6 best space-efficient laundry solutions for apartments Declutter Your Life
Maximize your apartment space with these 6 laundry solutions. From compact washer-dryers to smart drying racks, discover how to declutter your home.
That pile of laundry in the corner isn’t just a chore; it’s a constant, low-grade source of stress in a small apartment. Lugging baskets to a shared laundry room or laundromat eats up time and energy you’d rather spend elsewhere. Reclaiming that process by bringing it in-house, no matter how small your space, is one of the most effective ways to declutter your life and simplify your daily routine.
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Smart Laundry Solutions for Small Apartments
The biggest mistake people make is thinking they need a dedicated laundry room. You don’t. What you need is a laundry system that fits the space you actually have, whether that’s a sliver of kitchen floor, a bathroom corner, or a small closet.
Before you buy anything, map out your constraints. Do you have access to a 240-volt outlet, or just a standard 120V? Can you vent a dryer to the outside, or is that impossible? How much laundry do you realistically generate each week? Answering these questions honestly is the first step.
Forget the one-size-fits-all solutions you see in magazines. The perfect setup for a single person in a studio is completely different from what a couple in a one-bedroom needs. We’re going to look at a range of tools, from full-power machines to manual options, so you can build a system that works for you.
LG WashTower: A Stacked, Single-Unit Solution
Get the job done with the LG WashTower™! This single-unit design features a 4.5 cu. ft. washer and 7.4 cu. ft. electric dryer with convenient Center Control™ and ThinQ Care.
If you have the space and hookups for a traditional washer and dryer, the LG WashTower is the smartest way to use that footprint. It’s not just two machines bolted together; it’s a single, integrated unit. This is a bigger deal than it sounds.
The most brilliant feature is the centralized control panel. It’s located right in the middle, between the washer and dryer, so you don’t need a step stool to reach the dryer settings. The unit is also slightly shorter than a typical stacked pair, making it a better fit for spaces with lower ceilings or bulkheads. It’s a thoughtful design born from real-world frustration.
Of course, this is the premium option. It requires a dedicated 240V outlet, proper water hookups, and a vent for the dryer, just like a standard set. But if you’re doing a renovation or have the right infrastructure, the WashTower offers full-size capacity and cutting-edge features in a highly efficient and ergonomic form factor. It’s a permanent, high-performance upgrade.
BLACK+DECKER Portable Washer: Sink Hookup Hero
This BLACK+DECKER portable washer makes laundry day simple, offering 5 wash cycles and a stainless steel tub for loads up to 6.6 lbs. It easily connects to your sink and features safety functions like auto shutoff and child lock.
For the vast majority of renters, this is the machine that changes everything. A portable washer is a compact, top-loading machine on wheels that connects directly to your kitchen or bathroom faucet. No permanent plumbing required.
The setup is surprisingly simple. You wheel it to the sink, attach the quick-connect adapter to the faucet, and plug it into a standard wall outlet. The machine fills itself, washes, and drains the water right back into the sink. When you’re done, you just unhook it and roll it into a closet. It completely removes the laundromat from your life for everyday loads.
The tradeoff is capacity and drying. These machines are smaller, typically handling 6 to 11 pounds of laundry, so you’ll do laundry more often. More importantly, it only solves the washing part of the equation. To make this system work, you must have a solid drying plan, which is where some of the next tools come in.
The Scrubba Wash Bag: Ultra-Portable Cleaning
Get a machine-quality wash anywhere with the Scrubba Wash Bag. This ultra-portable, pocket-sized washing machine weighs only 5.3 oz and features a built-in washboard for fast, effective cleaning without electricity.
Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest. The Scrubba Wash Bag is essentially a modern, portable washboard. It’s a high-quality dry bag with hundreds of small, flexible nodules on the inside that scrub your clothes clean.
This is your go-to for targeted laundry needs. Need to wash a single gym outfit, a few pairs of delicates, or a stained shirt right away? The Scrubba handles it in minutes with a bit of water and soap. It uses minimal water, can be used anywhere, and folds down to the size of a soda can.
Let’s be realistic: this isn’t going to replace a machine for washing your towels and bedding. But it’s an incredibly powerful tool for reducing your reliance on larger systems. For the true minimalist, the frequent traveler, or anyone looking to supplement their laundromat trips, the Scrubba is an indispensable piece of gear.
Honey-Can-Do Retractable Clothes Drying Rack
This Honey-Can-Do Retractable Clothesline offers 40 feet of durable, dirt-resistant vinyl line for indoor or outdoor use. Its sturdy, rust-resistant steel bracket ensures quick and easy retraction when not in use.
Floor space is gold in a small apartment. A bulky, folding drying rack that lives in your living room for two days is a major source of clutter. The solution is to go vertical with a wall-mounted, retractable drying rack.
This type of rack mounts securely to a wall—ideally over a bathtub, in a hallway, or in a laundry closet. It provides multiple lines, giving you an impressive amount of linear feet for drying. When your clothes are dry, the whole thing accordions back against the wall, becoming almost invisible.
This isn’t just about saving space; it’s about controlling your environment. You get a dedicated, out-of-the-way drying zone that doesn’t interfere with your daily life. It’s one of the most impactful, low-cost upgrades you can make to a small-space laundry system.
The Laundry Alternative’s Ninja Spin Dryer
This is the missing link for anyone using a portable washer or hand-washing. A spin dryer is not a clothes dryer—it doesn’t use heat. Instead, it uses incredible centrifugal force (spinning at 3200 RPM) to extract a shocking amount of water from your clothes.
After a two-to-three-minute cycle in the Ninja, your clothes come out just damp, not sopping wet. This dramatically cuts down on air-drying time, from a day or more to just a few hours. That means no more musty smells from slow-drying laundry and no more clothes hanging around your apartment for days on end.
The Ninja is compact, lightweight, and plugs into a standard 120V outlet. Pairing a portable washer with a spin dryer is the ultimate non-permanent laundry setup. It gives you a complete wash-and-nearly-dry system that can be stored in a closet, making it perfect for renters who want true laundry independence.
Earth Breeze Eco Sheets: Ditch the Jugs
Clean your clothes effectively with Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets. These pre-measured, eco-friendly sheets eliminate plastic waste and are gentle on skin, leaving a light, fresh scent.
Your laundry system isn’t just about the machines; it’s also about the supplies. Those massive, heavy plastic jugs of liquid detergent are a clumsy, space-hogging nightmare. The solution is laundry detergent sheets.
Earth Breeze and other brands have concentrated detergent into small, dissolvable sheets. You just toss one in with your load. They work in all machine types, including high-efficiency models, and they clean just as effectively as liquids or pods.
The space savings are staggering. A year’s supply of laundry sheets comes in a small, flat cardboard envelope that can fit in a drawer. No more sticky spills, no more wrestling with heavy jugs, and no more plastic waste. This is one of the easiest and most satisfying swaps you can make to declutter your utility closet.
Choosing Your Ideal Compact Laundry System
There is no single "best" product. The goal is to combine these tools into a system that solves your specific problems. Think in terms of pairings and workflows.
Here are a few proven systems for different scenarios:
- The Renter’s Workhorse: This is the most popular and versatile choice. It combines the BLACK+DECKER Portable Washer for cleaning, the Ninja Spin Dryer to drastically speed up drying, and a Retractable Drying Rack to finish the job without clutter. It requires no permanent installation and can be tucked away when not in use.
- The Minimalist’s Kit: For those with very little laundry or who want to supplement laundromat visits. This system uses The Scrubba Wash Bag for small, urgent loads and a Retractable Drying Rack for efficient, space-saving drying. Add Earth Breeze Eco Sheets to keep supplies tiny.
- The Permanent Powerhouse: For those who own their apartment or have the right hookups. The LG WashTower provides full-size capacity and convenience in a vertically-optimized, ergonomic design. It’s a serious investment in a seamless laundry experience.
Start by assessing your space, plumbing, and electrical realities. Then, be honest about your laundry habits. The best system is the one you will actually use, one that removes friction from your life instead of adding it.
Taking control of your laundry is about more than just clean clothes; it’s about streamlining a fundamental part of your life. By building a smart, space-efficient system, you eliminate a major source of clutter and reclaim valuable time and mental energy. Choose the tools that fit your reality, and turn a nagging chore into a simple, seamless process.
