Chapter 7

Laundry Room

Breathing Room

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The laundry room—it’s simply the greatest room in the house.

—Patric Richardson

Up until this chapter, we haven’t focused on a space that exists simply because of chores. We might clean the living room, but that’s not its purpose. Same goes for the dining room. Even the kitchen is a place where people both eat and cook—something that brings lots of us joy.

But the laundry room revolves around chores—washing textiles, drying them, ironing them, and much more. Many people enjoy doing laundry, including yours truly. I’ve loved doing laundry since I was three years old, helping Granny Dude hang the wash on the clothesline. I even got a toy washing machine that year from Santa. I understood from a young age that doing laundry for your family was a gift.

Yet the majority of people view laundry as their least favorite task—study after study confirms this. (Of course, most of those studies predated the publication of Laundry Love, which has the power to change this attitude, but I digress.)

Here’s my take on this laundry cycle:

  1. If you hate doing laundry
  2. and your laundry room is dark, depressing, or both,
  3. then you’ll procrastinate doing laundry,
  4. your laundry will pile up,
  5. and you’ll hate doing laundry even more.

This chapter aims to end that for those who hate laundry. And for those who love laundry, I offer loads of ways to transform or refresh your laundry room as well.

Getting Inspired

Because I enjoy laundry and because I’m known as the Laundry Evangelist (and also the Laundry Guy, take your pick), you might assume my laundry room is tricked out with multiple washers and dryers for efficiency, a steam cabinet for professional steaming, built-in wooden racks for air-drying, a jetted laundry sink for handwashing, bright lighting for stain removal, an ironing board with a mangle (a large ironing machine) at the ready, an oversized island for clothes folding, a wool ball dispenser (plus a rack of essential oils), and a mini fridge for both kinds of vodka—laundry and drinking. (And of course, a disco ball.)

If you’ve read Laundry Love, many of these amenities might sound familiar, but then you also know the truth: I have a combination bathroom/laundry room, and the washer and dryer are just steps from my bathtub. Only a few of those aforementioned niceties are part of my laundry setup. But that’s okay.

I count myself lucky to do laundry in a bright, sunny space, since most of us inherit our laundry rooms from previous homeowners. If we’re lucky enough to have laundry facilities at all, they’re commonly found in a dark basement with only a glint of light from a single hopper window. But that doesn’t mean we must settle. It only makes sense that having a functional and good-looking laundry room inspires more and better laundry sessions.

Before we get started, however, I must add one more feature to my dream laundry room. After touring the historic James J. Hill House, the largest (thirty-six thousand square feet) and most expensive home in Minnesota at roughly one million dollars back when it was completed in 1891, I’ve decided I too need a bluing sink. Next to a disco ball and a mangle, this seems like a must.

I’d never even heard of a dedicated bluing sink until my visit. During the turn of the last century, laundry was a laborious process with a capital L, and maintaining white clothing and textiles was a daunting challenge. That was likely especially true at the grandest home in Minnesota, what with the hundreds of napkins, dozens of tablecloths, and piles of bedclothes. Not to mention Mr. Hill’s white shirts. There could’ve been no ring around the collar or yellowing for the Empire Builder.

HL Tip: While so many laundry rooms feature a wall of cabinets, you can survive without them. What you do need, however, is a rod on which to hang a bunch of hangers and all those wet clothes to air-dry. If you’ve got the room, a hanging rod might just be the best thing you can possibly add to your laundry room beyond the washer and dryer. Or if you only have a little room, consider installing a sheila Maid, the Victorian-styled “clothes airer” that lowers from the ceiling by pulley and then can be lifted out of the way when not in use. If you have next to no room, simply add a few hooks to the ceiling or the rafters from which to hang some hangers.

Fortunately, bluing—made mostly of blue pigment and water—was and is an inexpensive, nontoxic, and biodegradable liquid that homemakers could add to their wash. Just a few drops added to the wash water would bring back the original color to their white garments, sheets, and towels. That’s because adding microscopic blue particles to white fabric causes it to reflect more light and look whiter.

For the wealthy Hills, their household staff took care of all that white laundry, likely following that era’s prescriptive thirteen-step process: soaking, washing, rinsing, boiling, rinsing again, bluing, starching, hanging, drying, sprinkling, stretching, ironing, and folding. Phew! Today, it’s just a matter of adding oxygen bleach to your laundry soap and you’re practically golden.

Hill staffers might’ve counted themselves lucky to work in a laundry room that remains impressive even by today’s standards. Its square footage likely matches that of my entire house. And its features include eighteen racks made of cedar (with its moth-repellant properties) upon which to hang wet clothes, plus a cabinet for tucking away those racks; radiator pipes over which wet clothes dried overnight; and four giant tubs (with wood surrounds and turned legs)—a washing tub, a rinsing tub, that fabulous bluing tub, and one more tub for good measure (maybe for a quick foot soak between loads?).

Whether your laundry room is on par with the Hills’, a simple closet with a stacked washer and dryer, a dingy basement space with horror-flick overtones, a mudroom- or bathroom-laundry combo, or even a corner in your garage, you can always boost the look and feel of your space. (That said, if your laundry room is a magazine-spread-worthy affair with a potting table, gift wrap center, dog wash station, and small dance floor beneath your disco ball, please invite me over.)

Time to Freshen Up

When I was a kid, our basement laundry room was my boy cave. When it was cold or rainy or a hundred degrees outside, I could hang out there. The laundry room was always comfortable and comforting—there was the white noise hum of the washer and dryer, the perfectly consistent basement temperature, and plenty of alone space and time for doing laundry, watching TV, or making crafts. (If it’s a craft, I’ve done it at least once.)

That’s what I wish for you: a transformation of this tireless space to elevate your laundry tasks. This room likely sees you a considerable amount of time. Refreshing the space via greater organization and new ideas will make the time that you spend there all the better. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll love it so much, you’ll dream up reasons to go hang out in your laundry room. It could happen.

Guiding lights. Like so many rooms, let’s start with lighting. In the laundry room, all three types of lighting are vital:

General lighting will get you in the door—no one wants to do laundry in a dark space. We’re talking a sunny window and/or a ceiling light with personality and power. Many a bare-bones laundry room has just a single light bulb and a string pull. More than a few scary movies feature just such a room. If that’s what you’ve got, it’s time for an immediate upgrade. For starters (and a very small investment), you can add a clip-on ceiling-light cover to that bulb. They’re available in numerous sizes, colors, and styles, including fabric drum shades, woven rattan designs, and even faux crystal covers. And they literally attach to that single light bulb in two seconds; thanks to a basic wire frame, no tools are needed.

And don’t neglect that light pull—you deserve so much more than a knot at the end of a string. Hundreds of options exist, including brass, glass, leather, pewter, pottery, and wooden pulls in every possible shape and design. Since it’s the laundry room, you might even use a clothespin.

To crank up our general-lighting lumens, however, consider replacing that single bulb with a new, more powerful ceiling light. Any light you’d select for another room in your house can be placed in the laundry room. Yes, even a chandelier. Or what about track lighting with a bevy of bulbs, a flush-mount ceiling light (mounted right below your ceiling), one or more pendant lights, a combination ceiling fan and light, or perhaps a statement light fixture in sync with your laundry room décor, say a Tiffany-inspired glass shade or a rustic farmhouse barn light? Or maybe you love a minimal, industrial approach—then consider one of those four-paneled 120-watt LED bulbs; each of these newfangled bulbs cranks out a whopping 12,000 lumens from a single socket while using 80 percent less energy than a similar wattage incandescent light bulb.

As noted in the kitchen chapter, you can install your new fixture with a conversion kit from a hardware store. If your house was built before 1985, please hire an electrician to ensure your wiring is up to code and your new light fixture will work safely. If your house is newer and you’re handy, watch a YouTube how-to video and be sure to turn off the electricity to that room before attempting. If you’re not handy, again, ask a knowledgeable friend for help or hire an electrician.

HL Tip: A small fan makes a great amenity in the laundry room. It speeds the drying process for those wet clothes hanging on a drying rack. It also keeps the air moving, making the room a whole lot fresher.

Task lighting is critical for spotting and removing stains, and for sewing on buttons or mending a tear. A tabletop reading light is great for this purpose. You also might consider adding under-cabinet task lighting for close-up tasks. Whether high-tech, direct-wired modular tracks with puck lights or do-it-yourself, stick-on, battery-operated options, your choice will depend on your preference and your budget. Whatever you select, LED bulbs with a rating near 100 will provide all the light you need.

Accent lighting can literally lighten your mood—and who doesn’t want that? A lighted garland, a decorative table lamp, or a small light that attaches to a framed poster or painting are all great options. Accent lighting is only limited by your imagination and your pocketbook. The sky’s the limit—consider a trio of star-shaped paper shades, a ball light (in homage to all those wool balls in your dryer), or a neon sign in the shape of a hanger. But even an inexpensive set of fairy lights or globe bulbs strung along the ceiling can make a world of difference in an otherwise straightforward laundry room.

HL Tip: Some people go to the Laundromat every week. Others go once in a while. In either case, I recommend leaving the laundry baskets at home and using zippered canvas tote bags instead. They’re easy to carry and hold loads. Plus, unlike laundry baskets, items don’t tend to fall out. You can also get your bags monogrammed with words like Dirty Laundry for fun or Dirty Harry just because.

Trick and treat. Trompe l’oeil, a French phrase that means “to trick the eye,” is a fun approach to take in a laundry room. Consider trying one of these three ideas:

  1. If you don’t have a window but you’ve got extra wall space, hang a mirror, which can reflect your room’s light, make the room appear larger, and serve as a substitute window. You might even add narrow white tape across the glass to mimic the look of windowpanes. Or you could frame a photo or poster of a window as a near-perfect replacement. Really love this idea? You could even swap out that window vista twice a year, displaying a wintry view during the colder months and a summery scene the rest of the year—or vice versa.
  2. If you’ve got a concrete floor, consider painting an elaborate or not-so-elaborate rug. Even a large, painted-on red rectangle can add color and pizzazz to your space. Or introduce a surprise on the floor with a self-adhesive, vinyl graphic, like a 3-D koi pond or garden walkway. Or skip the floor and paint or install a ceiling mural, perhaps a faux tin ceiling, a blue sky, or a snowy forest.
  3. Applying peel-and-stick wallpaper in a white subway tile or brick pattern can instantly transform your drywall. Come to think of it, you have endless wallpaper options in the laundry room. And bonus: Even if you don’t own your home, you can simply remove that hot pink floral or geometrical turquoise motif before you move out.

A fine art. Countless laundry rooms feature a sign that says Laundry Room. Yours certainly can, but how about a colorful print of party supplies, a poster of a laundry line, or even a framed vintage clothing ad? Or you might hang those frames that let you swap out your children’s drawings week after week. Placing those frames in the laundry room just might inspire Bart and Lisa to join you there to help out.

After returning from a trip abroad where she snapped photos of lots of sheep, my friend blew up her favorite as a laundry room poster. She says washing her wool sweaters at home inspired her. Whatever art you choose, make it something that will lighten your mood every time you step in the room.

Function over form. Remember, this is a working room, so consider how adding a few new features to your laundry space might make your chores easier:

Sink or swim. If your laundry space has no sink, think outside the basin. To handwash delicates, you could buy an extra stainless-steel bowl, like the one you use to make chocolate chip cookies or banana bread. Or you could employ a little galvanized tub that fits inside a cupboard and in which you can store all your laundry supplies. Or here’s my fanciest idea: How elegant would laundry day be if you hand-washed your lingerie in Grandma’s ruby cut-glass punch bowl? You could even use one of her footed punch cups to pour in the laundry soap. After all, that punch bowl is stored away and you never do seem to make punch. Wait, you do make punch? Then buy another punch bowl dedicated to handwashing. For a great one at a low price, check out a tag sale. (And, Mom, thanks in advance for sending your punch bowl to me—my fingers are crossed every time I go check the mail!)

Contain yourself. Similar to the kitchen, the laundry room is the perfect place to display your everyday tools and supplies. After all, you need them within reach. Dozens of storage solutions exist, but I prefer transparent and/or open options. For example, clear glass containers like vintage candy and canning jars are not only fun to use but also show off exactly which supplies are inside, such as laundry flakes, oxygen bleach, mesh bags, wool balls, safety pins, and more. Or you might rely on matching (and perhaps labeled) fabric or bamboo baskets sans lids so you can quickly grab exactly what you need. Other ideas include antique metal canisters, decorative boxes, and canvas totes. My latest laundry room addition is a mint julep cup that displays my horsehair brushes. (Now my laundry will always get a blue ribbon!)

HL Tip: To keep your washing machine smelling clean, keep the door open after a load finishes to allow drying out. Do the opposite with the dryer and always keep that door closed—during cycles and when not in use. This is a safety issue, especially if you have kids and/or pets.

Mind the storage. If you’re lucky enough to have a few cabinets in your laundry room, you’re giving yourself even more cupboard space for every item you place on display. Then, inside those cupboards, you can tuck away extra laundry supplies, household products like garbage bags and microfiber cloths, art and hobby materials, or pet supplies. Or consider relocating your kitchen pantry here. Meanwhile, if those cupboards date back to the 1970s, it might be time to give them a facelift with a fresh coat of paint, removable wallpaper, or more sophisticated knobs.

Basket case. A set of three (or two sets of three) rolling canvas bins is a helpful way to sort your textiles and ensure they’re ready to wash. To keep your laundry extra organized, assign and label one laundry basket per bedroom—it’ll be obvious whose clothes belong to whom. And if a basket lacks handles, just use a tote bag to bring those dirty clothes to the laundry room.

Going old school. Vintage laundry supplies are crazy fun, and so many options exist, including old laundry signs, vintage magazine ads you can frame, decades-old laundry powder boxes, clamp clothespins, and nonelectric irons. Someday when I have a dedicated laundry room, I’ll hang three antique washboards—one each from Granny Dude, Granny Martha, and Ross’s mom, Marion; plus my own toy washer will get a place of honor. (By the way, those washboards not only look cool—they really work.)

Matchy, matchy. With clothes, I love mixing things up. But with hangers, I go for matching every time, for both their visual harmony and their performance. In the laundry room, tubular plastic hangers allow you to hang wet clothes to dry. Or, if they’re marked for use with wet garments, velvet hangers are phenomenal for drying clothes, and the clothes never fall off!

Make a week of it. If you get all your laundry done in a single day each week, then you can use your laundry room for another purpose the other six days. Mine, of course, is a bathroom. But if yours is a dedicated laundry room, you can add a second and maybe even a third purpose:

HL Tip: Rather than running up to the kitchen or bathroom for that trusty bottle of 50/50 vinegar-water solution, keep one on hand in the laundry room. In fact, doubling or tripling up on a set of cleaners and tools in the laundry room will save you time and ensure you’ve got just the cleaner you need, right when you need it. Plus, you won’t be tempted to use a cleaner not designated for the right purpose, which means you’ll be getting better results. Life is just easier when you’re prepared. Also, you might want to keep a vacuum cleaner in the laundry room. Having to haul a vacuum to another floor is both hard on your back and dangerous on stairs.

What new purpose will draw you to your laundry room?

Time to Clean Up

Earlier I said that hanging a disco ball in the laundry room is a must. In fact, the disco ball in my laundry room–bathroom is famous. It’s been featured on my TV show, in my laundry videos, and in numerous magazine and newspaper articles. Plus, the fact that it, like nearly every disco ball in the United States, was made in Kentucky (my home state) makes it all the better.

But my suggestion that you hang a disco ball in your laundry room is serious. Life can be hard. Throw in all of the daily demands that are placed on us and our loved ones, and life can become downright overwhelming. Hanging a disco ball plays the foil to all that; this mood-lifting, glittery sphere brings the party to the hardest-working room in your house. And it’s difficult not to smile every time you walk in. If you haven’t already added a mirror ball to your laundry room, I highly recommend you do. Now let’s get cleaning:

The Ten-Minute Clean: Laundry Room

Your new boyfriend is coming over and he’s a bit uncoordinated. To avoid any embarrassment if he spills that Neapolitan ice cream down the front of his shirt, you’ve got to improve the state of your laundry room. He’s a gentleman, after all, and you know he’ll insist on washing it himself. No worries—even if he arrives in ten minutes, you’ll be ready. On second thought, maybe you’ll turn on the disco ball, crank the tunes, and purposely spill on him.

My Ten-Minute Cleaning Playlist: Laundry Room (Upbeat)

My Ten-Minute Cleaning Playlist: Laundry Room (Mellow)

HL Tip: If you have yet to revamp your laundry life, here’s a list of items to get started (you likely own many already):