UHeart Organizing: Coming Clean in the Laundry Room

When I dreamed up the What Would Jen Do series, I knew there would be a few spaces and ideas explored in which we may not ever know the final outcome.  The idea is to share a problematic space, and then problem solve the solution in hopes that others in similar situations could find a tip or two (or five) useful as well.

Well, when I went to visit my dear friend Cassie a few months back, I picked her brain for fashion tips and she picked mine for organizational ideas.  Isn't that the best part of having friends with a variety of amazing skills and passions?  Not that Cassie really needed much advice in the organizing department either, but I was overly happy and excited to talk through her ideas and to come up with a few plans for higher traffic areas in her happy home.  One space we chatted about was her laundry room, and I shared many of those details and ideas here.

Well, I have some great news for you guys!  Cassie is here to share a laundry room update and we get to see one of the ideas come to life! The best part is that it isn't an overly complicated system, yet it is incredibly space saving and hard working.  Be ready to want to replicate this little setup in your own home in 3...2...1...

Hello darling iHeart readers!! I'm thrilled to be back sharing our latest organizing overhaul with you. In fact, it's these contributor posts that give me the kick I need to tackle a new space every few months... So if it's been awhile since you've given a space in your home the ole heave-ho...don't worry, you're not alone!

You may recall that Jen, the sweetest girl in the world (seriously, she's that sweet!), came to visit us in Texas earlier this year... and while we spent a fair amount of time gabbing and shoving tacos in our mouths, there was no way I was letting her go without picking her clever brain for every last organizing tip she had for our home.

So after we created the Craft Closet of my dreams, I turned her attention to our Laundry Room. I had most of the design details down, but wanted her thoughts on making it as functional as possible... starting with the laundry and cleaning supplies.

As you can see, one whole wall consists of the utility sink, washer, dryer and cabinets. The opposite wall will be the mudroom (see those plans here), and the remaining walls are mostly taken up by a window and door. (See more of the room here.)

Jen and I are both big fans of utilizing the backs of doors, but this house is blessed with 9-foot doors with raised molding, which makes hanging things a little tricky. And high. #verticallychallenged So we decided the next-best spot was the narrow wall behind the door!

I considered several options and products, but in the end, decided the Elfa system gave me the most bang-for-my-buck... because if I'm going to use an entire wall, then I'm going to get the most out of it!!! I used these utility boards in the Craft Closet, and was immediately hooked #seewhatIdidthere They allow for complete customization, plus anchor directly to the wall without the traditional Elfa track system.

Tip: Before mounting the board, determine how high on the wall it needs to hang based on your longest broom. You certainly don't want your husband to hang it, only to discover your Swiffer won't fit because it's too tall. #oops 

Once all the long-handled supplies were in place, I rounded up the remaining laundry and cleaning materials I wanted within easy reach. With these type of organizing projects, I always over-buy an assortment of bins and containers, then return the ones I don't need. Maybe not the most efficient method, but it helps me completely customize based on what I need, and takes the guess-work out of it when I'm at the store.

Like a puzzle, I snapped in the bins, hooks, and tray, then made Jen proud by adding cute little labels. #teacherspet

'Crappola' is the official name for miscellaneous around here. Plus, it fits on the label better.

Tip: Funny enough, the scissors are one of my most-used items in the Laundry Room... so many pesky tags and threads! Do yourself a favor and just add scissors to every junk drawer, craft & cleaning closet of your house... you know you're always looking for a pair! ;)

Obviously I have more supplies than just these, but they're stored elsewhere. For instance, the large jugs of detergent and dryer sheets are stored over the washer, and the majority of the cleaning supplies are under the Kitchen sink. But these are the items I reach for most, and having them together simplifies my almost-daily routine. (Does the Swiffering ever end?!?!)

I don't have to tell y'all how happy this little corner makes me... I know you get it! But please tell me I'm not the only one who Swiffers everyday?! See more of our Laundry Room makeover here, and find all the sources for building your own Laundry & Cleaning Station here. Happy organizing, lovebugs!

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Hi, I'm Cassie, a DIY and design-obsessed Texas girl, and lover of travel, fashion, sarcasm and Mexican food. When I'm not hanging with my sweet and funny family, you can find me kicking the '80s out of our home, one budget project at a time, on my blog Hi Sugarplum!