Guest Blogger: 7 Tips to Organize your Laundry Room for Better Efficiency

 

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Guest Blogger: 7 Tips to Organize your Laundry Room for Better Efficiency

Posted: 08 Dec 2011 02:38 AM PST

Guest Blogger #288, Entry #821, December 8, 2011

Organizing your laundry room can result in saving time and money. A cluttered area can lead to ruined clothing by spilled detergent, or objects you forgot were lying around.
Ruining your clothes wastes your hard earned money, because if you don’t have to replace it, you have nothing to show for the money spent. Don’t risk it, when organizing is so simple to do.
I’m going to show you some quick and easy steps to help you with saving both time and money.

7 tips to help organize your laundry room

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1. Efficient Washer and Dryers

One way to save money, is to have an efficient washer and dryer. If your machines are working overtime, then it’s wasting time, and money. Having to wash garments over again, or another cycle in the dryer, is costing you both.
I noticed that my wash wasn’t coming out as clean as it should have been. So, I set out to look for a washer and dryer that will do the job right the first time, as well as cut down on the water used when doing it.
There are several to choose from, such as LG washers and dryers that are energy efficient, and do a great job with cleaning properly. Just make sure you use the appropriate detergent for these machines.

2. Sorting System

Throwing clothes into a big pile, just means you have to take the time to sort them at some point. I know that I have put off doing laundry at times when I see it all lumped together.
By getting two or three sorting bins or baskets, it will all be sorted for you, as long as the family knows where to put the whites, lights and colors. If you don’t have room for this in the laundry room, consider having them in your bedroom closet, or the bathroom.
Instruct your family to bring it to the laundry area when the bins are full. If they know how to start the wash, start it and let someone know when it will be done. This will save time in having to do both the washer and dryer at the same time. Just don’t let clothes sit in the washer longer than a day, to avoid odors from developing.

Have an area for sorting, folding, and hanging

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3. Baskets for Clean Clothes

If you have the room, have a basket for each family member near the dryer or folding area. Each basket can have the name of a family member on it. When their clothes are clean, dried, and folded, place it in these baskets.
Everyone can pick up their laundry to bring it to their room. When emptied, they can return the basket to the laundry area.
Of course, this takes discipline. If you have a difficult time getting everyone to pick up, or return the basket, it will only lead to frustration and more work for you.

4. A Place to Hang Out

Having a place to hang clothes as they come out of the dryer will speed up any necessary ironing time. Clothes can also dry in the hanging position, eliminating the need for the dryer to run full cycle, saving money. This is especially good for button shirts and jackets.
A rolling garment cart can work for this, and you can move it out of the way when you are not using it. Another option, and the one I use, is a retractable clothes line. You simply pull it out when you need it, and it retracts back into a small button on the wall when you don’t.

5. Store Supplies on Shelf

With a shelf or cabinet installed within easy reach to store laundry supplies, you will save time having to get them from another area, such as the garage or pantry.
This can also help you save money, because you will be able to see what you are running low on with a quick glance. If you know in advance what you need, you can watch for good coupons and sales.
Here are some of the products you can store within an easy reach:
·         Laundry detergent
·         Dryer sheets
·         Spray starch
·         Lint brush
This system will also lead to fewer spills and ruined clothing by keeping it off the top of your machines.

Optimize your laundry room for efficiency

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6. Ironing Tools

Keep your ironing board handy by hanging it on the wall, along with your iron. You can even install a drop down ironing board, which allows for quick and easy use.
Of course, if you have invested in some of the steam sets, such as a nice Electrolux washer and dryer, you might have just eliminated the step of ironing all together.

Keep the Area Clean

If you keep the area clean, your clothes should stay clean when you take them out. I have removed clean clothes from the dryer before, and have them slip out of my arms unto the floor, which I hadn’t cleaned yet.
Wasting my time like that taught me a lesson to keep the area clean, and wipe up spills right away.
Doing laundry takes time and money, regardless of the various measures you take. However, if taking these simple steps above saves you any money or time, then it’s worth it. Time is valuable, and the few extra minutes you save could be spent on quality time with the kids.
Melissa Cameron is a freelance writer, living in Texas with her husband and 2 young children. She loves to write on topics that will help consumers save money and try innovative ideas. In fact, her husband has called her a walking infomercial. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family. Also, Twitter is a recent discovery of hers.
For more laundry room ideas on Stagetecture, click here.