7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Laundry Room

Day 1: Deep clean the washer and dryer.

Cleaning tasks: Today is the day to get your appliances clean inside and out, so they will work more efficiently and get your clothes cleaner.

Cleaning the washer:

1. Use a damp sponge or microfiber cloth to clean the exterior and inside the lid of your washer, paying special attention to rubber seals.
   
2. If your washer has a lint trap or removable detergent dispensers, take them out and clean them with warm, soapy water in the sink. If not, use cotton swabs to get the gunk and grime from the corners.
   
3. Pour a cup or two of white vinegar in the washer and run it on the hottest setting, without any clothes in it.
   

Cleaning the dryer:

1. Wipe down the inside and outside of the dryer with a damp sponge or microfiber cloth.
   
2. Remove the lint filter and use a narrow vacuum attachment to remove built-up lint from inside the space where the lint filter goes.
3. Unfasten the dryer hose from the back of the machine (check the owner’s manual if you are not sure how to do this) and use a vacuum attachment to remove lint from the hose and the duct.

Day 2: Declutter and Get Rid of Grime

Cleaning tasks: You know those lint balls, empty detergent containers, used dryer sheets and random things from pockets lying all over the place? Now is the time to give them the boot. Once the obvious junk is gone, move on to these tasks:

• Vacuum the space from top to bottom. Get under and behind appliances and furniture as best you can.
• Launder or spot clean any rugs and soft furnishings.
• Use an all-purpose cleaner to get counters, shelves and doors fresh and clean.
• Mop the floor, paying special attention to corners and around the bases of appliances, where dirt and grime tend to build up.
  

Decluttering tasks: Do you know what all of those bottles on your laundry room shelves contain? If you’re not sure, take a few moments to look over each product and keep only those you actually use. Open up small containers to check that the product is still good.

Day 3: Get organized.

Decluttering tasks: With your laundry room clean and decluttered, it should be much easier to get organized.

• Sort products into two categories: daily use and stain fighting or specialty products. If you have a choice, store the products you use daily (like detergent) closest to the washer and less frequently used items on a higher shelf.
• If you do hand washing at a sink in the laundry room, put the soap and any other supplies you use beside the sink.
• Open baskets and trays are quite useful for corralling groups of products — not only do they look attractive, but they make it easier to grab exactly what you need (for example, the stain-fighting kit) because you won’t have to rummage around on a crowded shelf.
• Make a dedicated place for stuff that comes out of pockets, like a small bowl placed atop the dryer.
• Be sure you have a small wastebasket at hand for lint balls and dryer sheets.
  

Tips for basement laundries. When your washer and dryer don’t have a room (or even a closet) of their own, and are, in fact, surrounded by boxes of old stuff, exposed ducts and concrete, it’s easy to want to completely give up on making the area a nice place. If this is your situation, here are four things that can make your space feel more inviting:

1. Proper lighting. A table lamp or wall sconce is so much more pleasant than a bare-bulb shop light!
2. An outdoor rug. A colorful outdoor rug will add some much-needed softness and color and is tough enough for a basement.
3. Shelving. When everything around the washer and dryer looks too grungy for your clean laundry to touch, dedicated shelving and a folding surface are what you need.
4. Pretty baskets. The space will look instantly more finished and organized.