First there are the baskets of dirty clothes that magically appear, waiting for the laundry fairy to take care of them. Then someone tosses a dirty dishrag, used towels and smelly gym clothes onto the pile. The kids return from playing in the snow and throw their wet gear onto the pile. And off go the boots, adding to the mess that’s spreading faster than the flu. If you’re looking for the detergent, an empty basket or even the dryer, forget it.  

When chaos happens in your laundry room, you need a plan. Or a housekeeper. For now, let’s focus on the plan: 

Maximize Efficiency

• Set up a central command for dirty laundry: a three-bin sorter for lights, darks, delicates. No more piles and abandoned baskets.
• Keep laundry supplies in reach and stored safely by installing a shelf or putting up a cabinet.
• Organize laundry supplies by grouping in baskets, bins, boxes or plastic containers.
• Create a space for clothing and shoe maintenance and repair items such as a sewing kit, static guard, lint roller and shoe polish.
• If you have front loading appliances, situate a counter over the top of the machines for a nice, long folding station. Resist the urge to leave your folded clothes there for the rest of the week.

Maximize Space

• No place to dry clothes that can’t go in the dryer? Install a few retractable clothes lines and make use of the vertical space in your laundry room.
• Foldable drying racks are also a good choice, because they store easily.
• Choose a wall-mounted ironing board that stays tucked away when not in use.

Maximize Cool Factor

• Brighten up your laundry room with a fresh coat of paint.
• Purchase appliance decals to give your washer and dryer a facelift.
• Use decorative baskets with fun patterned liners for storage.
• Have fun labeling your containers –use chalkboard paint or decorative labels on containers.

Having an organized and cheery space will help make laundry less of a chore. Now, about that housekeeper…