If you are fortunate enough to have a dedicated laundry room, then you may be looking for a good list of laundry room essentials to make sure you have all your bases covered. Today we’re going to share an indispensable list of the best laundry room products and organization essentials to keep in your laundry space at home.
Here are the primary items you’ll want to have to do the down and dirty work!
Laundry Room Basics
One of the most essential areas of your home or apartment is the laundry room area. But to keep all your clothes clean and looking their best, you’ll need a whole slew of laundry room essentials that make this job a lot easier.
No doubt, there will be an area that’s reserved for your laundry room whether it’s a dedicated ‘room’ or just a corner of the house. Not every home or apartment will be the same, but each area should have enough room to place all of your laundry machines, gadgets, and cleaning supplies.
The major laundry room appliances won’t surprise you much.
Washing Machine
A washing machine will be the main workhorse that washes all your clothes, so pick a model that has a variety of functions that allow you to do all sorts of wash cycles. It should be strong enough to handle really dirty loads, yet have a setting for light cycles for a couple of t-shirts or jeans. It needs to have temperature settings and programs that allow you longer or shorts periods for certain types of clothes.
While there is a fierce debate between the merits of front-loading versus top-loading washing machines, I personally prefer front-loading ones. Here are some highly-rated washing machines:
If you’re on a tight budget, then try the Samsung High-Efficiency White Front Load Washing Machine with Self-Clean+ or the GE Appliances Energy Star High Efficiency Top Load Washer which is also great for small spaces.
Don’t forget that your washing machine needs to have a gentle cycle for all your delicates too. It won’t hurt to have washable laundry bags for items like socks and underwear so they don’t get lost in the wash. Also, keep in mind that most laundry room areas will already have installed water hookups and electricity you can connect very easily.
Dryer
A clothes dryer will speed up the drying process of your clothes and also give your clothing a fresh and fluffy feel that we’ve all gotten used to. It doesn’t need to be very fancy but it should also have control settings to control shrinkage on certain fabrics. There needs to be a timer and select settings for certain fabrics likewise. I can’t stress the point enough to look through your instruction booklet to see which fabrics can be dried and what can’t.
You also want a model that has a lint trap that is easy to get to, and lint traps also built into the door opening. This dual system eliminates animal hair faster so you spend less time using a sticky roller later. It’s not always considered part of your laundry room essentials depending on where you live, but it does speed up the drying of your clothes when you need them in a hurry.
Must-Have Laundry Products
Here are some of my favorite laundry products I always keep on hand for cleaning clothes. Some are great for brightening them up while others are tough on heavy-duty stains. Keeping your clothes, sheets, and household linens in good condition requires high-quality laundry products. These are the ones we recommend the most!
This is one area that will seem like it’s an endless list. Yet for most of us, that like to have clean laundry, believe me- these products all have a purpose, even if they aren’t used all the time!
Laundry Detergent
A stain-fighting laundry detergent is obviously a basic! This might be a tough one to pick at first since there are so many types of detergent you can buy. Laundry detergents come in various forms, each suitable for different needs and washing machine types. Be sure to use a detergent meant for the type of clothes you are washing.
- Liquid Detergents: Liquid detergents such as the All Free Clear Liquid Detergent for sensitive skin are widely used due to their versatility and ability to fight stains. This is your best bet overall; liquid detergent is concentrated so you use less soap overall.
- Powder Detergents: Powder detergents are cost-effective, suitable for general loads, and excellent for outdoor stains like mud.
- Pods or Pacs Detergents: Pods offer convenience and prevent overuse of detergent, but require careful handling due to their concentrated nature.
- Eco-friendly Detergents: Lastly, eco-friendly detergents are made with plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, free from harsh chemicals, making them an environmentally and skin-friendly choice.
- Hand Wash/Delicates Detergents: These are typically gentler formulas designed for use on sensitive materials like silk, wool, and lace that may be damaged in regular washing machines or by harsher detergents. I recommend the Woolite Delicates Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent.
You should have at least one detergent that works for general everyday clothes that are all-color. The second version should be for delicates and fabric blends that need to be less harsh.
Some people don’t bother buying powders since they don’t always distribute so well in most washing machines. They can also turn into mushy blocks if you have a machine that had top lid-loading detergent holders.
Washing packets or pods can be tricky, as they don’t work as well as a liquid you pour into the cycle yourself. You can’t control what pods will do either, which is why liquid detergent tends to be better, as it can be adjusted for different size loads.
Stain Remover
This is a tricky product to master if you don’t use it often, so you want to choose an organic stain remover. Harsh chemicals in many stain removers can cause damage to your clothes. Try safe alternatives like borax and baking soda which won’t destroy or bleach your clothes. Stay away from brands that are all-in-in, as these don’t always work on every type of fabric and can potentially harm other types if you’re not careful.
Dry Cleaner Cloths
Dry Cleaner Sheets are cloths meant to put into your dryer so you can clean items that you want to look, smell, and feel clean. Throwing one of these cloths creates enough steam in your dryer so your clothes get as close to the dry cleaning process as they can get without taking them to the dry cleaners. The drying process will take a little longer than usual, but the results are often worth it.
Whitening Liquid
If you have clothes that you want to be especially white, buying a whitener is always a good idea. Stay away from bleach, as this is terrible for destroying fabrics. Choose products that allow for oxi-cleaning and are activated by natural oxygen and are also naturally organic for whitening your clothes. Big brands like Clorox also sell whitening liquids that are very low bleach formulas.
Vinegar
One item that works great in your kitchen also happens to be an effective cleaner for clothes too. White vinegar especially is used for helping dirt not stick to clothes. It also can help to make your washed clothes smell odorless if there was a lot of body oil and sweat build-up. One of the best natural items you’ll need as laundry room essentials start with white vinegar. It’s also 100% natural and won’t harm your delicates either.
Dryer Sheets or Wool Balls
Dryer sheets are great for single-use loads and they do make your laundry smell great. The advantage of using dryer sheets is giving your clothes a soft feel and pleasant smell. There are many brands that you can choose from also, so finding your favorite will be a matter of trial and error. One new addition to using a softener in the dryer is from Wool Balls that can be used up to 1000 times. This makes them more cost-effective to buy over dryer sheets.
Prewash Stain Cleaner
This is a big question for most people but there are very simple products that you rub onto stains before you wash. They are often a spray that works slowly to break down enzymes naturally. While you’re prepping clothes for washing, these also take just 5-10 minutes before you throw them into the wash. Other sticks or paste rubs can sit overnight until you reactivate them with hot or warm water so they can wash away built-up stains. I personally love this super easy Spray n Wash!
Lint Roller
Whether or not you own a cat or dog, you will likely need to own at least one or two lint rollers. These handy rollers help remove unwanted dust, lint, and hair that is simply too stubborn to come off clothing. It can be particularly noticeable on darker-colored clothing so keep one nearby in the winter. The best place to buy lots of these for the least amount spent is from Walmart. They will have big packs of these that come in handy if you’ve been covered by something that just isn’t coming off with traditional washing or drying.
Ironing Board
A decent ironing board will not only help you to get clothes nice and neat looking it’s the backbone of laundry room essentials. Choose a model that can fold up and be stored behind a door or in an area that doesn’t require much space to set up. Have all of your accessories close by so you can do an entire batch of clothes that need ironing with convenient hangers nearby so you can immediately hang them up.
Iron
Not every iron will be good for everything you own but when it comes to general usage, your iron always needs to have clean water or scented water added. An electrical outlet also needs to be close by so you don’t have to overstretch while ironing. Buy a model that gives you plenty of selections and temperature settings additionally. Don’t ever use tap water in your iron since this can damage your iron over time, so always use filtered water.
Steamer
Handheld steamers are great when you want to get the wrinkles out of delicate fabrics that crease very easily. Because the steam that comes out also needs to be filtered water, this is where you need to be extra careful. This can actually shrink some fabrics so be sure to learn as much about steaming before you attempt to use these machines. Despite the temperature setting, these aren’t a substitute for ironing but are excellent at last-minute fixes for light dress fabrics or flowing blouses that don’t iron as well.
Laundry Organization
Keeping things organized is tough in smaller spaces like the laundry room, but these laundry organization essentials will keep things neat and tidy!
Just as you would expect, you’ll want your laundry room essentials to have plenty of organizers that are built into your laundry room area. It simply gives you better control of being a staging area for clothes that need special attention.
Laundry Baskets
The first rule is to separate your clothes before you start. Colors should go into one bin while whites go into another. If you find a stacking system, these can be baskets of bins that contain every type of clothes that you don’t need to think about what goes with what. Label these bins with a marker or printed label so you know where everything goes, so you and your family don’t ever need to question what goes where! A simple jute laundry basket also does the trick.
Laundry Product Organizer Storage Cart
A rolling cart is a great idea in the laundry room, especially if it’s on wheels. You can look for any kind of cabinet that has deep pullout shelves or storage bins and then put castor wheels onto the bottom. Another solution is to find a pushcart that is usually sold in office suppliers to use as a mobile washing and storage cart. Empty beverage crates used for 2-liter bottles make great storage bins that won’t let anything fall over when you move them around.
Foldable Clothes Drying Rack
There are going to be those times when you need to have a folding clothes rack for certain clothes that aren’t supposed to be put into a dryer. These are also portable so you can place this outside so they get a natural fresh air smell as they dry. Don’t buy the cheap discount store versions since these won’t last more than a year. You want to buy a portable clothes rack that is made from wood or heavy-duty plastic and won’t fall over easy for any reason. It can also neatly fold up for storage when not in use!
Hanging Rod & Hangers
It won’t hurt to install a hanging rod or hangers along the walls in your laundry room area. This is especially important for long coats or items that need to air dry or were freshly ironed. A good load-bearing wooden rod will give you the best advantage if you mount this above your head in your washing room. It shouldn’t be in the way, so find a spot that sits opposite your washing machine and dryer. Otherwise, you could buy a freestanding clothing rack for this purpose, though it might take up a lot of space! A good set of thin wire hangers will be practical to have on hand as well.
And that’s it!
I hope you found this list of laundry essentials helpful as you go about outfitting your laundry room or space! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
