This way, everyone knows to have all their items in the appropriate places to be washed, rather than haphazardly doing half-full loads on an as-needed basis. The schedule can be as simple as a standard wall calendar, or you can use a chalkboard to add a little more pizzazz to the space.
There you have it. These hacks will have you creating a clutter-free space and an organized system for doing laundry in no time!