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Home Hacks for Your Utility Room
When it comes to keeping up with household chores, having an efficient and well-equipped laundry and utility room can be a game-changer, especially for busy homes. Here we look at how to create a functional space to make everyday life run a little smoother.
From laundry to storage, consider these hacks to help you stay organised, efficient and to ultimately make your space work for you.
Hack #1 – Utilise Your Vertical Wall Space: When floor space is limited, think upwards! Install shelves above your washer and dryer to store detergents, cleaning supplies, and other everyday items. You can also utilise wall-mounted hooks for hanging items like floor brushes, mops, or laundry bags.
Hack #2 – Choose Multi-Functional Furniture: If you have a bit more room to work with, consider adding multi-functional furniture, like a laundry folding table that doubles as a workspace or storage unit. A large basket underneath for laundry can keep things organised and out of sight. Folding tables that can be collapsed when not in use are also great for smaller spaces.
Hack #3 – Consider Simple Storage: Invest in baskets for easy sorting and accessibility. Labelling each basket, for items such as clothes pegs, detergent tablets, and towels, helps keep things nicely categorised. Use drawer dividers for organising related items.
Hack #4 – Organise Your Laundry: Creating a system for sorting clothing can help make doing laundry less laborious. Consider bins or containers for your delicates, whites, and dark colours to make your washing process smoother, faster and better organised.
Hack #5 – Opt for a Folding Drying Rack: Instead of relying solely on your dryer, consider a folding drying rack. This can be tucked away until needed, and it’s perfect for air-drying delicate items or larger linens. You could also hang a retractable clothesline for added space during busy laundry days, which in turn offers the added benefits of energy savings, being gentler on fabrics and less wrinkling meaning less ironing!
Hack #6 – Stack Your Appliances: Raising larger appliances such as your washing machine or tumble dryer to an ideal working height means no more bending or stooping when loading/unloading your appliances on the daily. Alternatively, stacking one appliance of top of the other or opting for a combined washer/dryer is perfect for freeing up floorspace.
Hack #7 – Optimise Your Doors: By simply utilising the back of doors with over-the-door organisers, you can maximise storage capacity without sacrificing space. Allowing you to instantly add storage, these are perfect for keeping your cleaning supplies, pegs and clothes in one convenient location!
Hack #8 – Incorporate a Cleaning & Laundry Cupboard: Having tall cabinetry for your ironing board, mops and brushes is a major plus for any laundry room or utility space. These taller items can take up valuable floorspace, so having a dedicated cupboard to keep your ironing and cleaning supplies organised and out of sight is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. You might also want to consider internal adjustable shelving for keeping spare bedsheets, microfibre cloths, detergents and spray bottles in this location too.
Hack #9 – Take Advantage of Hidden Spaces: Look for underutilised areas like the space between the dryer and the wall or the area under your sink. Investing in slim storage units or pull-out cabinets can utilise these gaps effectively.
Hack #10 – Prioritise Maintenance: Lastly, keep maintenance in mind. Regularly clean out your dryer vent, clear the lint trap, a few minutes a month can prevent larger issues and keep your space running smoothly. The same goes for cleaning out your washing machine drum and leaving the door open between washes, which will prevent mildew, lengthen its life and avoid costly repairs and replacements down the line.
Transforming your laundry room and utility area into a functional space doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a few strategic hacks, you can create an organised and efficient environment that makes tackling everyday chores a little less daunting. Remember, the key is to tailor these hacks to fit your lifestyle and the specific needs of your home. Happy organising!
Feel inspired? We’d love to hear about your laundry room or utility space ideas in person at one of our independent retailer showrooms across the UK & Ireland. Find your nearest STORI retailer and let’s have a chat!