Having an organized laundry area can make doing laundry feel less like a chore. Cluttered laundry spaces often lead to wasted time searching for detergents, constantly shifting baskets around, and no place to fold or hang clothes. Implementing some simple laundry closet organization ideas can help you keep your laundry clutter under control.

Purge Unneeded Supplies

Going through your laundry supplies and getting rid of extras is a great first step. Take out everything from shelves and baskets and sort through it all. Toss out old stained sponges, rags, empty detergent jugs, broken laundry baskets, and any other unneeded items taking up space. Also consider if you have too many extras of certain products. Having multiple big bulky detergent jugs or a dozen dryer sheets open at once leads to clutter. Try keeping just 1-2 of each product open at a time and store the rest out of the way.

Use Clear Storage Bins

Invest in some clear plastic bins to corral like items together and still see what’s inside at a glance. Label them for different categories – delicates, darks, whites, towels, sheets. Stack the bins together or line them up neatly on shelves. Seeing exactly what’s inside makes grabbing what you need quick and prevents overflowing baskets of mystery clean laundry. For small items like socks, use inexpensive clear drawer organizers to neatly store pairs together where they are easy to find.

Install Shelving

Leverage all available vertical space by installing shelving above appliances, and consider adding a shelving rack for hanging laundry supplies on the wall. This gets items up and out of the way. Prioritize the most-used laundry products on middle shelves for convenient access. Use top shelves for overstock and seasonal items used less often. A mounted wall rack with hooks is ideal for brooms, dustpans, irons and other laundry room tools.

Add Hanging Space

Incorporate places to hang cleaned and pressed shirts, blouses and delicate fabrics so they stay smoothed out and don’t get wrinkled sitting in a pile. Mount a retractable ceiling drying rack or wall-mounted rod to hang items right after ironing. Consider adding closet rods or an armoire closet for laundry room storage to neatly hang cleaned clothes until putting them away.

Designate Folding Space

Having a designated spot to fold clothes helps keep piles from taking over available surfaces. Install a counter style fold-down table or place a small table and chair set in the laundry area. Always return folded piles to closets and drawers right away to avoid clutter accumulating on folding space. For super small laundry closets, a wall mounted fold out table can provide folding space when needed but tuck out of the way when not in use.

Use Baskets/Bins by Machine

Rather than dumping clean clothes directly into one basket, place 2-3 sorted baskets or bins right by the washer and dryer. As you transfer clothes from the washer, toss like items together – lights in one, darks in another. Transfer from dryer to the sorting baskets as well. Then carry individual bins to your folding area to fold and put away one category at a time. This streamlines the task and prevents mixing everything up.

Add Drawers/Cabinets

Installing some closed storage along with open shelving gives you space to tuck away unsorted laundry and clutter. Place laundry baskets and bins inside cabinets to conveniently corral dirty clothes as needed without cluttering up the room. Use drawers to neatly organize and conceal laundry accessories and products. Label drawers so all household members know where to find, and return, items.

Incorporate Hampers/Sorting Station

Sorting laundry right at the source helps prevent piles of unsorted clothes. Set up different hampers or bins in any area where dirty clothes get removed like bedrooms and bathrooms. Consider getting a sorting hamper station with 2, 3, or 4 bins all neatly in one organizer. Encourage family members to sort and carry just their bin to the laundry area. This ends dumping piles on the laundry room floor to sort through later.

Add Ironing Space

Make ironing easier by setting up a dedicated ironing station in the laundry area. Have a heat-safe ironing board and iron set up and ready to go rather than dragging them out of a closet each time. Make sure there is a nearby electrical outlet. Place a small table or cart next to the ironing board for neatly stacking pressed items until you hang or fold them. Keep your ironing supplies organized together in one caddy or bin.

Use Tension Rods

Tension rods that require no hardware offer quick DIY storage options between studs or over doors. Use them to hang drying racks, create extra vertical shelving, or hang storage baskets. Position rods at varying heights to add layers of storage. Rods placed high hold rarely accessed items while lower rods hold everyday laundry supplies. Purchase adjustable length rods. For weight they can securely hold up to 50 pounds when extended.

Add a Folding Table

Don’t let laundry pile up unfolded. Having a dedicated folding space eliminates this issue. Install a wall mounted, drop-down table or place a compact table that tucks away easily when not in use. Include a chair or stool if space allows. Always make a point to do one load of laundry start to finish – washing, drying, folding and putting away in one session. Avoid letting clean clothes sit for long before folding to prevent excessive wrinkling.

Use Over-Door Storage

Most laundry room doors become wasted space prime for storage opportunities. Choose over-door hanging racks or slatted shelves to neatly store laundry and cleaning tools. Arrange bottles upright and label the shelves. Use the over-door space to store laundry soaps, supplies or baskets holding dirty/clean clothes. Just be sure not to overload weight onto hollow core interior doors. Exterior laundry room doors can hold more weight.

Add a Sink

Having a sink right in the laundry room provides major convenience for pre-treating stains, handwashing delicates, rinsing lint trap, and keeping the overall space clean & tidy. Look for laundry sinks with built-in cabinets for storage and fold-down counters for an instant work surface when needed. If plumbing installation isn’t possible, keep a wheeled utility cart with a dish tub handy for laundry room sink tasks.

Include a Stepladder

High shelves and stacking machines are a reality in most laundry rooms. Make accessing up high storage easier and safer by keeping a small step stool or ladder handy rather than stretching and reaching. Choose one with a handle that easily slides in and out of position. Have family members use it to access high shelving without relying on appliance tops as makeshift steps.

Keeping laundry rooms well-organized is an ongoing effort as clothes and supplies ebb and flow. But implementing some of these clutter-busting laundry closet storage and organization ideas can bring much-needed order to the space. What are some of your favorite tips and solutions for taming laundry room clutter?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often should I purge unneeded supplies in my laundry closet?

A: It’s a good idea to do a full purge of laundry closet supplies at least twice a year – spring and fall work well. This allows you to clear out anything expired or off season.

Q: What are some good labels to use when organizing laundry closet bins?

A: Some helpful bin labels for laundry room organization include: Darks, Lights, Delicates, Towels, Sheets, Winter Items, Laundry Supplies, Cleaning Supplies, Ironing Supplies etc. Use clear bins and neat labels for easy identification.

Q: Where can I find affordable clear plastic bins for laundry room storage?

A: Dollar stores, big box stores like Target and Walmart, hardware stores like Home Depot, and container stores like The Container Store all carry durable but budget-friendly clear plastic storage bins in various sizes. Shop sales and stock up.

Q: What are some space-saving options for including hampers in a small laundry closet?

A: For small laundry rooms, consider slim rolling hampers that tuck against the wall or corner hampers that make use of wasted space. Also look for hampers that hang over doors to save floor space.

Q: What are good laundry sorting station options for families?

A: Sorting station options ideal for families include a 3-4 bin hamper tower with removable mesh bags, a sorting wall unit with multiple sorted bins, and rolling carts with 2-3 large removable laundry bags.

Q: Are there ironing boards that mount inside cabinet doors to save space?

A: Yes, some ironing boards are designed to mount over cabinet doors or inside cabinet door panels. This allows them to be concealed out of sight when not in use.

Q: What is the best way to store laundry detergent pods or packs?

A: Use clear canisters or jars so pod packs are visible. Label the containers by type – whites, colors, darks. Keep one of each on the shelf and store extras up high.

Q: How much weight can over-the-door storage typically handle in a laundry room?

A: The weight limit is often around 10-15 pounds for over-the-door storage. Heavier items like large detergent tubs are best kept on solid shelves. Use over-door areas just for lightweight supplies, small baskets etc.

Q: What is the ideal height to install shelves above laundry appliances?

A: As a general rule, install shelving about 12-15 inches above washers and dryers. This leaves enough clearance space when opening lids and doors. Just be sure not to exceed the manufacturer’s recommended clearance.

Conclusion

Staying on top of laundry can be a challenge, especially with limited closet space. But implementing organizational systems like clear bins, hanging racks, shelves and quality storage products can help conquer clutter. Maintaining tidiness and having a place for everything makes tackling loads of laundry feel like a breeze. Use these 16 laundry closet organization ideas as motivation to get your space under control. With a little effort, you can keep clutter at bay and enjoy the convenience of a streamlined laundry area. What tips do you find most useful for maintaining an organized laundry closet?