Organizing Good Things 2004
Keep laundry supplies tidy and out of sight with built-in shelves and a curtain that can be pulled across them when the laundry is done. Mothballs and cedar chips are stored in canning jars, and little bars of soap are kept in airtight containers. Towels for drying hand-washables are stacked on one shelf. Special stain remedies are kept together in a galvanized metal box; detergent is in a large plastic container with a scoop for easy measuring.
I have something similar that solves it. Hang a peg rail (pegs @ 12" centers) at the top mounted permantently on the wall. Hang a shower rod 1' in front. Then, hang a Shaker shelf with the spacing you like. If you need access, remove items from shelves, take off rack, and all back up in a jiffy. And extra rod allows for air drying. unused pegs hold unused hangers
These are ideas people not orders. chill. you don't like it don't use it.
Although my shelves certainly do not look as neat as Martha's, I do have this exact system above my dryer. I store laundry supples, paper towels, a sealed container of bird seed and all my dog supplies -- food, shampoo, treats, etc. Since my laundry room is off my kitchen, I used the same Waverly fabric as my kitchen curtains and everyone always comments about how cute it looks. I will never be 'Martha' but do love her ideas!
Wow, so negative. I like the curtain idea. I have a laundry room which is basically a closet/walk-through to the garage, with the washer and dryer facing each other on each side. We have shelves like this, and they are not difficult to reach or use. I'm short (5'2") so I have a stool to reach anything on the top shelf, but I only keep rarely used items up there anyways.
Where do you find those galvanized metal boxes?
This was shown once before, and I loved the simple comment that someone sent in: "Good grief!" That just about says it all! :)
A smaller version on a side wall is more practical.
Looks great in a photo, but very impractical. The average person will have a difficult time accessing anything on these shelves.
After just having built a new home this Spring, I have been able to implement many of Martha's ideas which have made my life much easier... I put cabinets in over my W/D and soak sink in lieu of shelves. I know just by organizing the laundry room, closets, and my walk in attic from Martha's stip, that my chores are easier! Even if you only implement a couple of tips, it's worth it!
This is a great idea!
Just be sure you can remove the shelf in a hurry if you need to reach behind it to fix a hose leak or to unplug your dryer if urgent, such as overheating, or if you smell smoke, etc.
IF you can pull out the washer or dryer easily that would be fine, but some folks,
like me, are not strong enough. (hope this isn't a repeat comment. I hit the submit twice.)
Talent - Thank you for the Dawn, comment....
we are remodelling our laundry half bath..... this is perfect
Now, now, Sissy. The items on the shelves are there to show you the shelf size, not what to put on them. You put whatever it is that you use on those shelves. I have a wire shelf over my washer/dryer - there when I moved in - and I hang laundry I don't want in the dryer up there. I just might try putting some little 6 inch shelves back there though, I think they might come in handy for smaller items.
I have used a section of shower rod covers to hide cords out of site but keep them all together
If MSL substituted their current collaborations between the design graduates
Does anyone have good ideas for hiding cords under a desk?
With 4 littles ones under 9, and us homeschooling, we are home and have a lot of laundry. So since I am in the laundry room a lot, it makes it so much nicer when it is asethically pleasing and efficient. I have a shelf and dresser on the opposite wall of the appliances with some baskets, but I think it will be getting some additional touches for even more appeal. I will leave the top shelves open for visual and put a curtain over the bottom shelves as they hold the dirty clothes baskets.
On the top shelf looks like 3 bottles of Dawn and 1 Pamolive dishwashing detergent. I know Dawn is really great for getting grease stains out of clothing. Or if someone has a mechanic in the family, put a drop or two of Dawn in the load for oily clothes or rags. But I don't know how I could reach them. :)
Ladies, life is too short....so many of the organizing ideas take more
time than many of us have to spare. I just enjoy reading all of the
comments that are posted....thank you for my daily entertainment.l
Have a very Merry Christmas and try not to be too perfect in 2009.;l
I'm truly not just trying to be picky, because in essence it's a great idea, but there are very few items on those shelves that I would use in my laundry area. I'm curious: what do mothballs, cedar chips and little bars of soap have to do with laundry supplies? Why would one need towels for drying hand washables near the machines? (I've always done hand-washing in the bathroom sink!) And what are those 4 black bottles on the top shelf?!
Happy holidays everyone!!!
If my laundry area was that tidy and good looking, I would not need a curtain!
If my laundry area was that tidy and good looking, I wouldn't need a curtain!
What a great way to organize and improve a less-than-appealing area. Very clever.
terrivanhecke-guess what-I am now retired and getting old and grey and there is still no time to become Marthaesque-Perhaps because I spend too much time reading all the great ideas and then don't implement them!! I have done one thing right though-my daughter, despite being a very busy young attorney, has turned out to be quite a Martha in the kitchen after adopting Martha as her muse. So, all is not lost!! IMP
this is great, if I can't reach something i have a little stair, because this space is priceless!
Once again another GREAT idea from Martha and Company! It really does help to keep everything in one place.
I would not be able to reach anything over the first shelf - especially with the set - back. Therefore I don't think this is a great idea.
I'm moving into a new home and the laundry room is small. This gives me some great ideas to work with - thanks. LP
Kater Tot, that's sooo funny! I ditto your comment! Martha if we all could be like you! It doesn't stay that way in my laundry room so I NEED that curtain on the wall, I WANT that curtain on the wall... ugh so much for my Jack Nicholson...
call me crazy, but why does everything need to be hidden? This one goes a little too far for me! I have a large wire shelf above my appliances, from which I hung two drop down type of shelves that I found at Lowes. I keep all of my cleaning supplies there - especially practical with two kids under two!
ilike this idea. going to try it.
Have you seen the pictures of Martha's basement....that says it all.
my laundryroom is in my basement I would love to do this but I have major pipes behind my washer and dryer....
In my dreams, my laundry room would look this good! And what does she mean about closing the curtain when the laundry is done - IT'S NEVER DONE! Oh well, when I'm old and gray and can do D/H and my laundry in 2 loads I'll know what Martha's talking about! Have a good day, everyone!
Shelves can be installed on concrete walls with proper anchors. Best left to a professional to insure they are correctly installed.
LOL.. that's what I was gonna say! RIGHT.. my laundry closet looks JUST like that! NOT!
My laundry room is in the basement, where the walls are made of concrete. Anybody have any other suggestions for organizing that area? The washer and dryer can be hidden behind a set of folding closet doors down there; the rest of the room is kind of a mess, with piles of clothes and blankets everywhere, and one high table in a corner. The other walls are all stick-built construction; it's just behind the machines that has bare cement and the waterline out, dryer vent, etc.
good grief!
IF my shelves looked that neat, i wouldn't need the curtain!
LAUNDRY ROOM