Cleaning Up the Laundry

Do thoughts of laundry conjure up images of mismatched socks, clothing shredded by the dog as he sneaks off with items from the sorting piles on the floor, or enormous heaps of laundered clothing waiting to be pressed? If so, you’re not alone.

For many Americans, laundry is high on the list of most dreaded tasks, and the laundry area is the least organized space in the home.

We’ve gotten serious about creating kitchens and baths that are efficient, comfortable to be in and pleasing to the eye. It’s time to elevate the laundry room to the same status.

Today’s homeowners increasingly mention that they consider the laundry room to be a key part of the home. So, what do we do about it? The answer is to rethink the laundry room entirely, carefully considering every inch of space and how it can be better utilized to create a more efficient workflow.

If we take a moment to stop and ponder the actual amount of time we spend on laundry related activities and the inefficiencies that are built into most laundry areas, we would simply be appalled. In many homes, the laundry area is tucked into a remote location, typically the basement. How efficient is that? Clothes are stored, put on and taken off near the bedrooms. If the laundry is in the basement, or some other far-removed corner, we’re wasting precious time walking
back and forth.

That doesn’t mean the laundry area needs to be in the master closet or near the bedrooms, but one shouldn’t spend a great deal of time sprinting across the house to change loads. More and more laundry areas are now being located near the kitchen. This makes sense as the majority of time spent in the home is in the kitchen, making it easy for the homeowner to keep an eye and ear on the laundry.

Are laundry rooms glamorous? Certainly not, but they are necessary. So, if it’s something every American household partakes in, why not optimize this work space to make it one of the most, rather than least, efficient areas of the home? Laundry areas don’t need to cost and arm and a leg, they simply need intelligent planning.

The Fundamentals

To take a fresh approach to the laundry area, reject the familiar, inefficient routines and embrace a new outlook. Start first by examining the fundamentals. Where is it located and what does, or should, take place in this space? In general, a laundry room serves as a space for the following:

• Preparation and sorting of dirty laundry.
  
• Storage of laundry supplies.
  
• Wash station – including the washer and laundry sink.
  
• Drying station – including a dryer, drip or damp dry areas.
  
• Folding counter space.
  
• Pressing station – which may include an iron, ironing. board, hanging area and possibly a television.
  
• Sorting area for delivery to bathrooms and closets.

On top of that, we want the laundry area to have some sort of aesthetic appeal… including color.

Design Considerations

So, what do you take into consideration when planning an efficient laundry area? Let’s start with the location.