Clutter Hot Spot: Laundry Rooms and Mudrooms Part 2

By Jessica Hoelzel

I’m a big proponent of letting things be what they are. Laundry and mudrooms were designed to store things and are allowed to get messy from time to time. (Hence the name “mud” room.) They’re a transitional place, so let them be that.

Set up a “command center” to keep things in control. Sort things out right away instead of letting them accumulate in miscellaneous piles. If you have countertop space, great, use it to your advantage. If you don’t, consider hanging something on the wall, behind or over a door to use vertical space.

Don’t get let anything get too comfortable, though. This is the transitional place – for things to get set temporarily, then move on, but not pile up. When I say temporarily, I mean they should be gone through and dealt with at least once a week.

What comes into every person’s homes is different, so I can’t solve for everyone here, but some “command center” suggestions:

Recycling Bin
Absolute MUST HAVE. Don’t let junk mail get past your entry. Some even toss it in the garage, not permitting it to enter the house. Be strict and realistic about what you actually will read, use, and need to keep.



***Remember, postponed decisions lead to clutter. Be your own gate-keeper for what you want to let into your life.***


Baskets
For mail, things to return, things to put away elsewhere in the house. Have a time once or twice a week (should only take 15-20 minutes) to empty, putting things in their proper homes.
Lined Makati Baskets from The Container Store

Stacking trays

For mail/papers (one for each family member, or one for each project/committee, or one for “Bills to Pay”,“To File”, “Action Items”, etc.). These can also go in cupboards if you want to keep them out of sight.

Landscape Letter Tray from The Container Store

Wall or Door Hanging Paper Sorters
If you have limited or no counter space, use your vertical space.
3-Tier Mesh Wall Sorter from The Container Store

Hooks
Get things up and off the floor. Command hooks are removable; make sure to get the hooks strong enough to hold the weight you need.

Shoe racks
Get shoes up and off the floor too. Use vertical space.
9-Pair Convertible Shoe Rack from The Container Store

And as always, PURGE, PURGE, PURGE before you attempt any organizational efforts. You need to get down to the nitty gritty of what you absolutely need to have in that space. THEN figure out how to best organize it.

Clutter Hot Spot: Laundry Rooms and Mudrooms Part 1

Clutter is like the tide: it comes in every day, whether you want it to or not. It slows down sometimes, but it never really stops. And unless you find a way to deal with it as quickly as it flows in, pretty soon you’ll be drowning in clutter.

- Lori Baird, author of Cut the Clutter and Stow the Stuff

By Jessica Hoelzel
 
It’s no surprise – The Laundry Room or Mudroom has ranked highest on the list of top clutter trouble spots so far. Organizing your laundry room or mudroom should be high on the list of priority places to rejuvenate this spring.

(For those who haven’t heard, I’m giving away a Thieves® Waterless Hand Purifier this month. Those who share their top clutter trouble spot will be entered into a drawing, for a chance to win it. Ends April 30, so get leave your top clutter trouble spot in the comments section of this blog post today!)

Laundry and mudrooms are often adjacent to the garage, and the place we commonly enter our homes. As one reader commented, “it's a drag having this be the first thing I see” – and I agree.

From a feng shui perspective, entries are very important because they transition us from the outside world. If we’ve had a hectic day, or are overwhelmed just by the chaos and distractions that surround us on a daily basis, we need to come home to a calm environment.


Our first instinct might be to drop what we’re carrying and deal with it later. But taking 5-10 minutes (or less) to sort things out, hang things up, will save us precious time later, and create a more intentional transition.

Stay Tuned for More

Part 2:  How to Set Up a Command Center to Control Clutter in Your Laundry Room or Mudroom