I’ve shown you my laundry room before, all clean and new and shiny. Oh, you cute little joke of a drying rack! How adorable you were, yet how ineffective! We replaced it with these folding racks, and while the function was greatly improved, it looks messier. Especially since we usually have clothes draped all over the place. This is what the laundry room usually looks like.
Is it weird that most of my clothes seem to color-coordinate with the washer and dryer? Let’s pretend it isn’t. Even the umbrella that’s in the room for some reason works with the room. (And that umbrella, by the way, is from when I first discovered the work of Salvador Dali, as a teenager. Because apparently I was an umbrella-obsessed youth.)
Brandon washes the clothes, and I put them away. I actually like putting things away when I know that they have a specific place to be, all neat and orderly, and folding laundry relaxes me. It’s part of my personality that I can leave clutter out in plain view, but the things behind doors, in cupboards, drawers, and closets, all need to be neat. Are you like that?
So yes, Brandon does 99% of our laundry; he always has. We’ve also always liked and used Method’s detergent. I like it a whole lot more now too, after learning about the company. One interesting thing they talked about was the ripple effect their laundry detergent had across the industry. They were able to super-concentrate it to previously unheard of levels, in order to package less water and be more eco-friendly. A competitor then used the technique for their own version , and the big box stores loved it — not because it was more green, but because they could fit more product on the shelves in less space. So the giant stores put pressure on the industry, and soon everyone started offering smaller versions with less water. It wasn’t done with the green conscience that Method had, but the end result was still good for the environment.
Oh, and remember when I said you were going to want to see the Method guy sing? Yeah. It’s time.
Awesome. I’m going to sing it while putting away our clothes now.
US readers can print a $2 coupon from Method’s Facebook page on Thursdays in May, and CA readers can use the discount code “WASHME” here. They also have a photo contest you can enter for a chance at a year’s supply of Method detergent.
casacaudill
May 1, 2012 at 3:21 pmYour laundry room, even in its messier state is much better than mine. Our particular room was a poorly constructed addition. The drywall is sad, sad, sad. Someone tried to build a closet in there out of bead board only – it’s so dilapidated and ugly. I don’t think I’ve ever shown a picture of that room before, and with good reason. The current plan is to bring in someone to turn it into a half bath/laundry room which will greatly improve the space, especially as it’s on view from pretty much every part of my house.
Andreina
May 1, 2012 at 3:46 pmForgive me for asking, but why don’t you use clothespins? You would save so much space for other garments to dry.
Kathryn Humphreys
May 1, 2012 at 4:01 pmPerhaps Eleanor absconded with all of them for her doll collection :)
Making it Lovely
May 1, 2012 at 11:46 pmHa, yes!
Making it Lovely
May 1, 2012 at 4:07 pmSo many of my things say “lay flat to dry”, so we’ve just defaulted to it. We use the dryer for most of our clothes.
Jamie Tinaglia Lee
May 1, 2012 at 3:57 pmIt’s beautiful and such a treat! I would like to do laundry if my laundry room looked like that. Are those ELFA shelves? Do you have anywhere for hanging items or do you just put them away immediately?
Making it Lovely
May 1, 2012 at 11:49 pmThey’re from IKEA, part of the Antonius line. And there’s a rack that I didn’t show that we use for hanging. I photographed it too, but I felt like the post was getting too long!
Kristín
May 1, 2012 at 4:01 pmLuuv your laundry room, even when it’s messy :)
that song must have been inspired by the Flight of the conchords, very niice.. :)
jbhat
May 1, 2012 at 4:02 pmI love the Method grapefruit dishwasher tabs….they don’t cloud up our glasses.
I HATE putting clothes away!
jbhat
Danielle
May 2, 2012 at 1:01 pmI use their tablets also!!
And I just bought their laundry soap. I like the idea of a pump better than the pour.
Jaimie
May 1, 2012 at 4:05 pmSuch a big laundry room! Mine is basically a walk-in closet. It works, but there’s no room for drying racks. I like Method, I use their hand soap (love the lemongrass scent), but I make my own laundry detergent using washing soda, borax, and ivory soap.
Whitney
May 1, 2012 at 4:45 pmI’m telling you right now, you need the Liefheit Telegant 100 Drying Rack. It collapses back into the wall when not in use and I can hang an entire load on one rack. You could stack them a couple feet apart if you need more space.
I’m seriously unscrewing this thing from the wall and taking it with me if we ever move.
I got mine on the BBB website, but Amazon has them too.
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 12:01 amWe could use ours the same way, but we don’t hang our clothes to dry by clothespins. I guess I worry needlessly about stretching my clothing out and leaving pinchy marks on them?
Jenn
May 1, 2012 at 4:57 pmI am just like you. Cupboards, drawers – everywhere has to be organised. If I don’t have time to put things away properly they just don’t get put away. I can’t just shove something into a cupboard. This is a bad thing, I know. My house may *look* messy but *inside* it’s tidy and organised. I don’t know anyone in RL that feels the same way.
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 12:02 amI suspect we’re in the minority.
Anne
May 1, 2012 at 5:01 pm“I can leave clutter out in plain view, but the things behind doors, in cupboards, drawers, and closets, all need to be neat. Are you like that?”
I’m totally like that! Every time I start cleaning the house I end up deeply involved in cleaning out a cabinet or organizing a closet! It drives my husband insane.
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 12:04 amI’d much rather concentrate on cabinets and closets! Gotta get those in order first before you add more to them.
Erika
May 1, 2012 at 5:30 pmI love your laundry room! I haven’t tried Method laundry detergent, but I absolutely LOVE some of their other cleaning products – particularly the wood floor cleaner that smells like almond.
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 12:05 amThat’s my favorite. I love the almond scent.
Kerry
May 1, 2012 at 7:05 pmThis is great and so many points rang true with me. I love your comment “Oh, you cute little joke of a drying rack! How adorable you were, yet how ineffective!” I always see these amazing photos of beautifully styled spaces, especially kids rooms, and I think seriously, my kid would destroy that. It’s nice to see the real photos, just so we know you’re normal. :) But I still love the eye candy of beautiful rooms.
Heidi S.
May 1, 2012 at 7:36 pmAs a messy person by nature (I’m working on it) it is nice to see that my laundry drawer looks pretty much identical to yours (minus the fun colored washer), laundry soap and fabric softener on one side and mesh bags on the right. Now if I can just get my clothes closet to be half as nice as yours!
I do really LOVE the method detergent! We have been using it for a couple of years, ever since we rented a nice cottage that had it for us to use.
Amanda
May 1, 2012 at 7:39 pmThis post is simply an advertisement for Method. Not impressed!
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 12:13 amThis is a sponsored post, and while I don’t usually discuss the products and companies that sponsor Making it Lovely, I made an exception when I chose to work with Method. We’ve used them for years here, and they’re a great company that I’m happy to talk about.
(Plus, the campaign is seriously awesome.)
sp
May 1, 2012 at 8:46 pmi’ve been wanting to try Method laundry detergent (waiting for my current one to run out)… anyone with sensitive skin have an opinion?
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 12:17 amWe couldn’t use Dreft for our baby clothes because it isn’t recommended for HE washers, so we used our regular Method detergent for August’s and Eleanor’s clothes, even when they were infants.
Mary
May 1, 2012 at 9:30 pm“It’s part of my personality that I can leave clutter out in plain view, but the things behind doors, in cupboards, drawers, and closets, all need to be neat.”
I’m the exact opposite. I can’t leave things laying about. But I can shove them away in drawers, closets, & cabinets. No folding, no organization. Just stuff shoved everywhere. But if someone stops by, the place looks good.
I guess that means by appearances I’m OK but inside I’m a mess.
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 12:19 amHaha! So I suppose that while I may look like a total disaster, I assure you that inside, everything is totally in control.
kim | howtolovethisworld.com
May 1, 2012 at 10:19 pmI’m the opposite! I like everything I can see to be clean and neat, but what’s behind closed, um, drawers, often isn’t. Method products are definitely the bomb!
Tara
May 2, 2012 at 3:31 amI had to laugh at your post because I am generally a neat freak who has to have everything streamlined and put away, consequently most of my cupboards are a disaster zone because I shove things away quickly to get them out of sight. I feel your way is a lot more honest than my “oh I’m sooo tidy…but don’t open that cupboard” approach!
Emily
May 2, 2012 at 4:24 amI have serious laundry envy! Your machines are fab looking. One of the main things I miss as an American expat in Europe are proper washers & dryers (the useless combined yokes are the norm here). O to have a utility room!!
Cath W
May 2, 2012 at 6:00 amWell – if Flight of the Conchords weren’t involved in this campaign, Method should apologise. Complete rip off!
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 2:36 pmReally? It’s just a guy with an acoustic guitar singing a comedic song. Flight of the Conchords do that sure, but so did Tenacious D (before them), and many others.
Deborah
May 2, 2012 at 8:13 amIs that an electric light or a solatube in the ceiling of your laundry room (first photo)?
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 2:37 pmIt’s a recessed light with a flood bulb. There are two in the room.
Ashley @ sunnysideshlee.com
May 2, 2012 at 8:59 amI like doing laundry I just hate folding/putting away! I’ve always wanted to try Method because I’d love to have more eco-friendly laundry options but when they have a high concentrated competitor offering a larger jug of soap for $3- $5 less, it’s just hard to sway that way. Maybe someday soon I’ll give it a whirl!
amyks
May 2, 2012 at 12:27 pmI have tried the Method clothes detergent twice…I love the smell, but I can never get the pump to work, so I ended up taking it apart and pouring it. Do you have the same problem? I think I ended up using way more liquid that way, so I went back to using Tide for HE machines.
Making it Lovely
May 2, 2012 at 2:36 pmNo, I’ve never had a problem with the pump. Weird that it happened to you twice.
Elle Beautiful
May 2, 2012 at 8:16 pmLove the red washer set. My BF does most the wash too! :)
Lettie
May 4, 2012 at 12:58 amI am totally with you about the need for organization in drawers and behind cabinet doors! There’s something refreshing about opening a drawer or cabinet and seeing everything nicely in place.
By the way, your red washing machine and dryer are gorgeous. I didn’t think that a laundry room could be so beautiful!
Millie
May 8, 2012 at 7:42 amHow nice to see that I’m not the only one like that in the world, where most people have clutter behind the doors. I guess that no home can look neat and shiny with two kids ruling the space, but I really don’t mind when toys are all over the apartment, while everything has to be highly organized and neat.