When my son dropped a glass bottle on a subway platform in Osaka last summer, a man appeared out of nowhere to sweep away the shardsand we learned firsthand howJapan earned its squeaky-clean status.The same fastidiousness extends to peoples homesthe slippers-only policy indoors is the law everywhere (we were even reprimanded for entering the foyer of a gym in our street shoes). So I wasnt surprised to learn that doing laundry is a favorite chore that often gets tackled daily (we dont like to keep dirty clothes in the house, a Japanese friend explained). Though many people own washing machines and dryers, the latter are rarely usedair drying is far preferred as just about every apartment balcony attests.
My interest was piqued while visiting artist-confectioner MioTsuchiya in her narrow Tokyo house dubbed the Vertical Alley: on the rooftop terrace she had towels drying on collapsible steel hangers and socks dangling from metal clips. Mio shared the Amazon links to these household staples, and that got me started on a Japanese laundry solutions hunt.
Here are my favorite finds. Note that since washing quarters are tight everywhere and particularly in Japan, these designs are made for keeping in clean in compact quarters.
Laundry Bags, Baskets, and Hampers
Above: The Koinobori Laundry Bag was inspired by the classic carp-shaped Japanese wind sock; 12.50 from DOIY.
Above: From Tsuruya Shoten, a Japanese workshop specializing in rattan designs, theRattan Laundry Rack has a top compartment intended as a bath towel repository and a removable laundry basket below; 27,000 via Shokunin. In the States, its available as the High Hairu Rattan Basket from Nalata Nalata for $230 (bottom basket sold separately).
Above: The Tsuruya Shoten Rattan Clothes Basket Ellipse is 12,000 from Shokunin. Nalata Nalata offers the similarLow Rattan Basketfor $200.
Above: From affordable storage specialists Yamazaki, the steel-framedCollapsible Laundry Hamper is $45 from Food52.
Above: The Siwa Medium Laundry Basket, 7,600, is part of a line of products composed of Siwa, a light but durable material that expands the possibilities of paper.
Abov: A Muji basic, theStainless Steel Laundry Basketcomes in two sizes: $40 for the small (shown) and $50 for the slightly larger.
Washing Machine Shelving
Above: Mujis S-SUS Shelving Unit L, $320, fits neatly around a mashing machine, and can be paired with Mujis modular steel shelving.
Collapsible Drying Rack
Above: The collapsible Jajan Laundry Drying Rack is made of steel and wood (and also comes in all white and black and white); its 10,989 via Amazon Japan.
Laundry Hangers
Laundry Carts
Above: The Yamazaki Tosca Tall Laundry Wagon, $70, is a rolling clothes rack fitted with a largeTosca Laundry Basket, $45.
Above: The Yamazaki Tower Laundry Wagon,$46.20, holds two Tower Laundry Baskets, $48, medium, $53, large, from Burke Decor.
Ironing Boards
Above: The Yamazaki Ironing Board in a Bag is composed of two ironing mats (one large, one sized for shirt sleeves) that cleverly fold together to form a storage carrier for an iron; $32 via Food52.
Above: The Bestco Ironing Boardwith wooden legs is5,696 on Amazon JP.
Above: Shaped for ironing shirts, this Tabletop Iron has folding metal legs and a hanger for easy storage;1,990 from Amazon JP.
Laundry/Bathroom
Above: An all-white combination bath and laundry room with simple wood shelving in architect Kano Hiranos Tokyo house: see An Inventive Sliver of a City House by No. 555. Her Estonia Pine Baskets are 9,000 from Kagoami.
Here are some other well-designed household tools from around the world: