This room, in any house, can tend to be a messy one. There are different types and sizes of laundry rooms, so each person will have to find what's best for their layout. We have some suggestions for smaller spaces and larger spaces, below.

Helpful Tips:

~Keep a glass jar or another container by the washer and dryer, so when pockets haven't been emptied, prior to washing, you can put those things in the jar.

~Hair conditioner works just as good as fabric softener. Put a quarter size amount (or more depending on load size) on a washcloth (designated for this purpose) and throw in the dryer with your clothes. If you get a conditioner that smells nice, so will your clothes.
(For more fun tips and hints, click here)

~If your washer drains into a sink (most older homes have this feature), it is best to put nylon over the spout (old pantyhose work well, and rubber band them on tight) so it will act as a lint catcher. This way your drains won't get clogged with all that's deposited from your washer. Change the nylon as it becomes full or if it gets holes.

~Clean the lint trap in the washer and dryer after every cycle to keep the machines operating at their best performance.

~Good items to have on hand along with your normal laundry products are: white vinegar and baking soda. These work great with keeping laundry fresh, clean and lasting longer. To read more about using vinegar and baking soda with laundry as well as other places, click on the above links. View our 'home made' cleaning products section for more natural cleaners.

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Small Spaces

If you have your washer and dryer in a 'closet' type setting and all that's behind those doors are the washer and dryer, then the only thing you can do is put up a shelf or cupboards above the machines. This will hold your detergents, stain removers, bleach, etc. You can also put your household cleaning supplies in here, which are out of the reach of small children and animals.

It may be easier to sort your clothes in the rooms before you bring them to be washed. This way you don't have huge piles of clothes laying in your kitchen, hallway, bedroom, or where ever the closet is located.

When you notice your laundry detergents and supplies getting low, pick some up when you're at the store, so when you run out, you won't have to make a special trip to the store.

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Larger Spaces

If you have a larger laundry room that may also act as a storage area, you are a little more open to different options. Shelves or cupboards are always helpful to store detergent and like items. Another nice item to have is a laundry sorter. These can be purchased at most home stores, but you can also just use 3-4 laundry tubs, baskets or cans. This way, you can presort your laundry before hand - which makes doing the laundry a little faster.

If your laundry room also serves as a storage area or miscellaneous room, peg boards are nice to hang items on. You can hang tools, water bottles, extension cords using different size and different shape hooks. To maximize your space, put the peg board behind the washer and dryer if possible. Paint it white or any color you want so it's not the plain brown.

If you have a lot of wall space, consider shelves or cupboards there as well. You can use movable shelves or hang them from the wall.

If you can, paint the laundry room a 'bright' color like white, soft yellow, etc.. It will give it a warmer feeling then cement walls or wood paneling.

If you have floor space, a drying rack is nice to have for sweaters and delicate items.

You can make a drying area, using a wooden rod or bath/shower rod. Do this so you can hang clothes right out of the washer or dryer. If there are certain clothes you don't dry, like T-shirts or dress shirts, put them in the dryer for about 2 minutes then take them out and hang them. Doing this will eliminate some of the wrinkles caused by the rinse cycle. As it hangs, damp, most of the other wrinkles will come out as well.

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