DIY Laundry Cart

Have you ever dropped clean clothes on the floor while moving them from a front-loading washer to the dryer? I was doing it nearly every time, and I finally got tired of it.

Since I couldn’t find a laundry cart that fit my baskets and worked with the height of my machines, I decided to build my own. I used scrap wood, repurposed porch spindles, and a set of casters to make a rolling cart sized specifically for my laundry area.

This DIY laundry cart holds three baskets and moves wherever I need it. I use it while loading the washer, transferring clothes to the dryer, and folding everything as it comes out.

The measurements will depend on your baskets, but I’ll show you how I planned the frame so you can build one that works in your own laundry room.

I made a DIY laundry cart. Why? Ever since I got my new washer and dryer, I have struggled with dropping clothes on the floor. Soon I’ll share a stenciled laundry room rug that helps when I drop items, but now that I have a laundry cart, it rarely happens anymore.

Measure Before You Build

This laundry cart is a custom-sized project rather than a one-size-fits-all plan. Your measurements will depend on the laundry baskets you plan to use.

Measure the basket just below the top rim. The opening of the cart needs to be large enough for the basket to drop into the frame, but small enough for the rim to rest securely on the top rails.

Before cutting your wood, also consider:

• The width and length of the basket
• The height of your washer and dryer doors
• The added height of the casters
• How much room the basket rim needs
• Where the cart will sit while the appliance doors are open

I overlooked the washer-door clearance when I planned mine. The basket fit the cart perfectly, but its wide rim prevented the door from swinging freely while the cart was in place. Checking this measurement first will help you avoid the same mistake.

Supplies for a Rolling Laundry Cart

• Matching laundry baskets
• Four wooden spindles or square furniture legs
• Scrap 1x boards
• Pocket hole screws
• Four casters
• Screws for attaching the casters
• Spray paint or paint of your choice
• Painter’s tape

Tools

• Tape measure
• Table saw or another suitable saw
• Pocket hole jig
• Drill
• Drill bits
• Clamps
• Sander or sandpaper

If you don’t have a table saw, look for stock boards or square legs that are already close to the same width. There is no need to rip boards if you can find lumber that works with your design.

Rip Boards on a Table Saw

I ripped some scrap 1x’s down to size to match the size of my spindles. Your project may differ.

See the two tall bedposts? To the right of them are some porch spindles I chose for this laundry cart project. This view is in the shed after it got cleaned up.

Measure the Laundry Basket You Plan to Use

This was the design stage. It all had to be based on the size of the laundry baskets I would be using. I wanted the basket to rest on the inside diameter of the cart.

Pin It!

Drill Pocket Holes for Assembly

The simple construction of the cart starts with my favorite Kreg Jig. I marked the holes on each end of the board so that I don’t mess up and drill them on the wrong side of the ripped 1×4. Voice of experience talking.

Whenever I make an apron or a skirt for a project with legs, I use a scrap piece of wood as a spacer so that the apron is positioned in the middle of the leg (spindle) instead of the very front or back. With the scrap wood in place, I secure the two pieces with pocket hole screws.

You Should Have Two Matching Sections

I made a set of two identical leg sections using four boards and four spindles cut to size.

Affix Side Rails

After securing the two sections, I cut more ripped 1×4’s to size for the top and bottom sides. I secured these the same way as I did the others. I couldn’t wait to slip the laundry basket in place to see how it fits! Voila! Perfect!

Mark and Install Wheels

I marked the holes for the wheels/casters.

You can’t have a cart without wheels, right? I picked these up a few months ago on a trip to IKEA just to keep on hand. Smart move!

It’s best to pre-drill holes in such a tight space to keep the wood from splitting.

Slowly secure screws to hold wheels in place. HINT: Do this AFTER you paint. I was so anxious to see this project come together I sort of got ahead of myself.

Test Fit of the DIY Laundry Cart

I immediately took it to the basement to try out the design. Oops! Here is where I miscalculated and made a slight design mistake. I wanted the door to swing freely with the cart in place but because the laundry basket has such a large lip the door will not swing. That’s okay, I love it and I’ll go with it.

Paint Laundry Cart

I grabbed a bright blue spray paint and did a couple of light coats.

I decided to go with a darker navy blue. You can see I have the wheels taped off to prevent overspray.

I use it to load the washer, take clothes out of the washer and to remove AND fold clothes from the dryer.

After folding my clothes in the laundry basket, I just grab it and carry it upstairs. That leaves me two more baskets loaded in the laundry cart for the next load. I LOVE it. I no longer dread doing laundry. Folding and putting away clothes is my very least favorite thing to do. But now that I do it as I pull it out of the dryer, I don’t have baskets of laundry all over the house waiting to be folded.

Do you think a DIY laundry cart like this would keep you from dropping laundry on the floor?

Tips for Building a Custom Laundry Basket Cart

• Buy the baskets first.
  Build the cart around the baskets you plan to use rather than trying to find baskets that fit after the frame is assembled.
• Use one basket as your template.
  Test the basket inside the frame several times during construction.
• Check the door clearance.
  Open both appliance doors and position the basket where the finished cart will sit before deciding on the final height.
• Install the casters after painting.
  This keeps paint off the wheels and makes the frame easier to paint.
• Predrill the caster holes.
  Predrilling helps prevent the ends of the wooden legs from splitting.
• Consider locking casters.
  Locking wheels can keep the cart from moving while you load, unload, or fold clothes.
• Add a lower shelf if needed.
  I didn’t need one for my cart, but a simple shelf could provide extra storage or additional support.

This rolling laundry cart solved one of those small problems that made laundry day more frustrating than it needed to be. It keeps the basket at a comfortable height, catches clothes as they come out of the machines, and gives me a convenient place to fold everything.

Because the cart was built around my own baskets, it fits the way I do laundry instead of forcing me to work around a store-bought design. The old porch spindles also gave an ordinary household helper a little more personality.

Would a DIY laundry cart make laundry day easier at your house? Would you leave the bottom open or add a storage shelf?

Do you have questions?

Can I make this cart without wooden spindles?

Yes. Square furniture legs or 2×2 boards would work. Just make sure all four legs are the same length and strong enough to support the loaded baskets.

How do I determine the size of the cart?

Measure the body of the laundry basket just below its rim. The basket should fit inside the frame while the rim rests on the top rails.

Does the laundry cart need a bottom shelf?

No. The open design keeps it lightweight and easy to roll. However, you could add a shelf for supplies, an additional basket, or more stability.

Can this work with a top-loading washer?

It could still be used as a rolling basket holder, but you would need to adjust the height and placement so it does not interfere with the washer lid.

Should I use locking casters?

They are not required, but locking casters could be helpful if your laundry room floor is uneven or the cart moves while you are folding clothes.

gail

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