Most flats have no separate utility room. As a result, the ironing board leans behind a door, the vacuum cleaner sits in a hallway corner, and the mop and bucket hunt for space in the bathroom. What these items have in common is that they are long, awkwardly shaped and do not fit on ordinary shelves. Planning part of a wardrobe or hall cupboard specifically for them makes keeping the home tidy far easier.
Where the section goes
The most logical place for a utility section is a cupboard close to where the items are used. Since a vacuum cleaner is used all over the home, a hall cupboard is often the best choice. An ironing board is handiest near where clothes are kept, so ironed garments can be hung straight away. In some homes it makes sense to combine the two in one section; in others, to separate them.
If a utility section is planned in a bedroom wardrobe, consider the smell of cleaning products and the dust from the vacuum. In that case the section is separated from the clothes area by a partition and has its own door.
Dimensions: start with the items themselves
The most common mistake is building the section to a rough size and then discovering the vacuum does not fit. Before ordering, measure the actual items:
- the height, width and thickness of the folded ironing board;
- the height of the vacuum cleaner — for a cordless stick model, including its wall-mounted dock;
- the length of the mop, broom and window squeegee;
- the size of the bucket and the box of cleaning products.
If you might replace the vacuum in future, allow a little extra space. A tall vertical bay combined with a narrow shelved bay beside it is often the most flexible arrangement.
Ironing board solutions
There are several ways to store an ironing board:
- A holder on the inside of the door. The simplest option, but it adds weight to the door, and the number of hinges must reflect that.
- A narrow vertical bay. The board simply stands upright, with a small shelf for the iron beside it.
- A pull-out or fold-out built-in ironing board. Special mechanisms exist that slide out like a drawer or fold down inside the cupboard. They save space, but the cupboard depth and the load rating of the mechanism must be checked in advance.
The iron raises a separate issue: a hot iron must not go straight into a closed cupboard. Plan an open heat-resistant surface or a metal holder beside the section where it can cool down.
Vacuum cleaner and socket
A cordless stick vacuum stored in a cupboard needs to charge there too, which means a socket inside the section. Its position should be planned together with the cupboard design: the electrical line must reach the wall behind the cupboard, and a cable opening must be made in the back panel. The electrical work is done by an electrician; the furniture design only allows for the position and the opening.
The battery warms up slightly while charging. In a narrow closed bay, a small gap under or above the door, or a panel with ventilation holes, helps air circulate. The vacuum manufacturer's storage and charging instructions should also be followed.
Cleaning products and damp items
Shelves with raised edges or pull-out baskets are convenient for detergents, cloths and sponges. In a home with children, chemicals should go on the upper shelves rather than the lower ones, or a child lock should be added to the section door.
A wet mop and bucket are the riskiest things to put in a cupboard. Storing them before they are fully dry leads to moisture collecting at the bottom of the board and to odours. A washable plastic tray in the base and a hook that holds the mop head-up reduce that risk.
Internal layout: a checklist
When the plan for the utility section is ready, answer these questions:
- have the actual dimensions of every item been measured;
- are a socket and cable opening planned for the vacuum;
- is there an open place for the iron to cool;
- have a protective tray and ventilation been considered for damp items;
- are wall-mounted holders planned for long items;
- are cleaning chemicals out of children's reach?
When ordering a hall cupboard from Zaferoglu Mebel, giving the dimensions of your ironing board, vacuum cleaner and mop lets the utility section be divided around exactly those items.
