photo by Ralph Hockens
Good morning, Coffee Ladies!
I hate to air my dirty laundry in public, but I have a problem.
And it really is dirty laundry!
It’s not actually washing, drying, folding, and putting it all away that seems to give me fits (although that sometimes is a problem, it is usually temporary). My problem is long-term, and I need help. It’s the clothes hamper–the what and the where. What vessel to use to hold it, and more importantly, where to store it (the vessel, that is).
Right now, my children have hampers in their closets. That works fine, when they actually hit the hamper. The problem is my and my husband’s laundry. We currently have a metal rack that holds a 3-compartment cloth bin. Picture the kind on wheels from the laundromat (or wash-a-teria, as my mother says). I envisioned this as the perfect recepticle: Pre-sorted laundry, ready for the washer whenever I have a few minutes. The problem is that the laundry just sits mostly on top (not really falling into the compartment)–and that it sits in full view in our master bathroom–which is in dire need of a re-do, but that’s a different matter.
I hate seeing this dirty reminder of what I have not completed, but I don’t know where to put it or what the best it is. In other people’s homes, I don’t see the ugly storage issue, so I’m thinking they have a plan that works. I need suggestions. Baskets in closets? Bins under sinks? Pretty wicker hamper in the bedroom?
What do you store your dirty laundry in? And where do you keep it?
Ideas and tips would be greatly appreciated!
I’m in the same boat as you, with the same style laundry sorter and everything. Honestly, I love ours EXCEPT that I bought a super-cheap one, and it’s just that– super-cheap. It’s tough to roll to the laundry room without it completely falling to shambles, so I usually just grab whichever bag of clothes I’m going to wash and haul it across the house.
Fortunately my house isn’t very big.
Please post pictures if you find a solution!
I don’t think I have much of a solution for you. I use a tall wicker type container with a hinged lid. It hides the stuff inside, but it tends to get clothing stacked ON TOP when we are in a hurry. Which is all the time. I was going to suggest a tool like a toilet plunger to “plunge” your clothes down into the compartments? Nah, that’s not a pleasant idea.
I’ll be curious to see what the other suggestions are!
Yep…I feel ya…Our laundry hamper is in the corner on my side of the bed, sometimes it gets so tall I am afraid it will topple over and drown me in dirty clothes…EEK!
If you get a great solution, pass it on !
Hmmm, no fantastic ideas for you. We just use a boring old laundry basket that sits inside our clostet and I sort the clothes as I do laundry. I do the laundry every Mon, Wed, and Fri so it never gets too full or out of control. Sorry, I am not much help!
No real tips here, but we just have a hamper in our room, and one in my daughter’s room. I sort when I wash. I’m kinda weird and like doing laundry, so this works for me. Check out some of the links on here, maybe they’ll help.
http://search.realsimple.com/results.html?Ntt=laundry&hdr_search_btn.x=0&hdr_search_btn.y=0
well, we store it in one of our closets (we have his and hers closets). They are small but we make it work. I have a large tall mesh basket for towels in my closet and in his closet we have baskets that are color-coded. Blue for colds, white for whites, etc. It stays out of a view and most things make it into the right basket (I had to train my husband on this a bit…)
Rolling would be nice…but my laundry room is 2 floors down! My secret desire is a laundry chute. Maybe some day…
At least the wicker makes at attempt to look better! I’m continuously amazed at where I stack clothing…
Actually, Star, this might be the way I should go. I would have to get used to the schedule idea though–which of course, might make me a WHOLE lot more productive!
Good ideas, Kaylene! I especially like the towel basket idea. Mine are typically draped over tub, door, hook, etc. to dry out completely. (We take a LOT of showers.)
Thanks, Ladies, for airing your dirty laundry! Sorry my replies don’t match up with your comments…I just can’t seem to get the hang of this theme!
Dear Sister – it’s totally genetic, I believe. I have the tri-sorter, 2 tall baskets, 2-3 normal baskets, and I have a stack going on the floor in my bedroom now. (I’m sure they’re still clean!)
I sometimes think a bonfire is the best idea.
That is a genetic thought, too.
I love the Wash-A-Teria word…I say it whenever I get the chance and people don’t miss a beat before they say, “The what?!”
M.
Maybe they say wash-a-teria in Lebanon, TN…See you Wed. or Thursday!