Repair & Improve

Top Tips For Organizing Laundry Rooms

This year, make a clean break from wash-day hassles

by Tom Kraeutler, AOL Home Improvement Editor

Wondering where to begin with those resolutions of the home improvement variety? Taking care of your dirty laundry more efficiently and easily is a smart start. Reconsidering and refitting the laundry zone can mean the difference between a dark, dank room you dread and a bright, inspiring workspace you and your family actually enjoy using. Sort through the following tips for ways to make wash day less of a hassle and more of a pleasure.

• Smart, space-savvy appliances. Take advantage of recent advances in laundry technology by investing in appliances that do their job more efficiently. Stacking units free up valuable laundry room real estate, and range from compact systems to full-size washers and dryers with all the bells and whistles (many manufacturers provide stacking framework systems for use with select models). And front-loading machines─often equipped with convenient reversible doors─make the wash-to-dry transfer quick and easy while using less water and electricity on laundry day.
• Counter productivity. Choose great-looking, easy-clean countertop materials such as granite and solid surfacing to help maintain laundry quality control, and station surfaces at varying heights to accommodate a range of chores. A waist-level surface, for example, is great for folding and organizing laundry.
• Stow and store. Be both practical and creative when planning the layout of cabinets and cubbies: storage should be roomy and handy for the items you’ll use in the work areas where you’ll use them. Add such helpers as wire baskets running on tracks installed below an upper cabinet (a great spot for dryer sheets and cleaning products), and wall-mounted brackets for irons and specialty items to help clear up that valuable counter space.
• Appliance accessories. Thanks to coordinating accessories from appliance manufacturers, you can transform an already-great pair of machines into a storage bonus. Look for appliance-top work surfaces with spill guards, supply trays and backsplashes; laundry storage “towers” that nestle between or to the side of units for quick access to detergents and supplies; and washer and dryer pedestals with built-in storage drawers.
• Smart sorting. Roll in a set of those handy industrial-style sorting bins to keep wash loads in order, sequester clothing in need of mending, and gather items headed for the local dry cleaner. You can add the same organized magic with other basket and box systems…Just remember to keep a small bowl or basket nearby as a catch-all for stray change and other pocket finds.
• Professional amenities. Create a full-service laundry center by adding a fold-away ironing board, collapsible drying racks, under-cabinet hanging rods, and, if you want to get really fancy, a steaming closet. Adding a utility sink is helpful for dealing with hand washables and quick clean-ups.
• Stay safe as well as efficient. As you think through a place for everything and how to put everything in its place, make sure you’re storing all laundry room chemicals out of children’s reach while keeping them handy enough to avoid grownup-sized strains (case in point: heavy, bulk-size containers).
• Seeing is believing. Abundant, reliable lighting is a must in the laundry room, so align fixture styles and wattages with the work you need to do, whether it’s super-sleuth stain detection or overall maintenance. Fluorescents and track lighting systems are both good solutions here.
• Faultless flooring. Select moisture-resistant flooring such as tile or laminate so that you’re protected if the odd appliance disaster occurs. Some laundry room retrofits may also be candidates for a floor formatted into one big drain, although this option can add considerable expense to a project.
• Clean, bright décor. Put out a clean, fresh vibe that’ll attract you and your laundry assistants to the space with upbeat colors and patterns, streamlined detailing and simple window treatments. Framed art and collectibles from the laundry days of yore can also add charm and enjoyment to your new work center.
  

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