A place for everything and everything in its place.
Great wisdom but sometimes hard to do.
I have a walk through laundry room that you enter from the garage, which is where we most enter our house. The first thing I see when I enter my house is my washing machine, dryer and endless cleaning products and supplies. Not pretty. Not organized. That is about to change.
I came across these little numbers at a flea market and had instant vision. I have a thing for old windows and my grandma used to have a cart just like this one only it was red. I remember using it to play airplane on her back porch with my cousins. We would use the cart to go up and down the pretend aisles serving drinks to anyone we could rope into sitting still in our pretend airplane long enough to play with us. Good memories.
But first lets talk about the window. I cleaned it up and then covered the glass with some left over vinyl I had sitting around. Then I spray painted the outside with a clear coat to protect the chippy paint from flaking off.
I cut some fabric (vintage: found and stolen from my mom’s OLD stash – I vaguely remember curtains made out of this fabric from when I was very little). I Ironed the fabric and secured it to some cardboard that I cut to the same size as the back of the window.
I then secured that in place with some nails.
and now I have a message board! I just use dry erase markers so I can easily erase and re-write. They make window markers that would work fantastic as well. My daughter insisted that she draw her sunshine on the window for you all to see. 🙂
Now for the cart. I took it apart and cleaned it.
I wanted a bright color to cheer up the space so I went with yellow. I am digging yellow right now.
I put it back together, added my cleaning supplies and ….
I repurposed different containers to house my most used products. Since this cart is right by my washer and dryer, I have laundry soap (hugely popular recipe found, here), baking soda, vinegar, dryer sheets and my essential oils (you can read about how I use and love these, here) all easily accessible in fun containers.
An up view because it was fun to take.
This brightened my laundry room and made it much more organized. It is now a happier place to be. 🙂
In the bins on the lower shelves, I hid containers to refill the ones on top.
And other necessities.
One last look at my view when I enter my house now.
Much better.
You could use this idea anywhere in your house and any little shelving unit would work. I was thinking I needed one by my bed as a night stand and one by my couch to house my lamp and remote controls and one in my den to hold my camera and purse and one to roll out of a closet housing all my kids’ art and craft supplies. I wonder how many is too many. 🙂
Notice the vintage laundry sign (probably a reproduction but I love it anyway)? It says – I’ll do the laundry…tomorrow. Words to live by I say.
How do you keep your cleaning supplies organized and looking nice?
Shelley says
OOOOO! I love this before and after. The colors ROCK. I want that cart!!!
Missy says
When is your birthday? Oh yeah. You don’t live by me anymore, hoser.
Bobbi-Jo says
This is gorgeous. I absolutely love the yellows with the black and white containers, and the frame is perfect. Now I need to scout out a fun old cart!
Nesleirbag says
Missy, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post! love the yellow check ;), love the frame, the polka dots and the white and black accents, the yellow and blue color combo, the frame and the cart, the clever way of hiding cleaning products and the overall whimsical look. You have a great eye!
Shantelle Manca says
I LOVE this, I feel that the laundry area is alway a forgotten area of the house, but we spend so much time in there {I have 3 children so I could put a bed in there and still not be in there enough}. I also love how bright it is in there.
Missy says
I totally agree. Every chore seems never ending but laundry seems to top them all.
Jules says
love the look. Looks nice. I also have a laundry sign!! I have a laundry shoot and above the door I have a wooden pair of pants that says drop your pants here!!! keep the good ideas coming!
Missy says
Thanks! At least you get a little giggle with your sign to make the laundry go by faster.
Yvonne says
How wonderful! excellent project and definetly adds some brightness and fun to the laundry room 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Oopsey Daisy says
Why have I never thought to have an entire cleaning cart?! This is fantastic!
Joan says
Great job Missy! The cart turned out so great and I can’t wait to show my girls the new use for an old window. Cute, cute redo!
Sherri says
I love this idea but was curious about the vinyl you used to cover the glass. Is this peel and stick like contact paper or did you use a spray adhesive?
Mindy says
LOVE it! I’m digging yellow right now too. So bright and cheery, just what you need to have energy to clean. That cart turned out SO cute. Loved the story of playing airplane…now I remember. 🙂 Good times indeed. Want to come make me a cleaning cart?
Kate says
This is why I love your site. I bought an old cart like this one a few years ago and it needs a redo but wasn’t sure what to do with it or how to refurnish it. I just got your email and right there was my cart. I cant wait to go now and do this. Thank you! Thank you! keep up the great work!
Ellen says
So cute and clever!Wish I had room to do this…..maybe I the garage just outside laud dry room?
Cristi Dame says
Love love the colors you chose! I am inspired!
Alison says
I LOVE the green cart:) This is so fun!!
Rachel says
Love the cart, I think my nanny had one too. But I really LOVE the “window” frame!! Awesome idea. I many have to make one.
Thanks for sharing.
Susan Lazenby says
Love your site! This will be perfect for my laundry area as well. I just need an old window. Ya’ thing my husband would notice if I removed the one closest to his side of the bed? Oh wait, it’s still raining. I will find one even if it has termites! The yellow is so cheery! Thank you, –SusanLaz
kat says
This is such a great idea. I always hated the thought of having my cleaning supplies out for the “world” to see since they aren’t attractive. Now I can put them out in the open and enjoy the handiness. Thanks for the inspiration!
Anastasia says
Thank you for being here 🙂
Lovely
helen1962 says
I just put out an old shelf unit just like this for the “etal” guy to come and get. Going to get it back right now!
helen1962 says
Sorry, meant to spell out “metal” guy. Got to remember to proof read ^_^