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Does anyone have a tumble dryer in their garage? Would you rather have it in the house if you could?

27 replies

bryte · 22/08/2014 15:36

We are in the middle of a kitchen extension. We're having another small room built to accommodate the downstairs loo we're losing and I'm having it big enough to put the washing machine and a shower into it. I am trying to work out whether to also have a tumble dryer in there on top of the washing machine. I have an inherited tumble dryer which lives in the garage and isn't used very often. I've used it to dry bedding and towels in the winter, but it's inconvenient for intermittent checking to see when things are finished, and for bringing dry things back into the house. It's possible I run it for longer than it needs and things get left in there and get cold.

I had planned for the tumble dryer to go in the new room with the washing machine. Now I don't know whether I should or not. If I don't have the dryer in there I could have some worktop over the washing machine and a counter mounted sink (maybe?) which would allow for a bigger sink than if I have to put a wall mounted one in. But, I'll lose the potential convenience of having the dryer inside the house. I'm trying to work out how much that matters. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

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bryte · 22/08/2014 15:43

Hmmm, I'm thinking the counter mounted sink would not work, but counter would still be useful. Aesthetically it would look better not to have the dryer in there but I feel like I should for convenience sake.

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NewEraNewMindset · 22/08/2014 15:44

We have washing machine and tumble dryer in the garage. I think ideally you want the toe housed together if you can.

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NewEraNewMindset · 22/08/2014 15:44

two obviously lol. The toe can stay with it's mates in your socks.

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MillyMollyMama · 22/08/2014 16:10

I have a Landry room with the dryer on top of the washing machine. It is brilliant and will you really want to sort washing and then trudge to the garage with it? I have a large sink too for hand washing garments. I would have WM and TD together and lose the work surface. I would try and have a sink though.

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dottyaboutstripes · 22/08/2014 16:32

I had my dryer in the garage. All I can say is GET IT IN THE HOUSE!!!

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bryte · 22/08/2014 17:25

I really do not use the dryer very often, and don't particularly want to. It is only used for bedding and towels during winter. Do you still think it is worth bringing it into the house? I've now thought that I could use the space above the washing machine for a drying rack. For small items. Not the bedding. oh, how I wish there was space for a proper laundry room!

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WhatsItAllAbout123 · 22/08/2014 17:33

Our dryer is currently in the garage and the washing machine in the house. If that is the only option, then it is better than no dryer; but it is a PITA carrying a full load of wet washing around (we have 8kg machines).

Can I ask how are you putting your washer in the same room as a shower? Is it in a cupboard or seperate room or in the same physical space as the shower? Are you having to hard wire your washer into the wall (rather than just having it plugged into a socket)? We are planning on converting our garage and creating a utility area, shower room and study / guest room. I'm very much at the figuring out stage, so not spoke to building control / planners yet, as just trying to figure out ways we can maximise the space available. Being able to combine a shower room with the utility area will mean the space will feel nicer. I hope you don't mind me asking you this?

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burnishedsilver · 22/08/2014 18:59

I am staying with my parents while our building work is going on. They have the washer in a downstairs WC and the dryer in the shed. It is a major PITA. Dont to it.

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Letthemtalk · 22/08/2014 19:01

Ours is in the garage, perfect for us. We don't use it often, but when we do we can't hear it. There's no point in wasting kitchen space on it.

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PrimalLass · 22/08/2014 19:01

Just stack them. Have a look on Pinterest for laundry room ideas.

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 22/08/2014 19:04

Mine's in the shed, I'm fine with it there (although I had to fight for the space, with o/h insisting he couldn't have his shed cluttered up with such stuff). He was happy to have motorbikes and snooker tables down there, though Confused

Guess who won the argument??
I'm happy it's there, I didn't really want it cluttering up my kitchen.

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ipswichwitch · 22/08/2014 19:10

Ours is in the garage and I hate it. No room in the kitchen though. I hate having to go out there in the dark and fend off giant spiders whenever I need to get the drying in.

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 22/08/2014 19:12

Ipswich - any spider (including the giant variety) will run away from you!! Smile
Alternatively, just leave it there 'till morning.

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Pinkfizzy · 22/08/2014 19:14

Mine's in the garage at the end of the garden & I hate, hate, hate it!

Until you have tried carrying baskets across slippery, wet or icy paths with heavy wet laundry, up & down steps in my case, switching out the light & closing the door whilst manoeuvring said baskets, you cannot know just how rubbish it is.

Rant over.

Extending the house and moving it to on top of the washing machine. Not bothered about an extra sink as I will have a large one on the kitchen.

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AnnOnymity · 22/08/2014 19:17

I used to. It wasn't the end of the world, but it is much easier having it inside next to the washing machine.

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 22/08/2014 19:18

Pink - I do all exactly that, and am totally fine with it.
Spiders, Ice, Slippery paths, manoeuvring wet laundry! No problem. You put the basket down, switch out light, shut door, pick up basket. Easy Peasy.
The T/Drier is not in my kitchen - GREAT!!!

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 22/08/2014 19:19

Wimps!!! (all I can say) Grin

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Muddlewitch · 22/08/2014 19:27

My washing machine and drier are in the garage. It's nice to have a clear kitchen but in bad weather it is a pain, and I nearly always drop at least one thing on the way across the garden and have to re-wash it!

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cairnterrier · 22/08/2014 19:28

Could you get a washer/drier? No need to stack appliances but can tumble dry when necessary. Ours is great and big loads too (9kg wash and 6kg dry).

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noblegiraffe · 22/08/2014 19:30

Mine's in the garage and it's fine. Far less noise than having them in the house.

I don't understand why you need to keep checking things are dry though, mine has a sensor and only runs till things are dry then switches off. It also has a timer on it so you can see how long it has left to run. If yours doesn't, then buying a better one would solve that problem!

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mandy214 · 22/08/2014 20:08

What type of house is it? The reason I ask is that the vast majority of houses (especially older houses) have issues with condensation / moisture within the house. We have this in our 1930s semi. So I have a rule that I never have wet washing drying in the house. On that basis, I wouldnt have a drying rack over the washing machine. I have washing machine & TD (stacked above) in an external utility room (its kind of attached to the back of the house but I have to go out the kitchen door, along the side of the house and in an external door). The windows are always open so have a molly drying rack on a pulley, then rails for things on hangers etc. It works really well for us.

And secondly, it is usually a tip. So I would hate to have to show guests to a downstairs loo and for them to see my family's laundry all over. So my option would to have both in the garage and keep the loo as a loo / shower room.

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PrimalLass · 22/08/2014 20:17

I hated it being in our garage. The time you need it the most (wet days) is when you least want to go out to use it.

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livingthegoodlife · 22/08/2014 21:30

ours in garage but its attached to the house. doesnt bother me at all. i dont have space for it in the house and prefer having my second fridge in the utility room with the washing machine instead.

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r2d2ismyidealman · 22/08/2014 22:28

I've found this really helpful. I was planning on putting the tumble dryer in the shed. I'm now going to try it on top of the washing machine in the kitchen

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OnePlanOnHouzz · 23/08/2014 08:31

if there's no suitable space downstairs - perhaps consider moving the WM & TD upstairs instead ? stacked, they can be hidden in a cupboard !!

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