How Clean Is Your Laundry Room?

I’m an obsessively clean person.  I will spare you the details of my fanatical need to be clean, but I will admit that there is one room in our house that isn’t regularly cleaned from top to bottom – the laundry room.  The three things I regularly do – clean the dryer vent after each load, mop the floor weekly, and run a bleach load once a month.  That’s it, and it is evident by the layer of dust sitting on top of the washing machine.  Just the other day I looked at the sink and realized I couldn’t remember the last time I sprayed it down with cleaner and then wiped it out.  It’s a fact -- I neglect this room, and I suspect that I’m not alone on this one.  Furthermore, because it is a fairly good-sized room with lots of cabinets, things tend to get shoved in there, also making it the most cluttered room in the house.

If you are like me, you spend a lot of time in your laundry room.  Wouldn’t it be nice if it were as organized and tidy as the other rooms in your house?  Below are 5 easy things you (and I) can do make this room less chaotic.

1. Remove the clutter.  If it’s not related to garment care, then don’t let it hang out in the laundry room.
2. Organize your supplies and laundry.  For instance, place cleaning supplies in a caddy or open-top storage container so you can move them around as needed.  If you have the space, use three labeled laundry hampers or baskets so garments can be separated right when they come through the door.
3. Make the most use of your space.  Add shelves right above your washer and dryer, install a retractable clothesline for line-drying delicate items, and hang up your ironing board.
4. Give the room a ‘once-over’.  Take a dust mop and knock down cobwebs; wipe down shelves, counter tops, and the outside of your washer and dryer; wipe out the sink; run your washing machine through a clean cycle, wash the soap dispenser, and wipe down the inside of the machine after the cycle is complete; unhook the dryer hose and vacuum to remove lint buildup, remove any built up lint on the outside vent, thoroughly clean the lint filter, and remove any lint that has built up in the filter area; vacuum behind, between, and under your washer and dryer; and mop the floor.
5. Keep it organized by setting up an easy routine to prevent having to do another major cleanup.

We spend lots of time in that room; why shouldn’t the surroundings be pleasant and enjoyable?  Someday, I plan to have a ‘cute’ laundry room – like the ones I see on Pinterest.   In the meantime, at least it will be clean and less cluttered.  If you have tips on how you keep your laundry room clean and organized, please share them with us on Facebook, Twitter, or G+.