What about an organizer that hangs on the back of the door?

Not sure how much space you have on the right. I was thinking if the hanging door organizer idea didn't work, maybe one of these skinny rolling shelf caddies? Like this?

What do you need to keep besides detergent? Hangers? Dryer sheets? Stain treaters? Pre-soaks and boosters?

Are the sides of the machine metal? You could hang a little shelf just big enough for dryer sheets, Zout, and a little container for lint. How much room do you have between the machine and the jamb, and between the machine and the wall? Is there room above for a clothes rod to hang stuff up as it comes out of the dryer, or just for extra hangers?

in your picture it looks like there isn't room for the doors to close? Or is that a trick of the angle?

Can you access the top? That's where we keep our stuff.

I need liquid detergent, powder oxi boost, I use vinegar as fabric softener in the washer, no dryer sheets as I have dryer balls. I rarely use stain remover so that could be kept somewhere else.

There is very little room between the back of the door and the w/d when the left side door is closed. I may be able to hang something on the right side door.

rebunky, I would love something like you posted but it would have to be very narrow. There is 9" but with the door it makes the entrance even more narrow.

bpathome, I does look like the doors don't close but they do without hitting the machines. I just checked and there is 1" between the back of the left side door and the washer door. A little more higher up.

I can just reach the dryer controls at the top so storing anything above would require a step stool.

Here is another photo showing the central vac hose and accessories in the back. I need to be able to access that once a week. I don't mind moving something to get to it. If you click on the photo you can see it better.

Why not on the floor right next to that red and yellow container? Or just build a small shelf in there with a cutcout for the central vac f not, why not in the pantry? It won't contaminate the food. Or do you have small children who get in the pantry so you are worried about safety?. That would be valid.

Can you put a shelf on the right wall that is high enough up not to interfere with getting the central vac out?

The vac hose and the accessories have to be pulled out each time we vacuum. The hose is not plugged in there, just stored there.

With the pantry the concerns are: it's a very small pantry and right now DS just organized it and it is packed solid. The other concern is smells from the detergent transferring to food that is open. Such as chips with just a clip on the bag or cereal where we just slightly roll up the bag.

DH measured and I found a 7" wide rolling cart at bb&b. I didn't know they made them that narrow. I'm going to order it and see if it helps. DH also suggested that we make use of the space in our kitchen that used to be the dogs cubby. I could put a rolling cart in there and just pull it over to the laundry closet when needed. I do want to do something with that area anyway.

The other issue is the recycling bin that was in the laundry closet and now there is no way it will fit. Right now we have a stand alone SS simplehuman garbage can that we love. I could get a new one that has both garbage and recycling compartments but they are really expensive.

When there was no w/d in there (for about 3 years) we stored a lot of stuff in there. Now we need to find new places for everything. I know that many people would have just made this space into a closet/pantry but I really wanted a main floor laundry.

I just doubled check and I can't put any shelf on the right side unless it is above the vac hose which would not be very convenient. Also DH double checked to see if he can move the unit over any more to the left but can't.

Do you have room for a wee cabinet next to the laundry closet? Something shallow, like a foot or less deep? As for recycling, just get another simple human bin. They don't have to be right next to each other if there isn't room.

There is no room next to the closet (fridge on one side, wall on the other). bpathome, you are right I should just get another simplehuman can like what I have as it was less than $50 and the double ones are over $100. It will have to sit out somewhere in the kitchen but that should be fine. I always wondered what people did with their laundry supplies with closets like this.

I have a shoe problem so they are stacked high and wide in my closet. I have a small folding step stool that is easy to store and easy to use. If you can't reach the top, how about storing the stool on the side and the stuff on the top. Mine is like this:

Here's the link to the one on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Polder-Step-Stool-without-Rail/dp/B00004SAC3

If the cart doesn't work out, what about putting small containers of detergent and the oxy boost in a small bin like a shower caddy? You could put it on the floor to the right when the washer is in use, and when you're done with laundry you could tuck the whole bin in the washer or dryer so it's out of the way of the central vac. It could even live on the floor most of the time and just be moved when necessary. The vinegar could go in the pantry or in the bin.

how about on top of the top unit? looks like you have room on top.

Shower caddy is a great idea! I can just reach the controls at the top of the dryer, I would need a step stool to get to the top and there isn't much clearance with the door frame. Vinegar can definitely go in the pantry. Tomorrow I'm going to actually use them! We did a trial load with no detergent just to make sure there were no leaks and everything worked but no actual laundry.

Or a wall-mounted caddy on one side? I had a laundry closet in an apartment, and kept the detergent on the floor, took the lint to the bathroom wastebasket down the hall. Pretty simple.

I have the same situation as you except in my master bath instead of my kitchen. I have a small shallow linen closet directly across from the w/d closet (like you have a small pantry). I put small versions of everything in there: all free&clear (super concentrated, 42oz), tide w/fabreeze (50oz), dryer sheets, solid stain stick, liquid stain stick, bleach, bleach pen, and a package of front-load washer cleaning pucks. I'll have 2 All containers in there if one is running out (you know, upside down). That takes up a little less than 1/2 of a shelf (12"w x 11"d x12"h). That's a lot of laundry supplies for such a small space. They're at 'hand height'. They're easy to get and see, but not what smacks you in the face when you open the closet (which I want to be towels).

I refill the Tide container from a large one I keep in the garage. I usually just go ahead and just buy the small All containers. They only come in tiny and super-huge. Sometimes I have the gumption to buy a huge one, but refilling from those huge containers is messy. I refill my bleach too.

Since you say that you're going to have a satellite laundry in the basement, I suggest that you go buy tiny versions of what you already use (I don't mean travel-size) and see how they work out in your pantry. This won't work out so well if your family stirs the pantry (at least that's what it looks like my sister's family does to her pantry!)