5 Simple Steps to take to master your laundry routine

I have five laundry room decluttering tips that I would love to share with you! As a family of four, these five tips have streamlined my laundry days into simple routines – that means, I do laundry without even thinking about it. Okay, well I think about it, but I could do it with my eyes closed!

Laundry Decluttering Tip 1

The first step in any decluttering system should be to remove the trash first.

Remove Trash – Toss empty bottles, boxes, and lint.

Why? Honestly? Because it’s a no-brainer. When it comes to deciding if something should be kept or let go of, trash is, well, trash, and; therefore, can be easily tossed. Buh Bye empty Gain bottle.

If you’ve discovered that you don’t have any empty bottles but half empty bottles instead combine like materials and detergents.

Now you should have one empty bottle ready to be recycled.

Laundry Room Decluttering Tip 2

Clear Surface Areas – Remove anything from the surface of the washing machine and dryer.

I know. It’s so tempting to put things on a flat surface. It’s irresistible, and we’re all guilty of it. Unfortunately, flat surfaces are not “containers” to store things. They’re more like “transition” areas.

I set things on top but they don’t stay there. So, go take a look at the top of your machines. Should you be charging rent for what is occupying space up there, or is the surface ready to be used? Removing unnecessary things prevents clutter and allows you to edit your laundry room efficiently.

This laundry room decluttering tip has been a game changer for me and family. This tip can also be applied to the the top of the refrigerator, coffee table, counter tops, and even the couch. Surface areas should have a purpose that doesn’t involve “containing.”

Laundry Room Decluttering Tip 3

Group Like Items – This lets you know what you have . . . and what you’re out of.

Our laundry room is a busy area, but it’s often neglected. One way to prevent a messy look is to group like items, this is a very useful and simple laundry room decluttering tip to master.

It’s kind of like the bottom shelf of the pantry. We don’t really know what’s in there and that leads to buying duplicates or triplets of things.

When we consolidate and group like items, we know exactly what we have and what needs to be replaced.

I’ve arranged my laundry room to have my detergents, stain removers, fabric softeners, and whiteners within arms reach. Everything I need to do one load of wash in visible and grouped together. This has completely eliminated my accidental purchases of buying duplicates.

Now, I only buy what I know I need.

To group like items, I use acrylic bins and labels to give everything a home. Take a look at my Amazon Storefront to see items I have personally found useful in decluttering and editing my home. Click here to go to my storefront.

Laudrey Room Decluttering Tip 4

Pick Up the Floor – and dirty clothes go in the wash.

Let’s face it, nothing belongs on the floor. If clothes are on the floor, they’re dirty. If they’re waiting to be washed, keep them in a laundry basket. The laundry room is a functional room where clothes are washed (cough) not stored. Here are my top two tips when it comes to laundry and keeping the floor clear.

• Tip 1: Every person in my family has their own laundry basket. I take the basket with me when I do laundry, it waits on the floor while the washer and dryers do their magic, and then the clean clothes go right back into the basket. I remove the basket from the laundry room, and fold (when I get the chance).
• Tip 2: Do a load of laundry every day. Yes, every single day. Whether it’s towels, darks, lights, bedding . . . do one load of laundry a day. This keeps you current on all laundry and the loads aren’t too big for the machine.

Laundry Room Decluttering Tip 5

Clean Clothes Delivery

Once clothes are dry, place them right back into the appropriate room’s basket. When I remove the basket from the laundry room, I typically take it to the dining room table where I fold the clothes in little pockets of time.

Once folded, I hand deliver the basket and freshly cleaned clothes to the appropriate room.

My oldest child can put her clothes away, so that’s easy peasy. My youngest isn’t tall enough to safely hang clothes, so I do that for her.

Remember, the laundry room is not a holding area, (this is how clutter collects) it’s a transition room. Clean the clothes and then deliver them. Prevent clutter by not allowing it a place to live.

Key Laundry Room Decluttering Tips:

1. Remove Trash
2. Clear Surface Areas
3. Group Like Items
4. Pick up the Floor
5. Laundry Basket for Everyone
6. Do One Load of Laundry A Day
7. Deliver Clean Clothes

Interested in learning more about decluttering and editing your home? Read Visible Decluttering: A Glimpse of What Your Home Could Look Like.