Four Mudroom Ideas To Keep Your Home Clean This Spring
Mudrooms are one of the most utilitarian areas of our homes. They hold all of the things that need to come inside, but should go no further, as well as all of the things we need when we leave our home. Often, they do double duty as a laundry and storage space too. For busy families, the mudroom can not only make or break busy schedules but also help to keep your entire home tidy, organized and clean. With gardening and outdoor sporting activities starting up again, spring is the perfect time to update your space with a few mudroom ideas that will help you stay ahead of dirt and clutter.
1. Upgrade to a washing machine that does it all.
Yes, we have one in mind, and it satisfies all debates about whether to get a machine with an agitator or without one. Whirlpool sets itself apart with the 2-in-1 Removable Agitator Washing Machine because you can use it either way.
- Leave the agitator in to make quick work of the ground-in dirt-stained sports uniforms, for example, or grubby outdoor work clothes.
- Take the agitator out, and let the impeller take care of loads that just need an easy wash, contain delicates, or involve straps or strings that otherwise tangle easily. Being able to remove the agitator also gives more room for bulkier items.
Whirlpool’s 2-in-1 offers lots of features to make your laundry chores easier from start to finish. Pretreat stains in the wash basket with the integral dual-temperature faucet and brush. Let the Adaptive Wash Technology with Active Bloom Wash Action sensors determine the load size, water levels and wash action. A deep-water option can benefit really dirty or bulky loads.
You can set your presoaks for 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes and even schedule the wash cycle to ensure your clothes are always freshly laundered, ready for the dryer or line drying. The 2-in-1 is quiet, and with a clear lid, you don’t have to wait for a lid lock to release just to see your laundry. A direct-drive motor and a spin cycle that reaches 850 revolutions per minute make this versatile washing machine a real work horse with a gentle touch.
2. Add a mudroom sink, utility sink or laundry tub.
Some things need to be pre-cleaned before they can really be cleaned—or before they make their way into another part of your home. A mudroom sink or laundry tub gives you a convenient first swipe at cleanup in any number of situations.
- They’re usually bigger than a standard kitchen sink, so they can handle larger, bulkier items.
- They’re usually deep enough and set up in a utilitarian area so that splashing, drips and cleanup aren’t an issue.
- They’re often made of stainless steel, coated cast iron or other durable composite materials that resist staining, chipping and discoloration.
- They can make a good holding or soaking area for extra-dirty items.
- They’re great for cleaning up after painting, crafting, DIY projects, school projects, outdoor gardening, home repairs or even auto maintenance. You don’t have to use your kitchen sink—or your bathtub. You can even bathe your pet in them.
- They make transitioning from outside to inside easier. You can wash dirty hands or other items in the utility sink—not the one in the kitchen where you prepare food.
Mudroom sinks come in a variety of formats—from freestanding units with legs to wall-mounted tubs to oversized sinks seated in a cabinet. Whatever your space, whatever your use, a utility sink serves as a convenient cleaning station—an efficient way to control dirt and keep it out of your home’s beautiful living spaces.
3. Include a shoe scrubber.
Even when they don’t look dirty, shoes that have been worn any period of time outside of your home are just that—dirty. A study done at the University of Arizona found that shoe soles average about 421,000 units of bacteria on the outside. Add some mud, cut grass, sawdust, crusted sand or other debris, and now you have not only invisible germs but also lots of dirt that can be tracked throughout your home and ground into carpets and flooring.
A shoe scrubber conveniently placed in a handy location like a mudroom entry can eliminate a lot of dirt and—depending on the type you choose—even sanitize shoes. Options range from basic boot scrapers and rigid brush combinations that physically leverage caked debris from shoes to sanitizers that neutralize germs that we can’t necessarily see but can harm us all the same. Some use sanitizing solutions while others use ultraviolet light. Even adding a tray-like mat that will corral moisture and dirt can help.
4. Provide organized storage space.
Mudrooms are high-traffic areas that serve multiple uses, and storage comes in a lot of different forms and styles to suit any number of needs. Storage can be open—hooks or shelves easily visible and accessed—or closed—in a drawer, behind a door or beneath a lid, for example. Storage at adult height can help to keep small hands from potentially dangerous items or hold light or fragile items whereas lower levels of storage can be kid-friendly, provide seating, or house heavy supplies or small appliances.
What’s key is to ensure that all of the clothes, shoes, uniforms, gym bags, backpacks, umbrellas, cleaning supplies, gardening accessories or other objects that you know will be stored or passing through the mudroom have designated places. Whether you choose cabinetry, a wall of lockers, a block of cubbies or a swinging drying rack, you can create a highly functional look that’s right for your home and your family.
If you’d like to know more about the Whirlpool 2-in-1 Removable Agitator Washing Machine or would like to expand on some of our other mudroom ideas, Coburn’s is a great place to start. Stop by your nearest Coburn’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom. Our custom design consultants know just how to make the most of every space in your home.
References:
Washer
https://showroom.coburns.com/the-agitator-a-washing-machine-must-have/
Sink
https://www.thespruce.com/choosing-laundry-room-sink-4773120
http://www.bluebath.com/blog/utility-sinks-why-you-should-have-one/
UV Shoe