Doing the laundry is one of those household jobs that never seems to end — sorting, washing, drying, ironing, folding, then putting it all away again. If you’re looking for ways to make laundry day a bit quicker and a lot less stressful, here are 15 clever laundry hacks to save you time (and maybe even make the job a little more enjoyable!).
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From ways to organise your utility room to laundry design ideas to simple tips that help make laundry quicker and easier, you’ll love these laundry hacks.
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Clever Laundry Hacks to Try
#1. A Hanging Pole
Image: Twelve on Main
This is a nice idea from Twelve on Main — fit a hanging pole between your laundry cabinets so you can hang shirts up to dry, or straight after ironing. One of our favourite laundry hacks!
#2. Have a Simple Sorting System
Image: Yellow Brick Home
We love this simple sorting system from Yellow Brick Home, who used canvas bags to make laundry sorting more efficient without taking up much space.
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#3. Pegboard
Image: A Beautiful Mess
This is such a clever idea from A Beautiful Mess — use a pegboard to keep big and small items organised and easy to find.
#4. Rolling Storage
A slide-out storage tower like the ones available on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk gives you a pull-out, 3-tier cupboard on wheels that fits neatly between appliances. Castors let it glide in and out easily, keeping items organised and within arm’s reach.
#5. Hang Your Ironing Board Up
Image: A Diamond in the Stuff
Short on space and need somewhere to store your ironing board? This idea from A Diamond in the Stuff is a nifty one — hang your board on hooks on the wall.
#6. Create a Missing Sock Hanger
Image: Cricut
Give those poor socks that have lost their “sole mate” a home with this fun project and step-by-step instructions from Cricut.
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#7. A Hanging Drying Rack
Image: One Creative Mommy
Many homes used to have ceiling clothes racks that pulled up and down out of the way — a handy trick that still works brilliantly today. Here’s a tutorial from One Creative Mommy to make one for your own laundry room.
#8. Dryer Lint Bin
Image: Building Our Story
If your laundry room is on the small side, or you just want a laundry space that’s both practical and pretty, this dryer lint bin from Building Our Story is quick to make and mounts straight to the wall.
#9. Pull-Down Wall Rack
Image: Imperfectly Polished
Need a drying rack but don’t have much room? This DIY pull-down wall rack from Imperfectly Polished could be just the trick.
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#10. Pocket Change Jar
Image: We Got the Funk
This cute idea from We Got The Funk gives all those stray coins and pocket bits a home in a labelled “Check Your Pocket” jar. It takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
#11. Retractable Clothes Line
Image: Just About Home
This handy retractable clothes line idea from Just About Home uses a cupboard to store the lines away when not in use. One tip worth following: anchor both ends of the line into wall studs, as a line full of wet washing gets heavy fast.
#12. Table Top Ironing Board
Image: A Crafty Fox
No space for a full-size ironing board? Try this neat table-top version from A Crafty Fox, complete with instructions for making your own — you can iron on a table or on top of an appliance.
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#13. Keep Laundry Detergent Out of Reach
Image: The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking
One of the most important laundry hacks if you have small children at home: keep detergents and laundry tablets well out of reach. This idea from The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking uses big jars with safety lids to store detergent powder up and away safely — you could do the same with tablets or gels. The labelled wooden crates for other laundry items are a nice organising touch too.
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#14. Drop-Down Laundry Table
Image: Housewives of Riverton
If space is at a premium wherever you do your laundry, a drop-down laundry table like this one from Housewives of Riverton folds away neatly when it’s not in use. Full instructions and a materials list are on their blog.
#15. Raise the Machines
Image: Decorpad
If you have a front-loading washer and dryer, you might like this idea from Decorpad, which builds in cabinets with raised machines. It saves all that bending over to load and unload, and the pull-out shelf is a particularly nice touch.
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Have you tried any laundry hacks that saved you time? What else would you recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the quickest way to make laundry day less overwhelming?
Start with a simple sorting system — even just a couple of labelled bags or bins for lights, darks and delicates — so washing is already organised before it hits the machine. Small changes like a hanging pole for damp shirts or a spot to hang the ironing board also cut down on the little jobs that add up.
How can I stop losing socks in the wash?
A dedicated “missing sock” spot, like a small hanger or basket kept near the machine, means stray socks have somewhere to live until their pair turns up — much easier than hunting through drawers.
What should I do about coins and bits left in pockets?
A simple labelled jar near the laundry basket for pocket contents means loose change, tissues and odds and ends get caught before they go through the wash, saving both your machine and your patience.
How do I keep laundry supplies safe if I have young children?
Store detergents, tablets and gels well out of reach, ideally in a high cupboard or in jars with safety lids. It’s one of the simplest changes you can make to keep a laundry area child-safe.
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- 10 Practical Storage Hacks to Help Declutter The House
- 10 Hacks for Parents to Organise Toys
- 12 More Clever Toy Storage & Organisation Hacks
- 8 More Chic and Clever Ideas for Small Room Decor
- 10 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Home
Save This for Later
Loved these laundry hacks? Save this page or share it with a friend who could use a hand keeping on top of the washing pile — and browse our other home organisation ideas for more quick wins around the house.
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