Organizing the Laundry Room Supply Closet

Yup, two organizing posts in a row. I love that I’ve now come to the stage of getting to organize all the spaces in the house and not just shoving stuff in there “for the time being”. Today I’m taking you into that corner of the laundry room that I promised I’d show you.

 

So when you enter the laundry room, there’s a closet in the right hand corner. It’s actually the broom closet from the old kitchen. Looking very drab it was. Not the squeaky clean look I was aiming for in the laundry room so I decided to give it a make over.

 

First I sealed the gap where the wall was uneven with some of that expanding foam and then cut the excess off and caulked the whole side where the closet meets the wall.

 

Then I used No More Nails to attach some pieces of wood to the top of the closet where there was a gap. I’ve had this stuff for a while now but it hasn’t been any good when I’ve been working with MDF but for this  project it was perfect. No nails!

 

Then I proceeded to clean the surfaces and to prime them and after that put the white top coat on.

 

I wasn’t sure how well the paint would adhere to these laminated surfaces but it worked out really well.

 

Before I actually started prettifying the outside it felt like a good idea to organize what was inside. Above is what the before looked like. Basically a jumble of cleaning and laundry supplies just piled on top of each other.

 

So I did what I almost always do when I organize, I got it all out before starting over and putting it back in again.

 

I love baskets for organizing. They’re great for making drawers where there are none like on the top shelf here. And way down here at the bottom too.

 

 

In order for brooms etc to be able to stand in this narrow space I decided to pull all the plastic containers to the front and leave the gap at the back for that purpose.

 

Everything now has a place, brushes in one drawer, laundry soaps and stain removers in an other, liquids in a basked at the bottom…

 

… and at the very bottom, clean towels and mops. I don’t know about you but stuff like this, simple as it is, makes my heart sing.

Comments

[Älvan]

It makes my heart sing, too. Not very much time for organizing though since I have 2 hours of commute every day.

[Hxx]

Smart x

[Judith]

LOVE IT. I'm in a big organizing mood at the moment (read: going crazy from all the clutter) so this post is extra inspirational!

[nicolezh]

this looks amazing, well done!

[Petit Filoux]

Love it!!

[Angela]

Mine too :-D But I'm still in the chapter of emptying moving boxes. Seufz!
Cheers, Angela

[Fiona]

Where do you get the pull out plastic boxes? It looks great!

[Monica]

Love it! I have been working on organizing some areas in my house and it makes my heart sing to reflect on the progress. Totally understand you! Where did you buy the Bar Keepers Friend?

[elisa]

oh yes. somehow it feels like the rest of life can be got on with, because basic things are in order. i hung my broom up in the corner where all my cleaning things life, and it's amazing how much more settled i feel! everyone knows where the broom is if they need it, and we know where to put it away. one more thing to not think about. x

[Vanessa]

It looks fabulous! Specially how you integrated the closet to the wall, it makes it look exclusive some how. So fresh, so clean - yummie!
Funny is that the day before yesterday I organized my sock drawer and the yesterday I did the same with my broom- and supply closet in our laundry room. Wonder what you will show us tomorrow ;-)

[Linda]

Kul att du visade städskåpet, jag håller nämligen på att skapa ett städskåp då vi inte har haft något sånt i huset, men jag har en stor dubbelgarderob till mitt förfogande, problemet är ju hyllor och sånt, men jag får väl ta en tur till Ikea.. ;)
Nu vet jag lite var jag behöver.! ;)

[Malin]

Snyggt och prydligt! Blir inspirerad att ta tag i vårt eget.

[Carlos]

They came with the old kitchen. There wew a couple in each cabinet and I gathered most of them in this one closet instead.

[Carlos]

I always buy it when I go to the States.

[Carlos]

*were

[strikkelise]

Can i ask what that is?
I also wonder about the (stainless?) clothes dryer thingie with all the pegs on. I've only ever seen them in plastic?
One last question, have you seen those little glass beads to clean bottles with over there in Sweden? I've been looking for them for ages. You're supposed to fill the bottle with beads, add some liquid and "roll" around to clean the inside of the bottle.
(thanks)
Love your cabinet, it actually looks inviting! Good job.

[Carlos]

It's a cleaning powder that works wonders on grimy surfaces. Read about it in a Martha Stewart Living magazine eons ago (it's apparently Martha's favorite).

I bought the sock dryer at Ladies Market in Hong Kong. I loved it because it was metal and not plastic. It doesn't get much use anymore because I have a dryer now but I still keep it up for the occasional thing that can't go in there.

I haven't seen those beads in Sweden, but I know which ones you mean.

[Allison from 2momstobe.blogspot.com]

I love an organized anything, and this closet looks awesome!

Also, very glad to hear that I'm not the only one who needs to pull everything out into a giant mess in order to get it all sorted.

[strikkelise]

Thanks! I'll definitely look for a metal sock dryer the next time I go to Hong Kong :)

[Monica]

Love it!

My favourite kind of posts.

Big kiss from Portugal

[Karen]

My favorite kind of post too!

[Lisa]

It's amazing what a difference caulk and trims make!
I never realised before I started reading interior dec blogs that this is key to making rooms look finished.
And good to know that snickerigrund works on laminate!

It's so much better to buy useful things as souvenires.
Does it make you think of the trip you made when you hang washing, or use the cleaning products?

I've stopped buying souvenires that are associated with the place, because when you get home they never seem to find a place. Instead I buy jewellery, or even a small useful thing like a lighter. But I have yet to try cleaning products!

[Carlos]

I do think about the trips when using them :).

[Monica]

I was afraid you would say that...

[Dana from CT]

Gorgeous! And I learned a new favorite word that I want to walk around saying today: "Snickerigrund" Wow that's fun. What does it mean?? I think I could use it in place of a swear when I stub my toe or when someone sneezes instead of "Gesundheit" :-)

PS - NOT making fun of Swedish. Love it. My husband speaks both Swedish & Norwegian. Actually more Norwegian than Swedish. His Swedish is probably Swedewegian!

[homestilo]

Makes me want to go clean out a closet or two...

[Maura]

I love the organizing posts! You make it seem so natural and obvious, which helps me and my more, um... freestyle?... brain.

[Valeria]

Love the square glass knob... And the touches of green.x

[Lisa Flaherty]

Looks great! I love Bar Keeper's Friend, too. Those sliding drawers are very cool, especially with leaving room on the other side for your brooms. I was wondering what you use the squeeze bottles for. Thanks!

[christine e-e]

love your organizing tips! reminds me of another place to tackle in my house. I'm in a rearranging mood... didn't do spring cleaning (because I was on crutches & it was difficult to get around)...

[Carlos]

I used them for some of the cleaning products in the WC in the old house.

[Carlos]

Snickerigrund = Primer :)

[seashoreknits]

Simply fantastic. I get so much inspiration from your organizing posts.

[Kelly]

I should be writing down all of this. Just moved into a house a week ago and am still in the unpacking/have you seen X and cannot wait until we can start getting the fun parts of cleaning up and making perfect, even areas like the laundry room.

[Annemarie Thomas]

i agree with elisa that i feel 'settled' when things are organized. when i have weekend, or worse yet week, guests i am crazy when they leave. they don't mean to create disorder, but between getting set up for them (usually in my study/guest room) and their normal activities i am nuts.

as my father used to say "a place for everything and everything in its place."

[Peggy]

That last photo makes me so happy. I love the way the mop looks in the bottom bin. Thanks for the inspiration. Meanwhile, I'm off to organize my pantry.

[susan]

you are an organizational inspiration - as usual!
and i am fully intrigued by the barkeeper's friend- can you get that in sweden? i've been schlepping it here from the US!

[Bloobreyplace.blogspot.com]

Wow, this is great! =D This is exactly what I have to do with my closet... Will have to buy that expanding foam! =) Did you also nail the closet on the wall? And, did you do the same with the closet in your bedroom? Thanks for sharing!

http://bloobreyplace.blogspot.com

[Evolvesimply]

My heart is singing too! I'm inspired by your brave do-it-yourself approach. I'm almost ready to fly you to Canada for some assistance :).
Leanne

[Älvan]

If you cannot find the beads, try (unboiled) rice, that's supposed to work as well.

[Carlos]

I did screw both this closet and the ones in my bedroom nook into the walls.

[Carlos]

So have I :)

[Helena]

Dina "före" bilder ser ut ungefär som mina "konstant" bilder.... Önskar att jag kunde vara lika organiserad, skulle förmodligen hitta saker MYCKET fortare då! :)

[Bloobreyplace.blogspot.com]

Thank you so much! I'm looking forward to seeing your bedroom closet, too (in case you have planned to share it)! =)

[E.]

Those drawers are great! Much better in many ways than fixed shelves: easier to clean and customize, and nothing can hide behind other things.

I would add a wall-mounted mop and broom holder on the side, because I hate the deformation that often affects mops, brooms, and such things when they're left standing on the floor. And they dry better and stay cleaner when hung up, too... :)

It could possibly go on the door also, and then push the drawers to the back to make room for the hung-up mops and brooms when the door is closed.

[Malin]

Det blev helt fantastiskt bra!!!
Angående att måla på laminat. Vill bara tipsa om Interior Fix Primer från Flugger. Helt suverän att grunda plast, laminat och alla möjliga "konstiga" material med!

[Carlos]

Tack för tips!

[susan]

Rats! I was hoping you'd say you found a source! :)

[Vanessa (The VMCA)]

Just seeing such an organised laundry closet has inspired me to do something better with mine. Mine is just a kitchen style cabinet (top) with two quite tall shelves - and I've been meaning to get baskets and organise it properly, and I think now I wilL!