17 Laundry Room Organizing Tips to Simplify Wash Day

Get Smart With Your Laundry Basket

Having an extra laundry basket on hand may make doing laundry a bit more efficient, according to Jean Prominski, certified professional organizer, member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals, and owner of Seattle Sparkle. "I am a huge proponent of putting dirty laundry in a 'dirty laundry hamper' and clean laundry in a 'clean laundry hamper,'" she says, explaining that having two or more separate hampers can help you easily identify which clothes are clean and which are dirty, "because when people get busy, it can be easy to forget. It also keeps the clean clothes from getting dirty if they get put back in the dirty hamper."

Not knowing which clothes are clean, rewashing clean clothes because you accidentally mixed them up with dirty ones, and being unable to fit all of your wash into your laundry basket can all hamper your laundry process (pun intended).

Throw Your Laundry Cap Into the Wash

If you’re using liquid laundry soap, you’re likely already aware of how messy your spout-style detergents can get, which is why Prominski suggests tossing your laundry cap in with your clothes. "Another pro tip is to throw the whole cup in with a load of laundry so you don’t have to deal with a sticky, soapy cup," she says. "The cup can go through the load of laundry and come out clean!" This also cuts back on your laundry detergent costs since you don’t end up wasting any when it drips from the spout while it’s stored. 

Use Intention When Laying Out Your Space

Putting your washer next to a sink is an efficient way to scrub any items that need a little extra love without dripping all over the room, says Amanda Wiss, founder of NYC-based home organizing company Urban Clarity. Not only does it create less mess on your laundry room floor, but it also makes it easier for you to give those stained items a little extra TLC.

Create Your Own Storage Solutions

We all know that clear and easy-to-see shelves are great for those gorgeously decanted pods and powders, but sometimes you’ll need alternatives, which is where Prominski says something like collapsible bins comes in. "They are modular, so you can stack multiples together, and the doors on them make them really easy to use," she says.

Sam Lund of Simply Sam agrees, saying you should only keep products you are using on the shelves, and use bins for your backstock. "Even my clients who love couponing end up losing money when they keep it all in one spot," she says. "Makes things less overwhelming and ensures that you use what you spent your money on."

Break Some Rules and Don't Sort Your Laundry

Prominski says another way to streamline your wash day process is to avoid being “too fussy” about your laundry. "People can get really hung up on having to do their laundry perfectly (separating lights from darks, drying for a short amount of time and then hanging, intricate folding techniques, etc.)," she says. "Just as long as you don’t have delicate fabrics, wool, clothes that need to be dry cleaned, or clothes where the dye hasn’t set yet (like brand new clothing), or fabric that needs to be washed alone because it pills or leaves a lot of lint behind, you don’t have to sort it."

She knows this can sound "horrifying" to some, but she maintains that clean laundry is way better than a large pile of dirty clothes sitting on your laundry room floor waiting for you to have some time to sort them.

Create a Space for the Not-So-Dirty Stuff

If you’re someone who likes to get several wears out of your clothing before you wash it, Prominski says you’ll need to create a space where that stuff can live so it doesn’t get mixed up with the wash pile. "If you find that you’re mixing together your re-wear clothes with dirty clothes, and they’re all landing on the floor, make a very specific place to store your re-wear clothes," she says, adding that however you create this storage system, you’ll want to ensure you’re not letting it get too full. "Make sure the basket/chair gets cleared out/cleared off at least once a week," she says. "Wash them and put them back into your clean rotation."

Make a Washing Schedule

If you want peak efficiency in your laundry room, you’ll need to ensure you’re using your machine on a regular basis, which involves creating some structure around the use of your washer and dryer. "This will help everyone cycle the laundry all week, so it doesn’t all have to get done on the weekends," Prominski says. 

"Depending on how many people live in your home and how many loads of laundry need to get done each week, it may make sense to give each person their own day that they can do their laundry," she says. You can communicate this by hanging a schedule in the laundry room itself with a calendar or whiteboard, so there’s never any question about when you should be doing the laundry.  

Take Everything Out

Take everything out of the space, including linens, baskets, and detergent—before putting what you need back in. "This helps you to evaluate where you have duplicates, how you can combine like items or can help with the decision to toss any items that you no longer use and instead replenish with your favorite supplies," says Scott O'Hara, VP of operations for ShelfGenie, a Neighborly company.

Install Floating Shelves

To maximize your storage opportunities, consider installing floating shelves along the walls. "These shelves are a convenient way to keep supplies like detergents away from children, but still at your eye level for easy use," says O'Hara. "You can then add detergents and fabric softeners to clear glass jars or vases so they are easy to see and easily accessible."

Add Matching Baskets

Keep laundry organized by keeping a series of matching bins for whites, lights, and darks in your laundry room. "House smaller items in baskets to keep everything neat," O'Hara says. "Try using square or rectangle bins that take up less space and baskets with liners can help protect clothes from getting snags."

Hang a Dowel Rod for Drying

From sweaters to athletic wear, you likely pull a few things out of the washer that need to hang dry. Creating a space for this in your laundry room is easy. "Mounting a hanging rod or rack to the wall is an easy and convenient solution to drying these items," says O'Hara.

Get Some Help With Folding

Folding clothes can take longer than actually washing them sometimes, which is why Prominski suggests getting some tools to make this whole process easier on both you and your clothing. "A foldable garment rack makes hanging up and putting away clothes more manageable, especially for people who dread putting their clothes away," she says. "They can relax and watch TV while hanging up their clothes and then easily transfer them to the bedroom once they are all put on hangers." Just make sure the rack makes it back to your laundry room when you’re done so you can easily find it again for your next wash day.

Use Labels

Ensure everything gets taken and put back in its correct spot by adding labels to baskets and shelves. "Labels are a fantastic way to help keep your space organized and help remind others in your home about where things belong," says O'Hara.

Use a Rolling Cart

Depending on the layout of your laundry room, Prominski says a utility cart may be exactly what you need to easily store your supplies and move them for easy access (and cleaning). These types of carts come in a variety of sizes, so you should be able to find the perfect one that can be pulled out while you’re doing your wash and then easily tucked back away when you’re all done. 

Hang Your Ironing Board Vertically

Ironing boards can take up a lot of space, but they're a laundry room necessity for many. "Depending on the size of one's laundry room, there are a few simple storage solutions for the ironing board," says Malaika Lubega, professional organizer and interior decorator of Huza Home Harmony. "If you are low on space, consider simply using a hook that's strong enough to hang your ironing board on the wall or even the back of the door."

Add a Bin for Lint

If lint constantly builds up in your laundry room, install a quick solution. "In my laundry room, I use a lint bin attached to my dryer to contain the lint until I am ready to discard it," says Lubega. "This option helps keep the laundry room organized and clean."

Create a Dry Cleaning System

A pair of canvas bags—one for laundry, the other for dry cleaning—eliminates sorting later and makes for easy transport. Clear luggage tags on each indicate the appropriate cleaning method. You can also insert your contact information to streamline drop-offs at the cleaner.