Make a Clean Break With Laundry Chaos
Bins and bags, sorters and other storage — we've got several loads' worth of ways to keep your laundry neat
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
I always feel the tiniest bit wistful when I look at photos of gorgeous laundry rooms on Houzz. Like many homes of its era, my late-'60s split level has no dedicated laundry area — our washer and dryer are tucked in a corner of the garage. It's not the location that bothers me, though; it's the fact that finding space to gather, sort and fold clothes is such a challenge.
Currently I use a four-bag sorter tucked into my (tiny) closet, which keeps laundry separated and the floor uncluttered but also eats storage space. And my "folding table" is the guest bed, which works great — except when there are actual guests in it.
I know I'm not the only Houzzer with this dilemma. If you're also fighting the laundry battle, check out this roundup of inventive ways to keep the piles in check — no remodeling required. What additional tips do you have? Share details in the Comments!
Currently I use a four-bag sorter tucked into my (tiny) closet, which keeps laundry separated and the floor uncluttered but also eats storage space. And my "folding table" is the guest bed, which works great — except when there are actual guests in it.
I know I'm not the only Houzzer with this dilemma. If you're also fighting the laundry battle, check out this roundup of inventive ways to keep the piles in check — no remodeling required. What additional tips do you have? Share details in the Comments!
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This three-bin laundry sorter provides an easy place for tossing dirty clothes at bathtime. Because it's so streamlined and attractive, it doesn't detract from the room's design, and it blends with the palette as well.
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If you have space in a drawer or closet, consider retrofitting it with pull-down hampers. Removable liners make it a snap to carry clothes to the washer.
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Here's a solution that works great for smaller closets: pretty baskets stacked to one side. The only drawback is that they don't hold as much as regular-size bins.
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by ReStyle Group
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| These labeled fabric bins fit into specially designed cubbies, but you could stack your own customized versions in a closet or on a shelf. |
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When I hear the words "laundry bag," I think back to the industrial-size nylon version I had in college. But these pretty ones, made from mattress covers, suit the soft, cottagey style of the space. You could have a set of them custom made from a fabric that matches your decor.
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Let's not forget the ironing board while we're at it. Without a laundry room, where do you stash it? Here's one solution: Mount an ironing board cabinet on the wall. You can buy one ready made, but a carpenter or woodworker could craft one to your specifications as well.
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A walk-in closet also makes an ideal space for installing a built-in fold-down ironing board.
by steele canvas
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This retro-look laundry cart would pair well with an industrial or eclectic room. It's so cute that you don't even need to hide it.
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Here's a four-bag sorter almost exactly like the one I have. Because my washer and dryer are two flights of stairs away from my closet, I don't use the casters, but in a single-story home you could easily pull it wherever you like.
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A freestanding double hamper with tilt-down drawers mimics the look of furniture — just right for a bedroom.
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I'm not usually a fan of sticking a hamper in the corner of a room. But this mod-meets-whimsical style is so much fun that it might sway me.
by Crate&Barrel
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Pretty woven baskets in crisp white and chartreuse add a cheerful note to a mundane chore. Tuck them along the closet floor or stack a few on a shelving unit.
by Gracious Style
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The subtle colors of this laundry bag make it incredibly easy on the eyes.
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A lovely ruffled bag adds feminine flair.
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Meet the Crunch Can, a marvel of smart design that expands and collapses as needed. I have four, and I use them for all kinds of tasks — including ferrying laundry upstairs to fold. When it's empty, the can squashes flat for easy storage.
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A portable tabletop ironing board takes up much less storage space than a standard model. Why haven't I bought one of these yet?
| This specially designed pullout features a pop-up ironing board that slides right back in when you're finished pressing. More: Storage Solutions for the Ironing Board |
Ideabook published on Oct. 23, 2012.
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But, does anybody actually need to iron any more, or is it just an excuse to catch up on what's left of the afternoon soaps? ;)
Don't super-spin your clothes in the wash, and hang them to dry right away - it saves on hydro (the dryer is the single most expensive household appliance to run), they smell nicer, you don't coat them in beef fat (fabric softener often contains tallow, as well as many other unsavoury chemicals), and if you're in a dry climate, hang them indoors to dry on a rack, and they'll keep the house humidity at a comfortable level.
If you do want to use a fabric softener, try adding some baking soda or vinegar to the wash - neither of them stinks (or has irritating perfumes!), both are safe and environmentally friendly.
Love those hampers in the second picture. Lots of clever ideas here, thanks!
I learned the best pre treatment of items to be ironed was to lightly starch them, then put them in the freezer till ready to iron. Do any of you have fond old memories of days goine by, ironing scarves for furniture? Those scarves adorned the most beautiful antiques in my aunt's house. Oh the mememories. I wish I could go back there just for one day.
Wash day was once a week. We hung everything, it's faster than folding. Hangers were COLOR CODED for "outside" clothes and "out in public"clothesl Later, "outside" clothes were folded as they were now had better co-ordination.
I know, I was compulsive, but now I use it to help organize other people ..lol.
I whish I could have had the LAUNDRY ROLLER back then. It's a perfect height for folding at the counter or table, or wherever you like to fold. You can hang clothes ASAP to keep from wrinkling so bad, When you are done, you or they, just ROLL it the room and put the clothes away. While your there, pick up some empty hangers.
It makes it fun which motivates kids and lessens the laundry burden. I you have ever been to the laundry mat as a kid, you know it was fun to ROLL,
I used to put the sorter behind their bedroom door or in the bathroom. The laundry roller could stay in the garage or just near the dryer. If your the type to wash everyday, it won't be in one place all the time.
The only hard thing about doing laundry will be to pick up the dirty clothes from the floor......UGH!
As far as the expensive laundry basket, I don't mind looking at ideas