By Brian Baker
Laundry rooms often also function as makeshift mud rooms, especially if it’s a pass-through into the house from the garage. Check out these simple tips to clean, organize, and enhance this multi-purpose space.
Pressing matters
Save time and frustration by organizing your ironing duties. When space is limited, let a door do the heavy lifting. An over-the-door ironing board unfolds to a generous, waist-level work surface and folds flat to store behind the door. Over-the-door or wall-mounted holders and caddies store both irons and full-sized boards. Jazz up this mundane chore and choose a new board cover in an array of festive colors and patterns. If ironing isn’t your thing, try a hand-held steamer as an alternative and convenient way to battle wrinkles quickly.
Clothes encounters
Hang your freshly pressed items on a garment rack on wheels or a wall-mountable hanger holder, or install a permanent, adjustable-length garment bar or closet rod with fixed-end flanges that screw into wall studs.
All are great for hanging out warm clothes straight from the dryer or even partially dried clothing.
Loads of organization
Make the most of a small laundry room or pass-through with a versatile shelf for storing detergent and accessories. Be sure to grab coordinating brackets and supports and install them into wall studs to accommodate heavy bottles. Shelves come in standard lengths and are available in a natural wood finish or painted.
If you need a more substantial laundry storage solution, grab some extra tools for an easy DIY. Install a couple of shaker-style, ready-to-assemble wall kitchen cabinets with shelving to keep products behind soft-closed doors.
A three-tier wheeled storage cart is a mobile and cost-effective option to keep bottles organized and off the floor.
Keep dirt out, bring tidiness in
Stackable, open cubes are a great way to store items vertically. Choose wire or mesh pull-out bins or baskets to corral gloves, hats, and scarves. If space allows, add a small seat or bench for shoe removal. Add a mat designated for dropping off wet shoes and boots, and choose one with built-in scrubbers for muddy days. Install a simple wall-mounted four-hook rail to keep everyone’s outerwear organized and easy to grab.
Brian Baker is the president of Builders Lumber & Hardware in Shelbyville, a Do it Best member. Do it Best is a Fort Wayne-based home improvement cooperative supporting thousands of hardware stores, home centers, and lumberyards throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest.com for thousands of the best home improvement products.
(This article is for informational purposes only. Indiana Connection and Do it Best assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, or for injuries, property damage, or the outcome of any project.)
