And so that no one guesses - organizing a utility closet

Hello, dear friends! Today we are talking about the utility closet. It is usually classified as elements of metal furniture.

There is a widespread opinion that such structures are needed to equip some workshop, school, kindergarten, commercial organization, etc.

But let's take a look at the current apartments. Here you also need furniture where equipment will be stored. These are buckets, mops, household chemicals, as well as other care, cleaning items, etc.

What it is

First, let's figure out what a utility closet is.

It makes no sense to look for ready-made structures made of chipboard of this type on sale. This fact is easy to explain.

Items stored in such cabinets are usually exposed to aggressive influences. They are installed in the hallway, on the balcony, in the loggia.

If you are looking for a full-fledged utility cabinet, then in most cases it will be a metal structure. This way the manufacturer guarantees that nothing will swell, fall apart or fade. Even if you put wet rags, wet buckets and various aggressive washing and cleaning products inside.

Yes, they are more relevant outside of everyday life. These are utility blocks, workshops, shopping centers, etc.

Purpose

Based on labor protection requirements, areas must be allocated at any production site for storing household cleaning supplies. But not all enterprises have such an opportunity, and the ideal option would be to purchase compact furniture.

A metal cabinet for equipment locker may be in demand for:

• various linen;
• for sports equipment;
• storage of medical supplies in pharmacies;
• storage of cleaning products and detergents;
• workers' clothing;
• garden tools;
• storage of tools;
• changing clothes for disabled people.

The design has a number of undeniable advantages:

• this type of specific furniture is quite compact, will last for many years, and is practical during use;
• The equipment cabinet is easy to clean with a damp cloth and simple detergents; the coating is anti-corrosion;
• no dust gets inside;
• the shelves can be arranged at your discretion, it is also possible to remove some of the shelves if necessary;
• The cabinet is lightweight and can be easily reinstalled to another location.

The equipment cabinet is quite spacious, despite its small size.

What to use for home inventory

Alas, not everyone has the opportunity to organize a full-fledged separate pantry for care and cleaning supplies.

Therefore, we have to look for alternative solutions. Namely:

• Household chemicals, gloves, and rags are usually placed under the bathtub and sink. Use cabinets under sinks and sinks. Or shelves above the toilet;
• Mops and buckets, a broom and a dustpan can be placed in the loggia or on the balcony. There are also small sections in closets and corridors. Some people just put it behind the toilet. But it doesn't look the best;
• The vacuum cleaner and ironing board are usually located in a closet or dressing room.

Under ideal conditions, all this should be placed in one place. That is, install a special cabinet. But it is not always possible to implement this idea.

The greatest difficulty is caused by large mops, brooms and brushes with long handles. Even the most compact models cannot fit on a shelf or mezzanine due to their length. But narrow niches would be a good choice.

What sizes are there?

The depth of the shelves depends on the type of cabinet (built-in or cabinet), the place where it is located and the choice of the customer. If you choose a built-in option, which is located in a wall niche, then the depth can reach 80 centimeters or more. The average depth of shelves for storing clothes in most wardrobes is no more than 65 cm.

The suitable height of the shelves for storing things is 32-40 cm, but if you plan to place large items on them, then it should be revised upward

Optimal shelf sizes:

• for an ironing board in assembled and normal form: height 130 cm, width 15 cm (minimum), height 180 cm, width 15 cm (maximum);
• for storing the stepladder when assembled: height 60 cm, width 30 cm (minimum), height 215 cm, width 20 cm (maximum);
• for placing a clothes dryer: height 80 cm, width 10 cm (minimum), height 140 cm, width 20 cm (maximum);
• for a vacuum cleaner and iron storage: height at least 100 cm, width at least 60 cm.

If the furniture is located in a narrow area, for example on a balcony, then deviations from the standard sizes are possible, but only for cabinets with hinged doors. The sliding sliding door system is designed in such a way that it is not intended for cabinets that are too small and narrow.

To place the assembled ironing board, special holders are often made. The vacuum cleaner pipe is also placed on a frame with holders. Sometimes separate shelves for detergents are made in the niche for the vacuum cleaner.

How to order?

Having chosen the company where you will order the cabinet, invite a measurer and ask him to do all the calculations for the shelves. You can also use an online wardrobe calculator to see how the price changes as you increase and decrease dimensions such as width, height and depth.

The height between the shelf and the bar is usually 40-50 mm, and the width of the hangers is no more than 51 cm. The bars are traditionally located according to the height of the clothes. For children's things, a meter section is enough, and for an adult, at least 1.4 meters of area will be required.

Filling the utility cabinet

When planning to buy a utility cabinet, think about its contents in advance.

If you have sufficient space, allocate a separate utility cabinet for all household chemicals. It can be placed in the corridor, in a non-residential room, in the bathroom, on the balcony, and also in the loggia.

It is important to think about the equipment of the closet. Moreover, taking into account what and how much you are going to store there.

Although a number of models make it possible to retrofit the equipment by installing storage nets, additional shelves, as well as hooks, containers, etc.

In the standard equipment, the utility closet has the following contents:

• high sections for a mop or ironing board;
• section for a vacuum cleaner;
• a large number of shelves;
• hooks

But drawers in utility cabinets are rare.

You can buy additional equipment or order it from the manufacturer. The filling is chosen in the same way as when ordering a wardrobe.

Such solutions include:

• holders for vacuum cleaner;
• iron mounts;
• retractable ironing board;
• retractable bottle holder;
• hanging baskets;
• fasteners for containers, etc.

In terms of material, the metal option is preferable to wood, as well as wood-based derivatives. This means MDF, chipboard, etc.

Laminated chipboard is a good option. But keep in mind that you cannot store wet rags, as well as napkins and buckets of water there. The material quickly swells and deteriorates.

Plus, chipboard absorbs odors. Any substances like household chemicals will saturate the cabinet with their aroma.

Aggressive substances are also dangerous because they corrode the laminated layer, are absorbed into wood shavings, etc.

Kinds

Metal furniture differs in structure and other characteristics. Such products can be:

• welded ShR - made of high strength material. They are designed for increased fire resistance, but their weight is quite large. Scope of application: in fire and explosive industries;
• dismountable CV joints - in their main characteristics they are similar to welded ones, but since they are disassembled, they are easy to move from one place to another;
• SHAM is a cabinet for household equipment with a large capacity;
• modular - consist of separate sections or modules, from which it is easy to assemble the desired structure. Widely used in locker rooms, sports facilities and other public spaces;
• Storage cabinets - this equipment is designed for storing household equipment, as well as for other purposes.

Archive and warehouse

Modular

Collapsible Welded
The design of the cabinet is possible in several types:

• wall cabinets are small-sized cabinets designed for light loads. Their advantage is that there is free space on the floor or other solid base;
• floor - this design is the most in demand. A large number of tools, parts, and workpieces can be stored here. It can also accommodate special clothing for changing clothes, household equipment, and other equipment;
• mobile - with their help you can move the tool to any work location.

A metal cabinet has advantages over its wooden counterparts - it will last longer and has high fire resistance.

Mounted

Floor

Mobile

Types of designs

See also
How to make a double bed out of wood with your own hands

In general, utility cabinets can be divided into 2 types depending on their design features.

• Built-in
  . If there is an empty corner or niche in a house or apartment, you can install shelving there and add shelves, drawers, hooks and other elements. If the depth is sufficient, you can easily place a bucket, basin, vacuum cleaner, as well as a number of other bulky items for cleaning. A good solution would be to install a built-in cabinet-rack near the washing machine. Additionally, add a laundry basket and form a solid module. It turns out perfectly practical with good capacity. Built-in utility cabinets will be more expensive to sell. But they win in terms of functionality, service life and practicality;
• Standing separately
  . You won’t surprise anyone with such a design. In fact, this is an ordinary cabinet, only for household needs. This is a housing, inside of which there are shelves, niches and other storage systems. Closed with doors. There are side and back walls. That is, this is a classic cabinet, but for a special purpose.

The size of the structure is selected based on the length and width of the items you are going to store inside.

For example, if we are talking about an ironing board, then choose a niche with a height of about 130 centimeters. 1 meter is enough for a mop. Sometimes even less.

For many situations, a utility cabinet can be made in the format of a high cabinet.

Useful tips

See also
Sofa bed for daily use: which one is better to choose

Finally, a few more practical tips that will help you properly organize your household storage system.

• For the vacuum cleaner and buckets, choose sections at the bottom of the cabinet. For basins and baskets, you can choose the upper zone, mezzanine. But if you use it often, then at arm's length. You should not place objects high that you will have to reach for every day, stand on a stool, etc.;
• Place trays under the niches for mops, brooms and rags. Excess water will drain there. The tray should be made of plastic, stainless metal, and silicone;
• Baskets, trunks and containers are a good solution for storing washing, cleaning and laundry products. Comfortable. It is enough to take out the box, take the contents, and close it, putting it in place;
• Small items such as sponges, brushes and clothespins can be conveniently stored in transparent organizers. They can be hung on the side wall or on the doors.

As you can see, organizing a utility closet correctly is not so easy. There are a lot of nuances here.

Interior equipment and functions

The cabinet for cleaning equipment is made of sheet steel, powder-coated, and has one or two doors. It can be equipped with several sections - these are shelves with different sizes for storing cleaning products, as well as washing industrial premises, and the second compartment is designed to accommodate equipment, work clothes and other things. Furniture for household equipment is equipped with a safe lock, as well as quick-release fasteners that ensure its free opening. The locker cabinet is used in locker rooms, intended for storage rooms, production needs, sports sections, educational institutions. Assembly is carried out using self-tapping screws and hooks.

Comes with the following elements:

• a lock of 2000 combinations (it is possible to use a padlock);
• shelves for hats and shoes;
• hooks or bars for hanging clothes;
• shelves to store items whose arrangement can be varied.

A cabinet for storing cleaning equipment and disinfectants has many functional advantages:

• high ability to withstand high temperatures;
• the presence of ventilation holes that help ensure normal temperature and humidity conditions for things and equipment stored in it;
• providing protection from direct sunlight;
• protection against possible theft, since the design solution includes a lock;
• the division of space inside ensures compactness, as well as convenience when arranging things;
• the ability to attach household equipment to each other;
• ease of assembly operations.

Most often they are produced consisting of two compartments. The purpose of the first is to store detergents, rags, buckets, and the second is for longer items. As a rule, the second compartment is not equipped with shelves.