Nobody's idea of a dream room, the laundry room tends to accumulate clutter, mismatched socks and a shelf of harsh-looking plastic bottles. Two sisters from Ventura, California, want to change that. Lauren Kellim and Erin Conklin run Humble & Grand, a design and home organisation studio with an online shop of handmade, sustainable housewares, and they've shared five straightforward upgrades for making laundry day feel less like a slog.
Their first rule is ruthless decluttering: only laundry and cleaning supplies live in the room. The stray lightbulbs and tangled extension cords need to move out. From there, they suggest sorting tasks into clearly labelled baskets — one each for washing, stain removal, mending and dry cleaning. Small baskets handle odd jobs like single socks waiting for a partner, while larger market-style baskets with handles make it easy to cart dry cleaning out the door.
Next comes decanting. Pouring detergent powders and liquids into plain glass containers strips away garish packaging and, as a bonus, lets you see at a glance when you're running low. The sisters would rather you skip plastic entirely and buy pods or cardboard-refill detergents instead.
Their fourth tip swaps synthetics for healthier, low-waste alternatives: hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for stains, kept in small glass jars with cotton swabs for dabbing. Finally, the details. A wooden or brass scoop instead of a plastic cup, and wool dryer balls infused with a few drops of essential oil — a customisable scent that replaces disposable dryer sheets.
Why does this matter to anyone who isn't currently staring down a mountain of unwashed bedding? Because the same principles translate neatly to holiday lets, campers and small rental kitchens. If you run an Airbnb or vacation home, a calm, well-organised utility corner is one of those quiet details guests notice and reviewers mention. Glass containers, labelled baskets and a few refillable products cost little, cut plastic waste and make turnovers easier for cleaners. And for travellers staying longer-term in rentals, setting up a small, tidy washing routine with the hosts' products decanted and labelled makes a month abroad feel a lot more liveable.
Kellim's framing is a nice one to steal: a laundry room is "a space for renewal" — somewhere to clean and repair clothes and linens, and nothing more. Strip out everything that doesn't serve that purpose and even a windowless corner with a washer can feel peaceful. The Humble & Grand shop sells the baskets and scoops if you want the full look, but honestly, any labelled basket and a jar of baking soda will get you most of the way there.
Story via Sunset.
