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Laundry is a dreaded chore for many of us, but outfitting your laundry room with effective organization systems can simplify the process. We've all heard of simple solutions like labeling laundry products and designating a zone for sorting, but professional organizers often take it further. Imagine pegboards to store detergent, rolling a narrow cart between machines or adhering a lint bin directly to the side of the dryer — all genius ideas.
I reached out to four professional organizers, plus a few home bloggers, for their most creative laundry room hacks. Whether it's installing a wall-mount drying rack or dedicating a space for spare socks, these nifty organization methods will make laundry day much easier.
Use a pegboard to hang laundry essentials.
Don't let wall space go to waste. "Add a slat wall or pegboard — they're easy to install and completely customizable," says Larisa Bright, co-founder of Settled. Here, blogger Lauren Shaver of Bless'er House uses peg hooks for hanging scrub brushes and dust pans and pegboard baskets for storing bottled cleaning supplies.
Store cleaning supplies on a rolling cart.
"If space is limited, rolling carts can help contain all necessary laundry needs — think detergent, stain treatments and dryer sheets," says Lindsay Melvin of Orchid Organizing. Added bonus: A metal utility cart is easy to wipe down in the case of any detergent spillage.
Install a wall-mounted drying rack.
Rather than setting up the drying rack to air dry clothing, a wall-mounted drying rack folds directly into the wall to save space. Here, the bloggers behind Chris Loves Julia installed custom racks and painted them the same color as the cabinets.
Roll a cart between machines.
"If you’ve got that narrow gap between your washer and dryer, slide in a slim rolling cart for detergent, fabric softener and cleaning supplies," suggests Tonia Tomlin, founder of Sorted Out. That's exactly what Sarah Vandiver of Sarah Joy Blog does in her modern laundry room and the three-tier cart offers an impressive amount of extra storage.
Conceal an ironing board.
Tuck an ironing board inside the cabinet, so you can discretely store it when it's not in use. If you don't want to invest in custom cabinetry, go the easier route with a wall-mounted ironing board.
Hang an over-the-door organizer for cleaning suppiles.
If you're working with limited square footage, it's important to maximize vertical space."An over-the-door organizer is one of our favorite solutions for small laundry closets," says Ashley Murphy, co-founder of NEAT Method and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book.
Give every family member their own bin.
"Separating laundry as it comes out of the dryer into individual laundry bins by person will save lots of time," says Melissa Klug, owner of Home By Eleven. "Then each family member of age can take their own laundry to their rooms." Here, blogger Arin Solange uses a three-bin sorter with wheels to stay organized.
Hang a tension rod between cabinets.
The bloggers behind Sugar & Cloth put a tension rod over the washer, creating a place to hang dry clothing. "Bonus points if use S-hooks on the tension rod to hang baskets, clothespins or cleaning gloves," says Tonia Tomlin on the popular organizing hack.
Hide laundry bins behind cabinets.
Sort laundry behind closed cabinet doors, which designer Sarah Stacey makes possible by installing pull-out hamper hardware. You can easily slide the hamper in and out of the cabinet as needed.
Organize suppiles with turntables.
Whether on the counter or tucked in a cabinet, store regularly used items — like detergent and dryer balls — on a turntable. "Turntables make it easier to reach items that may end up 'lost' at the back of a cabinet shelf," says Murphy.
Build shelves for laundry bins.
Turn a spare closet into a dedicated zone for sorting dirty laundry. Rachel from Craving Some Creativity builds three shelves and puts a laundry bin on each.
Take advantage of magnetic surfaces.
"Make your washer and dryer work overtime by taking advantage of their metal surfaces," says Bright. Try magnetic shelves to store laundry supplies, magnetic lint and trash bins that stick directly to the side of your appliances.
String up lone socks.
Create a dedicated bin, basket or custom hanging station for lone socks. "Single socks and other miscellaneous items — think loose change or your teen's earbuds — muddle folding stations so give them their own real estate," says Bright.
Transport laundry with rolling bins.
"An elevated, rolling laundry bin will make clothing transport seamless," says Bright. "If you already have a hamper you love, just add your own wheels with casters or a dolly, and designate a 'parking spot' where you can tuck it away when not in use."
DIY a laundry basket organizer.
Store laundry baskets in a vertical space (a great way to save space) and label each for easy sorting. This way, when the bin is full, all you have to do is dump it into the washing machine.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
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