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Usually, when I see organization posts/articles I notice all of the stuff in the images that I would have to buy to reach that level of organization and beauty. The problem is that I have $0 in my budget to buy things to organize my laundry and mudrooms. So as much as I would like to buy all the bins and a tree hall and replace the wire rack above the washer/dryer, it is not happening anytime in the near future. So I set out to organize my laundry and mudroom with no budget.
Before:
Tips from my own experience:
1. See if there is anything you can get rid of (sell or give away) first.
So in my war against clutter this year, I had already started this in various rooms of my house. In my laundry room, we have a shelving unit set up that holds many kitchen items (because our kitchen is tiny) and there were several small appliances we never used. So I decided it was time to get rid of them. This created more space on our shelf and without a bunch of stuff being stacked on top of each other, it looks a lot less messy.
2. Look for items that have a home elsewhere.
In my house, things seemed to get put in the mudroom instead of being put away in their actual location. So just by putting those items away, it looked a lot cleaner.
3. Try to find any containers that are not being used or could be cleaned out throughout your house to use instead of buying some.
I found a couple of containers in the garage that were not being used. I cleaned the multi-purpose cleaner out and cleaned all of the dirt and spider webs off of them and I had some containers ready to go. I also cleaned out some things I am planning to get rid of to open up a couple of containers. They do not all match and they are not as cute, but they do work for containing our stuff.
If I couldn't find containers, my plan was to use cardboard boxes and cover them up in craft paper to make them look slightly better.
4. Basic cleaning helps these areas look way better.
So I am embarrassed to say that I do not know the last time we swept and dusted the laundry room. It has a door on it, so since it is out of the way it is not a top priority when we start cleaning. The top of our washer and dryer were covered in dust and lint and by wiping them down, it immediately looked so much better! The inside lid of the washing machine was gross (if I am being honest), and once I noticed I could not unsee it. Do you clean under the top of your washer where the machine and the lid hinge? I had to get a q-tip to get it under it but it was nasty - I couldn't believe how bad it was. So just some basic cleaning- wiping things down, sweeping, dusting - made a huge difference.
5. Rethink how some spaces are used or where you put things.
There is a closet in the mudroom and the previous owners had put a rack on the back of the door. This seems to just have accumulated junk since we moved in. I cleaned out the junk and was able to use that rack to store cleaning supplies instead of on the shelving unit in the laundry room.
6. Think about what will work and be functional for you and your family.
My goal in organizing my home this year is to make my home more functional. While it looking good is also important, the main priority is that it is functional and works well for us.
So I thought about putting all of the laundry detergents on the shelf above the machines, but I can't reach up there very well. So I left the detergents I use the most on the dryer, where I can reach them. I do not want to have to get on a step stool every time I need to use the laundry detergent.
After:
Long term I have grand plans to buy some cute containers, a tree hall, paint, and add more organizational pieces that would help me maximize the space on the shelving unit. But I am trying to make the best with what I have now until that time comes. Especially because I have some other spaces in my home that have a higher priority for organizational items. So I hope these tips might help inspire you to organize your spaces without waiting to have the budget to buy all the cute organizational things.
Remember Mama, you are doing a great job! You got this!
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