While I don’t think anything beats towels and sheets dried on a clothesline, most of us don’t even have that option today. Either the covenants of our sub divisions forbid it or, frankly, we just aren’t home enough to do the job. On the other hand, with today’s energy efficient laundry equipment we have the opportunity to have highly workable and attractive laundry rooms in our homes.
This laundry room has it all: plenty of storage and counter space as well as a great sink. A rod to hang clothing fresh out of the dryer saves ironing time.
Laundry Room Basics
Beyond dependable laundry equipment, correctly installed, there are a few things that are must- haves in the laundry:
- A place to fold clothing as it comes out of the dryer
- Storage for laundry detergents, a mending kit, stain treatments and other miscellaneous supplies
Nice-to-haves include a sink for hand-washables, a wastebasket (built in or freestanding) and a rod to hang clothing as it comes out of the dryer. Hanging up garments as soon as the dryer stops will save ironing. Hmmm, that brings up the concept of an ironing board in the laundry. While a friend of mine recently said that anything that needs to be ironed should be donated to charity, some of us still iron…at least a little. It’s nice to be able to put a fresh press in a pair of slacks before you leave for the day. If there is room, the laundry room is one place to store an iron and ironing board or even build one in.
Second Floor Laundry Rooms
A few years ago, there was a trend towards moving the laundry to the second floor. After all, that’s where most of the laundry is generated. The two down sides of a second floor laundry are:
- Some accommodation has to be made for the possibility of an overflowing washer. Accidents can happen and plumbing can fail. A pan and drain can be placed under the washer or a totally tiled floor with a drain will do the trick.
- The noise of laundry equipment near the bedrooms is unappealing. And really, mornings are all about getting showered and out the door. Evenings are about getting the kids bathed, ourselves ready for a good night’s sleep and prepared for the next day. Neither time seems ideal to be treating stains and sorting whites.
If the home is large enough and the budget permits, I’d opt for a small laundry on the second floor with a larger set up on the first floor near the kitchen. I like a first floor laundry even though it can mean taking laundry up and down stairs. What I like about it is that you can be running a load of laundry while cooking dinner. Today, laundry is a relatively easy project…toss things in the washer,add detergent and push a button. An hour later you toss the washed clothing in the dryer and press another button. That’s my idea of housework at its best.
