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Small Laundry Room – Big Organization

By Blog, Home Organizing, Simple Living No Comments

Organizing a small laundry room can seem like a pretty big, intimidating task. But with the right strategies and organizing tools in your belt, you can easily transform it into an efficient, functional space!

 

Being realistic, organizing a small space takes a lot of thought. There are many aspects to consider when setting up any type of organizing system in a small area.

 

There’s the challenge of physically fitting all your items, plus making sure they’re all actually accessible, and on top of that, it’s got to look nice too! With a bit of forethought, organizing a small laundry room can be a lot of fun and very rewarding when you put in the right organizing systems.

 

Let’s get right into these valuable tips and tricks for decluttering, utilizing vertical space, and creating a well-organized laundry room.

 

And who knows? You might find yourself enjoying your next laundry day! 😉

 

 

Organizing A Small Laundry Room

 

Step 1: Clear the Clutter

The first step in organizing any area is to declutter the space. Remove anything that you don’t need to store here, including; mismatched socks, ragged towels, miscellaneous items that have accumulated over time, and anything else that doesn’t belong in the laundry room.

 

You’ll want to make sure that you actually get rid of these things. Meaning donating, recycling, or throwing out what you no longer want. It’s important to completely remove these things because if you don’t, there’s a good chance they’ll migrate right back to where you removed them from. By creating a clean slate, you’ll have a better sense of the available space and can start organizing effectively.

 

The next thing you’ll need to do is assess your vertical space. For this, I’m going to let you in on how I have maximized literally every square inch of my own small laundry room!

 

Step 2: Embrace Vertical Space

One of the most effective ways to maximize a small laundry room is by utilizing vertical space. I’m a big fan of storage units with adjustable shelving. I can change them as things change over time, and it allows me to use all this vertical space in the closet that might otherwise be wasted.

 

 

When you’re buying products for your laundry room, make sure you purchase items that will realistically fit. For example, we have a vacuum in here. One thing I had to consider when vacuum shopping was that there’s no outlet available in the area, so I can’t pick one that requires a wall plug-in. Plus it has to be a certain size for the designated space. So when I’m looking at buying new things, I ask myself, “Is that going to fit in my space?”

 

If your washer and dryer are side by side, you could also install a shelf above them to take advantage of otherwise unused space. This shelf can hold laundry essentials or even decorative items to add a touch of style to the room.

 

I like to keep some useful tools for the second level of my home in my small laundry room as well, so I don’t have to make as many trips around the house! In this small tool drawer, I store; batteries, picture-hanging hooks, light bulbs, felt pads for furniture legs, a hammer, a small level, a screwdriver, a flashlight, extension cords, a measuring tape, scissors, a pen, and an exacto knife. Our larger tools are stored in the garage, but these are things that I wanted to have easy access to.

 

In another section are my extra supplies and bulk items. Things like toilet paper, soap, bulk cleaning products, vacuum parts, garbage bags, plastic zip bags (for travel), extra laundry detergent, extra dryer sheets, clothing hangers, and a small sewing kit.

 

 

Step 3: Choose Fitting Products

When purchasing storage containers and products for your small laundry room, always, always, ALWAYS keep the available space in mind! Measure the dimensions of your closet, shelves, and drawers BEFORE you shop for anything to ensure that everything you buy will actually fit into the space. Clear containers work best in these spaces so you can easily identify the contents. And don’t forget to label them for quick access!

 

 

Step 4: Placement of Items

Consider the placement of items to enhance convenience and ease of flow in your small laundry room. Position your laundry detergent at a comfortable height. Make sure you won’t have to move anything out of the way to reach it, and that it’s secure enough that it won’t tip or drip. Use a protective liner underneath to prevent any accidental drips from staining your shelving.

 

Having a small folding step on hand makes a world of a difference, too! Even if you’re on the taller side, there are usually a couple of cabinets or shelves that are hard to open from tippy toes. And when we can’t reach the top shelf, things are simply not going to get put away. The brand I prefer for these is Kickerland, and their step stools come in white, black, or grey. These are very sturdy and very slim to store!

 

Step 5: Establish a Laundry Routine

Creating an efficient laundry routine can help keep your small laundry room organized and prevent clutter from building up. Set aside specific days for laundry and do your best to stick to that schedule. Set a goal to stay consistent for a month. Then two months. Then six months! Once you’ve developed a consistent habit of doing laundry, an organized small laundry room will soon come as a side effect.

 

You really can avoid overwhelming piles and maintain a tidier space by doing laundry more regularly!

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In Conclusion…

By implementing these simple strategies in your small laundry room, you’ll be amazed at how much much bigger it will feel! A well-organized space not only makes your laundry routine more efficient but also enhances the overall functionality and aesthetics of the room.

 

When you can easily access, see, and reach everything you need, life gets a whole lot easier. Since laundry is going to be a part of our weekly schedule for the rest of our lives, this space should be one of the most efficient, am I right?! You got this!

 

Enjoy your clutter-free, maximized laundry area!

 

 

 

 

 

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Organizing Products I Don’t Buy

By Blog, Home Office Organization, Simple Living No Comments

It’s not always easy to learn how to pick functional products that last!

 

In the quest for a well-organized living space, we’ll often invest in and try out many different organizing products to keep things tidy. However, not all products are made with the same level of functionality. Some may even end up causing more harm than good!

 

As a Professional Organizer with over 20 years of experience, I have seen my fair share of products that don’t function well and can’t stand the test of time. A lot of the time clients will see a pretty bin or a uniquely-shaped turntable and just based on the look of it, they’ll buy it. Only to get home and realize it doesn’t fit in the desired space, may scratch the finishings, or not even work as intended!

 

Below, I’ll share some of the most commonly bought organization products I see and explain why I avoid them.

 

We’ll also go over some alternative options that are both highly functional and have a nice appearance, so you can get organized without wasting your time and money!

 

 

Organizing Products I Don’t Buy

Over-the-Door Blowdryer Organizer

 

These organizers may look and sound convenient at first. But in reality, they can cause damage to both the door and the items they hold. If the top piece is too thick the door will also not close.

 

Hot tools tend to slide around and poke through any gaps, too. And let’s be real – blow dryers, brushes, and curling irons often don’t get neatly wrapped up and put away after each use, a lot of people prefer to quickly put them away and adjust later, if desired.

 

Functional Alternative: For these reasons, I recommend just storing them in a larger space. Use a large container, bin, or basket that can be neatly tucked away in your cabinet. Or simply store them in a drawer if you have the space. There are many ways to keep these items organized without damaging your door or frame!

 

Acrylic Makeup Organizer with Small Sections

 

While these organizers look great initially, they are easy to scratch and not easy to clean. This leads them to get very grimy with makeup and dusty over time. To clean the acrylic, you will need a special acrylic cleaner or soap and water, but the latter runs the risk of it drying with streaks.

 

Functional Alternative: To avoid wasting money on replacements, opt for drawer organizers with fewer and larger sections made from materials that are easier to clean. Even better, look for models with the flexibility to move the dividers around yourself.

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Drawer Dividers for Clothes

 

Drawer dividers with fixed, unadjustable sections are just not functional and can cause daily friction in the long term. They won’t accommodate changing storage needs or different sizes of item groupings inside the drawer.

 

Functional Alternative: Use expanding drawer dividers instead. These will fit in most drawers around your home and can be moved around really easily. Or if you prefer a more contained look, try organizers that offer adjustable sections. The goal here is to ensure your clothes stay both organized and easily accessible.

 

Stacking T-Shirt Organizer

 

Stacking shirt organizers may look easy and appealing, but they are often just the opposite. They will slide all over the place and require a lot of effort to fold and fit back inside the organizer. This makes it challenging to keep the shirts inside neatly.

 

Functional Alternative: Instead, consider folding and stacking your t-shirts vertically on a shelf. If you want to keep them in containers, file fold them in a drawer or large bins inside a drawer or on a shelf. Another great idea to keep them from falling over if you’ve got a large collection is to use sweater dividers. This method allows for clear visibility of your collection and makes it more approachable to put away freshly done laundry. For kids’ t-shirts, I recommend file folding them in a drawer or large container. This is easier for them to see what they have and put them back on their own, even if not perfectly folded. 

 

T-Shirt Folder

 

If you really want to have every shirt perfectly folded and have the time to do this, then by all means, go for it! But let me tell you about most households that I’ve organized over the past two decades… Laundry is often piled up to be done and more is waiting to get folded and put away. Good intentions just don’t cut it in reality! I’m all about simplifying life, making things functional, and having a “good enough” attitude vs. trying to attain a perfect standard.

 

Functional Alternative: If you really want to use a folding device, get a larger one with more flaps for folding. This way you can use it for all clothing items and not just tops. It could also be a fun way to get the kids to help out with laundry! Test it and let me know 6 months later how it’s going 😉

 

Office Drawer Organizer

 

White or light-colored drawer organizers may look sleek, but they tend to get dirty quickly and are challenging to clean. Additionally, organizers with large and non-customizable sections may not suit your specific storage needs. To make a functional purchase, declutter the drawer first, plan where items will go, take measurements, and then invest in drawer organizers of various sizes that can fit well together.

 

I’m all for drawer organizers, but they need to be highly functional and easy to clean! White or light-colored drawer organizers may look sleek, but they tend to get marked up quickly. The sections in a lot of these organizers are often too large to sort items into groups and are not customizable.

 

Functional Alternative: Before you go shopping, save yourself the hassle of returns by decluttering the drawer first. Then lay out where you want the remaining items to go, measure the drawer, and take a photo. Once you’ve done that, you can go shopping! Look for drawer organizers of different sizes so you can make a square or rectangle with them in the drawer. They won’t slide around when they fit comfortably in a grid. Choose organizers with small sections.

 

 

 

Investing in functional organizing products can be a game-changer in maintaining an organized home or office!

 

However, it’s crucial to avoid products that don’t function well or stand up to the test of time. By steering clear of products that won’t perfectly serve their desired purpose, you can save both time and money.

 

Consider swapping for these functional alternatives and you’ll achieve a clutter-free, beautiful, and calm environment. Enhance your overall organization and productivity today. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

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5 Decluttering Projects to Tidy Your Spaces

By Blog, Home Organizing, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

Quick decluttering projects are perfect solutions to create a fresh, organized vibe in your living and entertainment spaces for the summer!

 

In preparation for the busy season, start taking advantage of the longer daylight hours now. Tackle those forgotten-about corners to create some space for sunlight in your home today!

 

The good news is, you don’t need to set aside an entire weekend or trade hours of family fun for a more organized home. Today we’re giving you 5 simple 30-minute organizing projects that will transform key areas of your living space and teach you how to declutter your home.

 

Let’s get to it so you can enjoy your newfound sense of calm today!

 

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Decluttering Projects to Tidy Your Spaces

1 – Tidy the Desk Space

Your desk is the hub of productivity, a very important space! But it can also quickly accumulate a chaos of papers, office supplies, sticky notes, cluttered decor, and other miscellaneous items. Here’s how to declutter your home quickly in this area: spend just 30 minutes decluttering those unnecessary things and rearranging the surface of your desk. It’s that easy!

Work to create a space that offers you focus and creativity. Clearing your physical space helps in clearing your mental space, so try to store away as much as you can in drawers, cabinets, binders, and file folders. Be ruthless when decluttering papersdigitize what you can, file away what you need, and recycle what you don’t. You’ll be amazed at how much more efficient and inspired you feel once everything has a designated place!

2 – Clear the Kitchen Counters

Kitchen counters tend to attract clutter like magnets. They often become the dumping ground for keys, sunglasses, junk mail, dusty appliances, to-do lists, kids’ toys, and other odds and ends. Spend half an hour today to declutter everything on your kitchen counters. Reevaluate the items you regularly keep on your counters too. Ask yourself questions like, when was the last time I used this French coffee press? Do I use my bulky KitchenAid mixer often enough to permanently store it on the counter? Reclaim your meal-prepping space to one of beauty and order.

If you find yourself regularly dropping mail on one end of the counter, put a small basket there instead. Now that you know how to declutter your home, you’ll have a space to catch those odds and ends so they don’t take over your entire counter!

3 – Calm the Bedside Table Nightstand

Your bedside table should be a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation, not a cluttered mess. If you don’t already have one, think about a bedtime routine you’d like to implement. What does it involve? Maybe you like to use a lavender spray on your pillow, journal or read a book, listen to relaxing music, and sleep with an eye mask, for example. Now that we know the contents you’ll be keeping close by, we can begin to organize the bedside table. Take just 30 minutes to declutter anything you don’t need, then organize what you do.

In our example that may look like a bottle of lavender spray, a pen and journal, reading glasses, your current reading material, earbuds, and a sleeping mask. Spend some time thinking about the necessities you want to have now so you can unwind before sleep and wake up to a calm and clutter-free morning, every day!

4 – Pare Down in the Linen Closet

Combat the embarrassment of not being able to find a matching sheet set for your guests (or even for your own bed)! Today, dedicate 30 minutes to decluttering and organizing your linen closet. Chuck out any linens with stains, rips, or worn-out spots. If you have pieces that don’t match, donate them. Ensure that everything you choose to keep is neatly folded and easy to access.

Once you’re comfortable with how to declutter your home here, an extra level of organization here could be sorting the linens one step further. This can be done by size (King, Queen, Double, Twin, etc.) and type (sheet sets with pillowcases, duvet covers, bath towels, etc.). Then label the shelves according to which bedroom they belong in or by bed size. Resetting your home every week when laundry is done will soon be a breeze!

5 – Lighten the Freezer Load

How many hot summer afternoons have you gone to defrost something for dinner, only to discover the items left in your freezer are unidentifiable? Save yourself last-minute grocery store trips and wasted money by decluttering your freezer in advance!

Invest just half an hour in organizing your freezer space(s) today. Sort through everything, discarding expired foods and setting aside or tossing unidentifiable ones. Then think about how a retrieval system might look for you. Make sure that it would allow you to easily locate and pull out your frozen items. Use bins to contain items and label them in categories like fruits, vegetables, chicken, beef, seafood, bread, and frozen treats.

Goodbye scrambled dinner plans, hello meal prep haven!

By learning how to declutter your home with these 5 quick decluttering projects, you can make significant changes to the way your home functions for you! Even decluttering just 3 of these spaces will lead you to a more harmonious living space.

 

Just in time for summer!

 

Grab your timer, put on some motivating tunes, and get started on bringing order and tranquility back into your home. One 30-minute project at a time!

 

Which space will you tackle first? Comment below!

 

 

 

 

 

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