Washing machine in bathroom ?

[Gamble66]

I'm having my bathroom refitted and having the washing machine and tumble dryer plumbed in upstairs as I just think it's so much more convenient. Friend thinks I'm bonkers.
What 'mad' house things have you done that work for you ?

To me having the washing machine in the kitchen is not hygienic. I keep thinking of all the dirty underwear etc near my food prep area. But that is coming from a Canadian. We do not tend to install under counter washing machines in our kitchens. It would be considered odd. We have a separate cupboard or closet, or a utility room. In my condo, we have a utility room with washer/dryer and storage.

It why would the dirty washing be near your food prep area - I literally carry the laundry into the kitchen, possibly dump it temporarily on the floor, where I don’t tend to prep food, and stick it in the machine. I don’t leave dirty underwear on the worktop.

Definitely picking up that people don’t line dry with this set up.

Just about to re-do our bathroom and I think I might do this. Those saying it would be a faff to carry wet washing through the house to hang it out - surely it's no different to taking the dirty washing downstairs to wash it? You're still only making the trip once.
Any ideas on how to minimise noise from the washing machine?

I line dry whenever I can, which is almost never now that we live in an apartment. I cannot hang laundry outside on our tiny balcony. It is not allowed in any event (I know, I know but in reality it's not going to change). In summer I hide a few drying bits close to the wall, but I am always worried they will blow away.

In winter it rains, a lot. We get rain blowing onto our balcony.

Using a dryer is pretty much the default. I dry delicates etc in our second bathroom where we have a laundry hanging thingy attached to the wall over the tub.

I am grateful our electricity is hydro electric and therefore very non CO2 producing, or very low. If everyone here stopped using a clothes dryer it would have little or no impact on emissions.

Line drying is a luxury I just don't have any more. I do miss it, a lot.

Ironically, one of the justifications we are given for our city being bulldozed and then covered in high rises is "ecodensity". Perhaps I am becoming cynical in my old age, but really? A 33 story tower with no real outdoor spaces and constant lights/elevators/hvac is better than lower density more neighbourhood oriented housing?

Sorry that was a bit off topic, but I felt that I needed to explain given several comments about not line drying.

I live in an apartment in Kuwait and out washing machine is in the spare bathroom. Loads better for us as it's nearer the bedrooms

it's standard to have the washer in the bathroom in many countries.
it makes much more sense imo. bathrooms here (not uk) tend to be tanked, so water damage should the washer flood the room isn't an issue. plus no cooking smells on your freshly washed laundry!

I can understand the logic, only a bathroom to me is my quiet place, i.e. long lazy baths and I hate the thought of having 'work' stuff in there.

You can buy anti vibration mats on amazon to help reduce the noise. We have ours in the space under the stairs and I much prefer it to the kitchen, especially as its on almost every day.

I much prefer this arrangement, was really keen to do this myself but don't have the upstairs space.
Much more hygienic. I don't have a utility room and although I have a laundry bowl would much rather spot clean stains/ hand wash in a 1. Utility 2. Failing that a bathroom.
If you are redesigning May be try and get space for a laundry basket with different sections for whites, dark mixed etc.
I line dry because I have the luxury of being able to - many people in flats don't

I hammer over the 2 sinks and 2 dishwashers arrangement I see in Jewish friends homes who keep kosher.
Not having a utility and being a keen gardener, I would love a "dirty sink" for cleaning muddy stuff..

If we didn't line dry most of the year I'd like it, but I'd far rather carry dry dirty washing down the stairs than heavy wet washing so having the machine in the kitchen right by the back door makes more sense for us.

Makes perfect sense if you tumble dry after all a bathroom is for washing.

My little bit of crazy organization is that I keep mugs, tea, coffee and teaspoons together in the cupboard nearest my kettle and fridge. It really offends some people that I don’t keep the mugs in the cupboard with the plates, and the tea in the pantry. But I make a lot of tea and coffee and I don’t see why I need to open 3 doors when 1 will do

I also keep my nail file and varnish tucked down the sofa cushion.

I was just thinking this the other day.

When I moved to the uk many years ago I was shocked to see the washing machine in the kitchen. I was told that the UK has a funny rule about plugs in the bathroom and that basically you’re not allowed to have the washing machine plugged in the bathroom.

My argument has always been: you lot are nuts, there are plugs by the sink in the kitchen, we’re all grown ups.
I even argued that there are electric heater racks in the bathroom, why not another electrical appliance as well?
My fault for never actually getting to the bottom of it, but I went through a lot of trouble when I bought my house a few years back. It only had space for a washing machine, not a dishwasher as well, so I ripped one cabinet out and made space for a dishwasher.
All that when I have a huge bathroom that would accomodate a stack of washing machine and dryer quite easily.
Damn!

And now you’re telling me I could have done it.

But not so nice when someone had been to the toilet in the bathroom and you want to get the nice clean washing out of the machine (I have to hold my breath while I do it).

Barbarara - we keep the tea, coffee and mugs in the cupboard nearest the kettle, which is directly over the cutlery drawer too, I thought that was normal.

I don't know why I can't accept it. Maybe the thought of unloading the washing then having to carry it downstairs and through the house to hang it out?

That’s why it works so well with our downstairs bathroom.

We line dry for maybe four months a year and the rest of the time tumble dry a few bits (tumble dryer is in the garage) and put the rest on a clothes horse.

It's very common set up in Germany and they are the royalty of logic, ease and reduced wastage.

I think it would be convenient in the winter, but in the summer I wouldn't fancy lugging loads of wet washing down to the garden. Also I quite often put my washing machine on timer to come on a 4am so when we get up in the morning is fine and ready to be hung out to dry, that would be too much of a disturbance of the washing machine was upstairs. I don't think it's bonkers just wouldn't suit me. Ideally I'd love a utility room big enough for the washer and tumble dryer but there's nowhere for it to go with our current lay out.

You'll Love our 'en-suite' shower in the master bedroom.

Almost 10 years later, and we've not moved it. It looks ridiculous, but it's sooooo good being able to literally step from the bed to the shower (or vice versa)

We sacrificed our downstairs loo and made it into a mini cloakroom with the washing machine in it. We have two bathrooms upstairs in a two bedroom house with two people living in it so felt we got better use of the space doing it that way. Can't line dry though, so use a heated airer which works fine - no tumble dryer.

You're not allowed to have the washing machine plugged in in a bathroom. Theory being water/steam and electrics aren't great together.

My bathroom is a haven of peace so I definitely don't want the bloody machine in there. Also I often run washes at night and don't want to hear it going round in the ensuite - in the kitchen it's a long way away so I can't hear it.

Also much easier for taking washing out to dry in the garden.

People really dont understand about hygiene, do they? Unless you're wiping your chopping boards with dirty undies and don't wash you hands before handling good, there is nothing unhygenic about a washing machine in the kitchen.

It`s a great idea.

Theory being water/steam and electrics aren't great together

pretty sure the water and electricity work the same way in all other countries where washing machines live in bathrooms..

My concern would be the noise from havibg a washing machine and tumble dryer upstairs. Not only the swishing of the machines but the vibration. Unless of course you have ultra good soundproofed floors. Also what about the transmission of noise through bedroom walls for those who use the machines in the evening. Think of all those sensitive babies who waken at the thought of a noise. Much prefer mine downstairs in the kitchen or otherwise (in the integral garage actually). Easy to access outside for hanging.