I was watching a show the other night where a couple with 2 children (maybe 7 & 9 or so) were thrilled with the washer and dryer in the walk-in closet in the master bedroom. While I can understand the convenience and would understand it in a retirement home, why would a couple with 2 kids want it in their room? Do they plan that the kids will never do their own laundry? Do I really need my college kids in my bedroom to do their laundry? Or does she plan on doing everyone's laundry forever???? Your thoughts, please.
Posts: 1639 | Location: Northern New Jersey | Registered: Mar 23, 2008
I just saw an episode of Buying and Selling where the bachelor homeowner had the same setup. He loved it, but the real estate expert said few other buyers would, for the reasons you mentioned. The machines were located to another more practical part of the house before listing it for sale.
To each his/her own. I agree with you. I do not want a washer in a room. Potential for leaking is dangerous. Mike Holmes moves washer/dryer to basement in his renovations for that reason. Imagine: someone ill in bed, quite ill. "Sorry, have to do laundry!" Pleasant.
Posts: 5849 | Location: western PA | Registered: Sep 20, 2002
My sister lived in a house with her washer and dryer in the hallway leading to the bedrooms enclosed with sliding doors. She liked it and I think it would be ideal. It was made so if there were any leaks it would go out a pipe in the floor leading to the outside and dryer was vented through the roof. Seems the reason they are in the master bedroom would be that is where most of the dirty clothes/bedding are. Less steps to walk. Never liked having the laundry equipment in the basement.....too many steps and as you get older, that can be a problem.This message has been edited. Last edited by: May,
There have been LOTS of problems including fires with those dryers vented through the roofs. Those vents need to be cleaned on a regular basis & a lot folks don't do that.
Son had a house where they were located upstairs in the hall by all the bedrooms. They liked it, I didn't. It was dark in that area even with a 100W bulb overhead and no place to fold anything other than on top of the machines. I just prefer mine right off my kitchen where I can do other things & change loads as soon as they finish...no running up/down for load changing.This message has been edited. Last edited by: ga.karen,
"The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion
Originally posted by Meischa: .....It seems so, but who wants their laundry in the basement, too many stairs for no reason.
My house has a walk out basement. The laundry, family room, and garage are in the basement. The living room, kitchen, and bedrooms are upstairs.
Let that sink in for a minute. All of my groceries have to be hauled up a flight of stairs from the car to the kitchen. All my trash has to be hauled down a flight of stairs. All of my laundry has to be hauled down stairs, washed, dried, then hauled upstairs.
If I ever move again the laundry will be on the same level as the bedrooms and the kitchen will be on the same level as the garage. Ideally everything will be on one level.This message has been edited. Last edited by: JoW,
Posts: 8530 | Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA | Registered: Oct 13, 2002
I have been in a home that had a regular laundry room near the kitchen and an additional small washer and dryer in the master closet. I thought it was genius.
My washer and dryer are upstairs. My master bedroom downstairs......the problem with the laundry room upstairs is that you are mostly downstairs, kitchen, den, when you are doing laundry, so, you are constantly going up and down the stairs. Yeah, convenient for putting linen in the linen closet, but, still.....that's about it.....
Posts: 1082 | Location: LAS VEGAS | Registered: Mar 22, 2004
never understood master laundry unless you are single and no other laundry .If there is someone sick in that room what do you do or the work schedule changes one night one day then what my laundry room is right off my side door near the driveway and the pantry is there and so is the freezer ,great when you go grocery shopping .It also has a half bath and my little computer cabinet and sewing machine so easy for me to multi task .I had the laundry built my way and it is large 10 x12 and love the room .If I have the chance I would love to put a little sunroom off of it .Then it will truly be my dream laundry room .I think the laundry room these days has become he most important room in the house besides the kitchen .My house is a one story and would never want a 2 story house ever again .Besides that a 2 story becomes 3 when you have a basement .
my dream laundry would be on first floor big enough to turn around in, and NOT shared with water heater and heater! but i have done a couple of things that help...wire rack shelves over the doors...added a "double tower" wire unit with a pole for spare hangars (costco) the shelves hold reg "junk"...last, a small rolling tool box with a butcher board sealed top...i can use for folding...
we don't have a basement...and the idea of hauling stuff up 2 flights of stairs?? no thanks!
Posts: 8113 | Location: se mi | Registered: Sep 25, 2002
I like what I have. Basement. Yes, steps but not a problem and I am aging quite a bit. I have a double sink, a folding table, an ironing board up, plenty of light, four drying racks, a line for hanging, and a rocking chair. I can rock and wait for a load to finish. I can fold at an height perfect for my poor back; beats using a bed for sheets and towels and many items of clothing. We use the finished basement bathroom for showering. Very convenient for towels,etc. that are used there. Some newer homes do offer a large laundry area (no doubt designed by females) that includes play areas and a comfortable chair.
Posts: 5849 | Location: western PA | Registered: Sep 20, 2002
My laundry room is in the center of the house with a through the wall vent that runs through the office in the back of the cabinetry. I wish the builder had slightly sloped the floor to a drain...but alas did not. To date we've had no leaks but I do know that someday that will happen.
The room is right beside the master bedroom. If you leave towels drying as you go to bed...nah...doesn't work because you can hear the dryer running. I usually get up an hour or so before husband but can't start laundry until he's up...sometimes it really puts a crimp in my weekend schedule.
Having everything in the bedroom end of the house is convenient, however I wish the laundry room was at the other end off the kitchen. But it is what it is.
My cousin's Virginia home had the washer/dryer upstairs with the bedrooms. I asked about leaking...he showed me the 'tub' the washer sat in and a pipe that went down through a closet on the first floor and to a drain in the basement. That would work if the washer started leaking, but if a hose sprung a leak water would squirt everywhere. (Not everyone turns the water off to their washer they way my mother taught me.)
I don't mind having the laundry room off the kitchen. It's not that hard to carry laundry to and from it. However, if we had a house full of kids, I can see where having a washer and dryer near the bedrooms would make a lot of sense. I don't think I would ever want a W/D in my master closet unless there was no other place to put it.
Question: in these "ideal" laundry areas, where are dirty clothes/bedding, etc. kept? Does each bedroom have a hamper? Is it in sight? How are odors controlled? Our linen closet is in the main bathroom. A vented hamper sits on the floor of that closet. On a shelf is a Glade Solid. Works wonderfully. Basement bath, where we shower, also has a hamper. Very convenient. Most towels are used there. Main bath bath towels are for show or used only by guests. Do you really want repair people in your bedrooms? Hmmmmm.
Posts: 5849 | Location: western PA | Registered: Sep 20, 2002
I don't think having the main laundry in the master bedroom closet would be good, but having an additional stacked washer and dryer there would be great. It would be perfect for doing underwear and nightwear. I wold love to have a little washer and dryer dedicated just for my husband and myself. You could wear cloths and pop them right into the washer. So convenient.
I also have a friend who keeps an apartment in Paris. They have the washer and dryer in the bathroom, right off the master bedroom. I sometimes stay in that apartment when they aren't using it, and I absolutely love that arrangement.
It makes sense to have the laundry near where you dress and deal with clothing. It also makes sense to have the laundry near where you spend most of your time (near the kitchen or other main floor rooms) One way isn't right and one wrong. It just depends on your lifestyle and preferences.This message has been edited. Last edited by: cocok,
I have my washer & Dryer in my master bedroom closet and everyone that comes over thinks it is a great idea!! Its so convenient. I do not have children, but when the time comes I will also need to sell my home and move up in house. This is great for a single couple!
I've always had the standard laundry room, one that you enter from the garage. When my kids were at home it worked well. It still works well but I would love to have the w/d in our bedroom. Its just the 2 of us now. We do very little laundry. With the exception of dish clothes and dish towels it all ends up back in our room anyway. It would be very step saving for us. Then again, a few extra steps never hurt anyone, lol.