Some people have beautiful laundry rooms, while others have laundry closets located on the side of a guest room or in a basement that are not as visually appealing. I have a laundry closet, but I wish I had a laundry room (affiliate). To make my laundry closet more organized and visually appealing, I completed the following tasks to improve its efficiency and appearance.
Updated for 2026, I added additional tips at the bottom if you want to check them out.
Jump to:
- Key Takeaways
- Label bins on shelves
- Use sturdy plastic to sort supplies
- Have different-sized bins for different uses
- Have extra "clean" clothes baskets for transport upstairs
- Hang a clothing wire for items that need to air dry
- Have a collapsible basket for items that need soaking.
- 2026 Laundry Closet Upgrades
- The Best Way to Organize Clothing During the Fall Months
- Closing
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways
- Organize your laundry closet using wicker bins (affiliate) and labels (affiliate) for better efficiency and appearance.
- Use sturdy plastic bins (affiliate) to sort supplies and store large (affiliate) bottles securely.
- Incorporate collapsible baskets for soaking items, especially when lacking a sink.
- Add a retractable (affiliate) clothing line for air-drying clothes to maximize space.
- These updates help maintain order in your laundry room (affiliate), making it easy to find everything.
I used these wicker bins (affiliate) to store items that are not frequently used but needed in the home. You may have seen these bins before. I used them in my kitchen before my kitchen remodel project. Click and check them out. Repurposing bins is my favorite tip to share with others. The labels (affiliate) were made using Martha Stewart labels (affiliate), which are manufactured by Avery. Here is an example of similar ones I used at Amazon (affiliate): Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Brown Kraft Labels (affiliate) Classic, 1-⅝" x 1-¾", 36/Pack.
Since the cardstock would not stick to the hard wicker, I used this: Command Outdoor Light Clips, 16-Clip, 4-Pack
from Amazon (affiliate).
Label bins on shelves
Don't they look so pretty now that they have a new purpose? The benefits of using wicker are that you don't see the plumbing in the back of them.
Use sturdy plastic to sort supplies
The plastic bin for the extra laundry supplies was used in my hallway pantry (affiliate) upstairs. However, since the kitchen was renovated, I no longer needed to use it for that purpose. I decided to use it to hold the large (affiliate) supply bottles, so they don't destroy the shelf.
Have different-sized bins for different uses
Then, I added one large (affiliate) bin for extra cleaning supplies from the wholesale store that I pull from when I need to refill the smaller bottles.
Have extra "clean" clothes baskets for transport upstairs
I also have clean-clothes laundry baskets that I use to sort the folded clothes after they come out of the dryer. These baskets stay in the laundry closet shelf until we need them. Here is the post that explains how I use them: Laundry Chore Organized and Finished.
Hang a clothing wire for items that need to air dry
I also needed to find a place to hang clothes to dry because we have lots of clothes that need to be dried in the dryer. And, I installed a single retractable (affiliate) line. And, placed it on one end of the folding door frame to the other for drying clothes. Here are some versions of what I bought from Amazon (affiliate): Indoor Outdoor Housekeeping Laundry Clothing Accessories Retractable Single Line.
Have a collapsible basket for items that need soaking.
And, since I do not have a sink in my basement, =(. I purchased this collapsible dish tub to soak items in when needed. It is perfect for any soaking clothing jobs and can be brought to the upstairs or outside faucet.
This link is where you can buy it from Amazon (affiliate):
Prepworks from Progressive International CDT-1 Collapsible Dish Tub. This dish tub sits on top of my washer, with the laundry detergent above. It helps catch any spills from the laundry detergent dispenser. It works nicely.
2026 Laundry Closet Upgrades
A few small things have changed since I first organized this closet, so here's what I've added or swapped this year to keep it running even smoother.
Add a slim rolling cart for the awkward gap.
If your closet has a few extra inches next to the washer or dryer, a slim rolling cart (affiliate) tucks right in there. I use mine for dryer sheets, stain sticks (affiliate), and a lint roller (affiliate), so everything I reach for mid-load is at arm's length.
Slim Rolling Storage Cart with Wheels 4 Tier Skinny Bathroom Storage Organizer Narrow Shelf Unit
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Swap paper labels for a laminated or magnetic option.
My cardstock labels (affiliate) have held up well, but basements get humid. If yours start to curl, laminated labels (affiliate) or magnetic label (affiliate) strips on metal shelving (affiliate) hold up much better long-term and still look clean.
For the wicker bins (affiliate) above, I found these label (affiliate) clips that work great for wicker bins (affiliate) on Amazon (affiliate). I purchased them for my daughter's other IKEA cabinet clothing storage bins post.
Wicker Labels: 12PCS Basket Labels Clip On for Storage Bins
Buy Now →
Wicker Labels: 18 Pcs Acrylic Basket Labels, Storage Tags with Chalk Marker Removable
Buy Now →
Wicker Labels: 18 Pcs Plastic Basket Bin Label Clip on Removable Basket Label Clip
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Add a small over-the-door pocket organizer.
If your laundry room (affiliate) has a door, an over-the-door (affiliate) pocket organizer or over-the-door (affiliate) hanger rods are an easy win for storing hangers (affiliate), stain removers, clothespins, and mesh delicate bags; things that are too small to earn their own bin but too annoying to dig for. Just make sure the over-the-door (affiliate) organizer can hold the weight of the items you plan to place in it.
Over the Door Hanging Pantry Organizer (52" x 18") clear with 15 Pockets Each
Buy Now →
Over the Door Organizer Heavy Duty 55x14x6.7,
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Keep a mini leak sensor near the washer.
Since I don't have a floor drain down there, I added a small water-leak sensor near the base of the washer. It's cheap peace of mind for a basement laundry setup like mine. One with an app works well so you can get notified on your mobile device.
Mini Leak Sensors: GoveeLife Upgraded Smart Water Leak Detector 1s with High Alarm, 5 Pack
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Rotate seasonal items out.
Once a season, I do a two-minute check of the laundry room (affiliate) for extra detergent, dryer sheets, or a stray sock stash and move anything I'm not using to the bin for large (affiliate) refill supplies. It keeps the closet from creeping back into clutter.
Pro Tip: When pulling out clothing from the dryer, place unmatched socks in a bin stored on the door or in a wicker bin. Then, tell family members to find their missing sock in that bin. It saves you and them time looking for the missing sock.
The Best Way to Organize Clothing During the Fall Months
From September to November, our closets have mixed clothing from summer through fall and even some winter clothes. But not all closets can hold everything and stay well organized.
Use a QR code label for care instructions (optional).
If you love a good system, print a small QR code label linking to a shared note or doc with your fabric care reminders (like water temps or which cycle to use for delicates). It sounds a little too detailed, but it's saved time from re-Googling the same thing twice. We also laminated a sheet we got from Amazon (affiliate) and placed it in the drawer with instructions for different types of stains.
Closing
By implementing all these updates, we have significantly improved our space. Now, everyone knows where everything goes, and it keeps the clutter to a minimum. I love it! It's like I have a laundry room (affiliate), well, not really. What ideas do you use in your laundry room (affiliate) closet? Please comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with a few stackable bins that fit your exact width, and add a slim wall-mounted shelf above the machines if you can. You don't need built-ins to make a laundry closet functional; you just need containers sized to what you actually store.
Clear, simple labels work best just the category, not a long description. In a basement, laminated or magnetic labels hold up better than cardstock since humidity can cause paper to curl over time.
A retractable clothesline mounted across the closet opening is one of the easiest fixes. It stays tucked away when not in use and gives you a spot to air-dry delicates without taking up floor space.
A collapsible dish tub is a great workaround for hand-washing or soaking items. It stores flat on top of the washer when not in use and can be carried upstairs or outside to empty.
A quick seasonal check, about once every three months, is enough to catch expired supplies, extra bottles you don't need, or clutter that's crept back in. It keeps the space from needing a full redo later.
No, consistent color or material (like all wicker or all clear plastic) reads as organized even if the bins are different brands or shapes. Matching labels tie it together more than matching bins do.
Here are more laundry room tips to help you!
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon. And at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Seana Turner says
I am a big believer in investing some time and energy to make whatever laundry space you have as nice as possible. We spend a lot of time in there! Plus, if it is crowded, inefficient, poorly lit or otherwise unpleasant, we tend to cart the laundry all over the house for folding just to get out of there, and this creates a secondary problem. This can be such a rewarding project!
Linda Samuels says
Kudos to you for making your laundry closet so appealing AND organized! Nice job. I love those labeled wicker baskets. Laundry is such a huge deal in most households. In some cases, it can be a full-time job and can create a lot of stress. Having things set-up appealingly is half the battle. Even if you don't have a lot of space, ideas like the ones you shared will go a long way in making laundry-doing a pleasant experience.