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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU - washing machine in bathroom -tedious post

116 replies

Rosevi · 05/03/2018 15:45

We have a massive bathroom which I think we could put our washing machine in. Husband is mortified at the suggestion. When I lived in London it was a common sight in studio flats and I think it makes sense. I have no objections to it being in the kitchen but for me it would make more sense to have dirty clothes in the bathroom than near a food preparation area. Does anyone out there have a washing machine in their bathroom?
AIBU to think that this is no big deal?

OP posts:
Cakecrumbsinmybra · 05/03/2018 15:46

Yanbu. I have mine in the utility room, but I’d rather have it in a large bathroom than my kitchen.

GinUser · 05/03/2018 15:46

I live in Europe. It is quite normal to have the washing machine either in a bathroom or in the cellar.

maddiemookins16mum · 05/03/2018 15:48

I had a massive bathroom in my first flat (SE London), I had mine in there. It's very, very commin in certain countries to have it in the bathroom (you always see them on A Place in the Sun in bathrooms etc). YANBU.

HisBetterHalf · 05/03/2018 15:48

would hate it

tealandteal · 05/03/2018 15:48

Surely the dirty clothes are only in the kitchen for seconds as you load the machine? Wouldn't it be cheaper to put the washing basket in the bathroom and leave the machine where it is or do you need one plumbed in anyway? FWIW I have lived in houses with both set ups

BackforGood · 05/03/2018 15:48

I've never had it, but it makes logical sense to me.
My only worry in my house is I'm not convinced the bathroom floor would take the vibrating weight.

frasier · 05/03/2018 15:49

What is your H's objection?

Could you partition the room if he thinks it will look like a laundry rather than a bathroom?

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 05/03/2018 15:50

Our first flat had machine in bathroom, concealed in a cupboard

opinionatedfreak · 05/03/2018 15:51

I had it in the bathroom in a rental flat. Worked fine.

My current flat has a utility cupboard which I've expended undue energy/cash on trying to get a stacking washing machine / dryer combo into.

My sister is doing a massive flat refurb and refuses to even contemplate having a utility cupboard despite the fact it would have got her a full size dishwasher and she had the perfect cupboard with a water supply, drainage and electricity already there... so your DH POV is not unusual.

MrsMoastyToasty · 05/03/2018 15:51

My only concern would be the electrics in a place that gets wet.
Is it possible to section off part of the bathroom to create a separate utility room?

DobbyisFREE · 05/03/2018 15:51

If there's plenty of space in the bathroom you might as well use it. I find large bathrooms a waste of space so this is actually a really good idea that I hadn't thought of before.

PositivelyPERF · 05/03/2018 15:52

It would need to be a good washing machine, as you don’t want to be sitting downstairs listening to the vibrations. In saying that, I’ve never understood why washing machines are downstairs as all the laundry has to be carried downstairs to be washed, then back up to be dryer.

BaronessBomburst · 05/03/2018 15:53

I'm in the Netherlands. Washing machines go in the utility room, cellar/attic, or the bathroom, in that order and depending on the space available. Never, ever in a kitchen.
Why is DH mortified?

Bluelady · 05/03/2018 15:53

It was in the bathroom in my parents' old house. The loo was separate. I always thought it was distinctly odd and when I renovated it the loo was moved into the bathroom and a utility was created in the little room it had occupied.

MachineBee · 05/03/2018 15:54

I love the idea of washing machine in bathroom. If I don’t have a proper utility, it annoys me to have piles of washing in kitchen area. It’s on show when surprise guests come, and clothes end up smelling of cooking.

The only downside with washing machine in a bathroom is if it’s upstairs and you get a good outside drying day. But realistically how many times do they occurred. Most of my drying goes straight into timbe dryer.

thecatsthecats · 05/03/2018 15:54

YANBU to think the bathroom is a good place for it.

YABU to think that dirty clothes being carried in and going in the washing machine in any way compromises the hygiene of your kitchen. Unless anyone in your family is immunocompromised, we can all stand - and benefit from - a bit of healthy challenge to our immune systems.

If you do go for it, i think a concealed one would look best, and protect the electrics more.

user1483387154 · 05/03/2018 15:55

Completely normal in mainland europe

Original poster
Rosevi · 05/03/2018 15:58

It’s a dormer bungalow so the bathroom concerned is on the ground floor. The current shower arrangement has wiring etc and as likely to get wet in the bathroom as the kitchen.
Currently the machine is in the kitchen as with almost every property i’ve lived in. Our kitchen is a decent size but doesn’t have as much free space as the bathroom.
I posted as I was sure that it’s not as uncommon as DH thought.

OP posts:
BaronessBomburst · 05/03/2018 15:58

Why wouldn't the floor take the weight? Or even vibrate?
My first washing machine was in the kitchen of a first floor converted flat, with wooden floor boards. We never had a problem; it was fairly quiet, even on the spin cycle.

greendale17 · 05/03/2018 16:00

I wouldn’t want my washing machine upstairs either

user1499786242 · 05/03/2018 16:01

Do it! My washing machine and dryer are upstairs and it's amazing
No more up and down the stairs with heavy loads of washing!!!! Makes so much sense in my opinion!

TerracottaAmy · 05/03/2018 16:03

We have one of our bathrooms downstairs. Both the washing machine and tumble drier are in there + massive built in cupboards - it's like having a bathroom combined with a utility - we love it

In our previous house we had our washing machine and tumbler in the box room - again I loved it.

Not sure what people's obsession is with it having to be in the kitchen. Really, just plan and live in your house for what suits your needs.

ginghamstarfish · 05/03/2018 16:03

Very sensible! Would love mine in a bathroom.

Inertia · 05/03/2018 16:04

I think the problem may stem from not being able to have mains sockets in the bathroom. Sounds like you could section off part of the bathroom to create a small utility room though.

TerracottaAmy · 05/03/2018 16:06

My only concern would be the electrics in a place that gets wet

We're 16 years in our house and this has never been an issue. If the bathroom is big enough it will be well ventilated anyway