Fluffing The Laundry Room
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Today I spent time fluffing the laundry room. It needed a bit of organizing on the shelves Kendra added along the wall weeks ago. But that wasn’t pretty; it was just organized, so I wanted to add a little decoration to the room I must spend time in.
I added some of this and a bit of that. It’s where a person does laundry, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a nice or minimally decorated room. I dug stuff out that seemed laundry-related. And some things that were just homemaking work-related.
Even though you need the basics in a laundry room or area, you can still dress it up with vintage boxes and other touches. It just elevates the mundane space, I think.
You can use vintage jars to store old clothespins, as I did. If you have any old scrubboards, you might add them for wall decor.
I use little pods as laundry detergent, and I’ve been keeping those in a glass jar with a lid. It’s handy to reach in and toss one into the washing machine.
Maria Is Coming To Clean:
Maria is coming to clean. I hadn’t seen her since the beginning of last spring, when I told her not to come to clean my apartment anymore. Remember, I was saving up for a house and wanted to save money. She still cleans for Steve.
And then my apartment flooded four times in one week. And I lost interest in cleaning much of anything after that.
Though I’ve lived in this house I call Mamie for over a month, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve only gotten one room mopped. And that was in the bathroom.
Then I can manage on my own.
Our Home Must Serve Our Everyday Needs:
We live and work and have to get things done in our homes. So it can’t just be functionally pretty. It must serve our everyday needs. I used to be able to clean, vacuum, and mop all in one day. Those days are in the rearview mirror.
As it is, I’ve been vacuuming one room at a time, then waiting another day or so before vacuuming another. I doubt I could even get that done if I didn’t have a very lightweight vacuum that doesn’t have a cord. Oh, I love that vacuum! I’m on my second one in fact.
I don’t need things squeaky clean. Just relatively clean. Ivy doesn’t much care, but I care for both of us. I’m able to keep up with cleaning her litter box several times a day. Well, I’d say I’m a bit compulsive about that.
I can clean the dishes sitting on the rollator. And if there are just a few, I can stand up and clean them. The bathroom is the one room I’ve been able to stay on top of. Mostly anyway.
Ivy often drinks from the tub faucet, so she gets the tub floor dirty with her paws. I cleaned that today. Isn’t it funny how you want to get things cleaned before paying someone else to clean for you?
Well, you don’t want them to think badly of you, like you don’t mind sitting in an unclean home.
The Laundry Room Fluffing Decor:
For decor on this shelf above the washer and dryer, I looked in the cupboard where I keep decor and decided what to use in the laundry room. There are old bobbins, spools of thread, and an embroidery hoop I DIYed years ago.
There’s an image of a granny that I printed off the internet and had in my paper stash. (My, she looks stern!) I’ve collected brown bottles. Then I just set everything up there kind of willy-nilly.
But at least now it’s not just a plain wall I’m looking at when I’m in there doing laundry.
When Spring Rolls Around:
Spring will come, and you know what that means. I’ll want to be out digging in the dirt. Kendra came by earlier to pick up my keys to turn in at the apartment office.
I told her every time I step out the back door, the next-door neighbor’s dogs start barking and don’t stop until I go back in.
So, sadly, I don’t know how much time I’ll want to spend out there if I hear that every single time and for the duration I’m in the yard. Therefore, I’ll start with the front. There’s that massive porch to add plants to and decorate.
And the wicker settee cushion arrived a little while ago.
Matching Green Cushions:
So soon I’ll have the chairs with all matching cushions again. If you recall, I had that pretty green color I’ve favored for years.
I purchased that outdoor wicker furniture a long time ago from the At Home store. But the old cushions finally wore out, and I had to toss them. These cushions will match the green front door and the address sign Kendra made.
I’m adding “where did I purchase it” links at the bottom of posts for items I’ve bought for the house. Usually, someone will ask where I got something, which makes it easier all around.
One more suggestion:
Just remembered that you mentioned mopping — I hope you have an O’Cedar mop and bucket with the spin cage? It is the easiest way to mop! Even if you hire someone to mop, they will appreciate this mop!
Your hands never touch water and there’s minimum bending over. There’s a foot lever that you pump to spin the mop head instead of wringing it by hand. With your knee/ankle problem, you could possibly use the bucket on a low table and pump the lever with your hand to sling water out of the mop. The mop handle telescopes for storage. I’ve learned from experience with other telescoping handles to make sure the handle is completely dry before telescoping to prevent sticking.
There’s a new version that holds clear water for rinsing, but I prefer the first version.
I have given all my grandchildren one as a wedding shower gift. If you shop around, you can find them on sale. I paid $39 for mine a few years ago but they have increased in price somewhat. But I don’t think they are expensive for what you get in return — worth every penny!
This and my Roborock vacuum are the two greatest inventions in MY lifetime, in spite of putting a man on the moon and solar power! 😄
Maybe you can find some noise canceling earphones and listen to a book on tape or some of your piano music while you garden in the backyard. Dogs that bark non-stop are ridiculously annoying, but calming music might help a lot.
Your laundry room looks very nice as always you did a beautiful job. The dogs next door hopefully quite down once they get used to you.
Some dogs bark when they hear any sound.
Everything is looking lovely. Enjoy your new home….and maybe you will be able to address the issue with the dogs at some point.
Hearing dogs barking, I figure, is certainly not the end of the world. I can deal with it.
I ditto the recommendation of a robot vacuum. I purchased a EUFY and it was about $150 I think… definitely under $200. I’ve had it for 4-5 years and it’s the best thing ever.
Your laundry room styling has made me want to add some pretty things to my own laundry room.
Maime seems good for you. You sound so much happier and I’m glad it’s working out for you. Any change is hard and moving stinks but once your settled it’s the best thing.
I’ll look into that. I wonder if it would terrify Ivy?
My cats were cautious around the robo vacuum but they loved to perch on the furniture and watch it move. They were fascinated by the movement and would travel from room to room to watch it. Kitty TV!
Please consider purchasing a Robovac! Or beg, borrow or steal one! So glad I bought one on sale after Thanksgiving last year. Best money I ever spent!
Floors are always the last thing I do before having guests or a party, and my injured back would leave me in pain by the time guests arrived. No longer. Now I try to sit and rest while the Robovac does the work! Cleans floors and carpets wonderfully! When I think of the years I could have been using it……
I think I paid about $450. Worth ten times that much to me!
I’ve thought of something like this. I just wonder how Ivy would react to it though?
It’s so quiet, I doubt it would annoy Ivy. Although it has different suction strengths, some are louder than others. It’s easy to use with your IPhone or iPad. Or Siri, if you have that. It alerts you if it has a problem. Mine has only once gotten tangled in a sheer drape. Goes from rug to carpet in my home with no problem. Even goes underneath furniture that is taller than the vacuum itself. You can clean a zone (part of a room), a whole room or your whole house. I love it so much, I can’t believe I called it by the wrong name — mine is a Roborock. My best friend! 😄
I like how you decorated your laundry room. My washer and dryer are in the unfinished part of the basement. Not too pretty down there!
We are surrounded by barking dogs. The new next door neighbors have a German Shepherd that barks non-stop (and is LOUD), but thankfully they don’t let him do that for too long. But two of the neighbors behind us have small, yappy dogs and they tend to leave them outside for long periods of time in the nice weather. And they yap non-stop for loong periods of time. I’ve written notes to the neighbors (nice ones) and mailed them; tried dog whistles I got on Amazon (didn’t work); and now have finally resorted to yelling at the neighbors when I can’t stand it anymore. I don’t think it does much good (they’re obviously just sitting in their houses and don’t care), but I don’t know what else to do besides call the cops, which I don’t want to do. Anyway…I hope it doesn’t come down to this for you.
I just don’t understand people leaving their dogs out to bother the neighbors. When I had dogs, I went out with them. As soon as they began barking I took them inside.
You know there are whistles and other items that will help train barking dogs to be quiet…might be worth it, if you want to spend time in your back yard. I used a whistle to quite good effect in one place we lived…humans cannot hear it, just dogs. Sad people do not train their animals better…sad they do not train their kids well either for that matter. I am so happy that you are able to get to a quieter place nonetheless…apts are awful, even the better ones. That evil idiot above us is to move next month but it is to another smaller apt in the complex…I STILL hope to move. NOT a good place for one’s health.
I had to get out of that place. I feel so much better here.
It is very wearing and can harm our health dealing with idiots and nasties!! I so understand your feeling good where you are.
I vacuum my floors 4 times a week and mop them every Monday. I love the way you decorated the laundry room. I think the dog next door will settle down when you spend more time in your yard.
I love your schedule! I used to clean my apartment every Friday. And that meant vacuuming and mopping.
Everything is looking so nice. I mop out my house twice a week. I’m sorry to hear you’ve got a barking dog. we left the suburbs and moved to the country 8 years ago for that reason. just couldn’t stand it. Now live on lots of acreage and don’t hear nothing but the birds. Hope he gets use to you.
It’s still much, much better hearing the dogs than living where I did.
Oh darn it and I did it again- hit send to fast. I wanted to say that maybe you could meet that dog next door and get friendly with it so it doesn’t bark at you all the time???
Ah… 2400 sq feet and living in the AZ dust bowl with a bad back and a hugely shedding large breed puppy. I gave up. Drives me nuts. My friends would always tell me that my floor is the only one they’d ever eat off of. I guess those days are sadly gone. I love, love a clean house. I have a Kirby and change the bag every 3rd vacuum. One can dream. I no more washed my floors last Tuesday and the dog brought in mud. (we have a pond). The dust is why I don’t like decorating much. I just see stuff as a magnet. But I did get a new washer today – one that actually washes the clothes with water and I love it! I’ll dream through you. The green looks like a perfect match.
I can’t even imagine having that much room. 1400 square feet here seems enormous.
Hi Ann, may I ask what kind of washer you bought? Looks like we’ll need one soon.
The neighbor dogs may calm down once they get accustomed to hearing you. The prior tenant possibly didn’t spend much time out there. I’m happy to know that you’re settling in, and that the terrible apartment experience is now behind you.
I still have to pay the apartment rent for January, but I’m glad to put that place behind me.
The cheerful laundry room will give you smiles each time you go into it. Your new washer and dryer look perfect in there. What a huge change from the all in one unit you used for years!
The washer and dryer is one of the cheaper ones, but I didn’t feel like I needed those fancy ones. Still you’re right, so much better than the all in one unit or the stackable.