FastTrack – Not Just for the Garage

So, here it is – our previously disorganized laundry room (a.k.a. utility closet, first floor storage facility, and dog room.)

One of the main issues with this room was that we couldn't use this really cool laundry chute.  If we used it, the clothes would drop onto this shelf and then drop into the middle of the floor.  The shelves are great, but the laundry chute was not usable with the shelves there.

Problem two – we had a ton of different things stored in here and there was no rhyme or reason as to what was stored where.  Dog food/treats/toys, cleaning supplies, laundry soaps, extra napkins and plastic utensils, citronella candles…you get the point.  The plan was to keep all of this in this room, but just get it organized.

Third issue – dish rags, dog towels, etc. always piled up on the dryer, waiting to be cleaned.  I wanted to have a place for these items to go before they went into the washing machine.

In order to get our laundry room organized, I thought that the FastTrack system could be a great option.  It was designed to work in the garage, but it seemed like such a versatile system, so why not try it in the laundry room?  I heard it was easy to use, quick to install, and that it actually worked.  So, I looked through the FastTrack product catalog, made a few measurements, received my products, and got started.  I also used a few Rubbermaid clear containers to help organize the shelves. 

So here it is – my newly organized laundry room.

We’ve organized the shelves with some clear Rubbermaid containers.

 We’ve made the laundry chute usable and eliminated the pile of clothes on the dryer.  I absolutely LOVE my hanging laundry basket!

 

We’ve also used FastTrack to organize all of our dog stuff and all of our extra paper plates, spoons, cups, etc.

 

The best part of this project was my husband’s comments and excitement throughout the installation process:  “I’m impressed. I’m a fan of products that work well."

This project went better than expected.  I'm looking forward to the next organization project!

Laundry "Room" Makeover – The Plan

 
Our first house we lived in had a proper laundry room. We bought our very first washer and dryer from Sears, BARELY missing the innovation, style and space efficiency of front loading machines. These machines always worked great, especially in the space we had them in.. til we moved. Our current house is in the city and is a lot smaller space than our previous house. We don't have a Laundry Room, we have a Laundry Closet. I've been living with the mess and general craziness of having a Laundry Closet for a few years now and am looking to make a change.

I always figured I would just purchase a new set, ones that stack, and fit the space better. But the ones I have work great. So instead of wasting my money on new ones, I figure the space just needs an bit of an overhaul and some organization. I found some good laundry tips on Blissfully Domestic. One of their tips I already use: several bins designated for clothes sorting. Does anyone else have any good tips or ideas on how to get a humble Laundry Closet to function like a Laundry Room? Or other good laundry org tips?

Here is my "Before" pic...
 

  

FastTrack all over the house

Sadly, I don't have a garage.  But, because they have an additional hole for direct mount into studs in interior walls, I have still found ways to use Rubbermaid FastTrack hooks throughout my house.

Here are a few places the hooks have come in handy for me:

1-Holding mops / stick tools in my laundry room (3 handle S hook)

2- Propping up canvases in my art closet (ladder hooks)

Holding camping chairs in my really little coat closet (hose hook)

Keeping sporting goods off the floor (Multipurpose hook) - this poor tennis racket hasn't seen any court time for quite awhile, so it needs a good resting place!

Alternative "Linen Closet"

If you don't have a linen closet like Jim (see his blog on his Linen Closet Makeover) , a quick way to store extra tablecloths, linens and sheets is an underbed box.  I love how the top flap will open halfway so I don't have to drag the box completely out to find what I am looking for. 

How do you store sheets and linens?

Spring Cleaning with Slide & Stack

We have an item in our kitchen product portfolio called Slide & Stack.  Every time we switch our color offering, they do a giveaway of the outdated colors in our office.  Over the years, I have collected a ton of these, and I was joking with our product manager, Alissa, that I had one in every room in the house!  

I would say the most unusual use would be in the freezer.  To save money, I buy chicken in bulk and put them in individual freezer baggies so I can save them for later use. I was frustrated with them always tumbling out of the freezer, so the Slide & Stack has helped keep them in order!

Just wanted to share the ways I have used it in my house case it can help with your Spring Cleaning challenges. 

I'd love to help one of you out - leave a post below about why you need a few of these Slide & Stacks.  Alissa, our product manager, will guest judge these on Monday 4/27 @ 1pm and we'll select a winner to win a case for their Spring Cleaning!

Laundry Room Organization

When I moved, I did gain some extra indoor space but the one thing I lost was garage space. As a result, I had to maximize my laundry room to accommodate for laundry needs, as well as the items that were traditionally kept in the garage.  Below is what I did to make this space work for me.

Step 1: Laundry Area

Taking Configurations closet systems, I arranged 3 shelves above my washer / dryer.  Using Slide & Stack baskets, I grouped my laundry items into a few categories. The Slide & Stacks are great because it allows me to only pull out the basket I need at the time, such as: 

1. Handwashing (Woolite, etc.)
2. Ironing supplies, spray starch
3. Microfiber cloths for cleaning
4. General cleaning supplies
5. Stain removal, treatment
6. Accessories, such as dryer sheets, wrinkle releaser, etc.
7. Dryel & pads

Step 2: Stuff that was in the garage

I took Rubbermaid totes and placed them on Rubbermaid resin shelves to house a variety of garage items.  A few include:

1. Drill / charger
2. Common tools such as hammer, screwdrivers (a regular toolbox frustrated me because it took so much time to pull it out and find it in the general mass of random tools)
3. Nuts / bolts / screws / nails
4. Circular saw

All in all, while I miss the large amount of space I had in my garage, it has been a fairly good system to keep up with everything.  As always, if anyone has any ideas, send them my way!!