Organizing Our Small Laundry Space + My Favorite Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
While we were house-hunting, Andrew and I got real about our priorities and non-negotiables when buying a home. With our budget in mind, we knew it wasn’t realistic to find a place that hit absolutely everything on our list, so we narrowed it down to three things that mattered the most to us. Our non-negotiables were natural light, open kitchen, and the location (within biking distance to downtown). Luckily, our new home checks all three of these boxes (and more!).
Since the location was a top priority for us, we had to compromise on storage space (farewell walk-in closet dreams). As I’m sure you know with any in-demand city, the closer you get to downtown, the higher the price and the smaller the space. We considered the lack of storage as a positive challenge that will only empower us to continue our mindful and minimalist lifestyle. It has also been fun getting creative and handy with our organizational systems! Starting with the laundry, I wanted to share the choices we made to maximize our tiny laundry space.
1. Ordered a Stackable High-Performance Washer & Dryer
Our old apartment had a larger laundry space with a side-by-side top load washer and dryer that we rented. While I enjoyed the larger space, I wouldn’t trade my new stackable unit for anything. Samsung hooked us up with the most rad washer and dryer. To be exact, we have the WF6200 4.5 cu. ft. AddWash™ Front Load Washer and DV6200 7.5 cu. ft. Electric Dryer in white.
Here’s why we love it:
It’s so quiet - I don’t even know it’s on.
The washer has the AddWash™ door feature, where I can easily add in forgotten laundry after the cycle has begun.
It’s more eco-friendly since it’s energy-star certified.
I can monitor my cycles with the app, so I don’t forget to put my clothes in the dryer (which is something I used to do all the time ha!).
The washer is 4.5 cu. ft. and the dryer is 7.5 cu ft. which has been the perfect capacity for our lifestyle. We get more laundry done in less time.
2. Installed a simple adjustable shelving system
As first-time homeowners, going to Home Depot has become our new date night. I promise it’s more fun than it sounds, haha! We had a very narrow space we were working with, so we opted for a single-track adjustable shelving system. It was SO easy to install and we can add more shelves or we can move the shelves up or down as needed. It was inexpensive, unfancy, and just how we wanted it. It cost us about $70 for the entire set up.
Here’s the exact rundown of what we purchased:
3. Utilized baskets for optimal organization
Bins, baskets, boxes, oh my. These are the golden ticket to staying organized AF. Last year, I went to the Container Store and purchased a shiz ton of organizational bins, and we’ve used every single one in the new house. I went out and purchased more of the same baskets since they work so well. Our laundry shelf is organized with non-toxic cleaning products and extra eco-friendly toilet paper, dish towels, vacuum attachments, etc.
Here are my favorite non-toxic cleaning products:
Molly’s Suds for concentrated laundry detergent - it’s eco-friendly, made with only 5 earth-derived ingredients, and it’s even better for specifically high-efficiency washers since it creates no suds that can interfere with your machine sensors. I also like Molly’s Suds Oxygen Whitener.
Branch Basics Concentrate for virtually any cleaning use (including laundry detergent if you want). I’m a big fan of non-toxic concentrates, because it significantly reduces waste, but is also way more cost effective. For some perspective, a 33 oz. bottle of Branch Basic’s Concentrate makes 16 All-Purpose spray bottles (24 oz.), costing only $2.90 each! Yow. All of their bottles are made to be re-used and refilled over and over again. I use the concentrate for hand soap, dish soap, countertop sprays, bathroom cleaner, window spray, car washing and more. It has simplified our lives, truly.
Branch Basics Wool Dryer Balls as an eco-friendly and natural replacement for your dryer sheets. It cuts drying time by 10-25%, which I’ve noticed especially when it comes to drying towels and sheets. It also helps soften fabric, reduce static, and smooth wrinkles.
That’s it! We don’t have oodles of cleaning products, because we don’t need them. It’s all simple, cost-effective, non-toxic, and better for mama earth. I hope this post inspired you to make the most of your small spaces by simplifying and opening up your mind to all of the creative possibilities that make your place work for you and your lifestyle!
