The Core Principle: Everything Has a Place

A disorganised laundry usually has two problems: items not having designated spots, and too many things stored there. Start by removing everything from the laundry and only returning what is actually used there regularly.

Functional Organisation Steps

  1. 1

    Install shelving above the machine

    The space above front-loader washing machines and dryers is almost always wasted. A wall-mounted shelf ($30–60) or floating shelves directly above the machines create a significant amount of storage for detergent, fabric softener, stain removers and other supplies at arm height.

  2. 2

    Use a 3-compartment laundry hamper

    A divided hamper with sections for lights, darks and delicates eliminates the separate pre-sorting step before washing. Family members sort as they go — when a section is full, it is ready to wash. This alone saves significant time per week.

  3. 3

    Hang a wall-mounted drying rack

    A fold-down wall-mounted drying rack takes up virtually no space when not in use but provides ample hanging space for delicates, drying shirts and flat-drying knits. Vastly more functional than a floor-standing rack for small laundries.

  4. 4

    Store detergents and supplies in one dedicated zone

    Group all laundry supplies together — detergent, softener, stain remover, dryer sheets. Use a small caddy or tray to keep them contained. Labels on unlabelled containers prevent guessing. Refillable containers are neater and reduce packaging.

  5. 5

    Add a small bin for dryer lint and rubbish

    A small bin next to the machine for dryer lint, tissue remnants found in pockets, and general rubbish keeps the space clean without requiring a trip to the kitchen bin every cycle.

  6. 6

    Hang an ironing board if space allows

    A wall-mounted ironing board holder keeps the ironing board off the floor and out of the way when not in use. Or a behind-door ironing board holder uses the back of the laundry door as storage.

Laundry day routineSort at the hamper as clothes go in (not as a separate step before washing). Start a load in the morning so it is ready to hang out or transfer to the dryer before you leave for the day. A simple consistent routine eliminates the “mountain of clean washing on the couch” problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Maximise vertical space: shelves to the ceiling, over-door organisers, wall-mounted drying racks and fold-down ironing boards. Use the space between the machine and the wall for a slim pull-out trolley for supplies. A stacked washer-dryer combo frees floor space for a hamper. Removing anything that does not belong in the laundry (cleaning supplies for other areas, rarely used items) immediately makes even a tiny laundry feel more functional.
A small basket or hook for unmatched socks — review weekly. Pairs usually reappear in pockets, under furniture or in pillowcases. After 2–4 weeks, a truly single sock can be used as a dusting mitt and then discarded. Buying multiple pairs of identical socks eliminates the matching problem entirely — all socks become interchangeable.