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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:
oldbirdy · 05/03/2018 19:25

We have just had this conversation. To get round building regs you can have it in a cupboard in the bathroom, or you can gave it hard wired into the wall or 3 m away from bath or shower. The additional problem is that you can only use a machine which is sold as suitable for bathrooms, which UK machines don't tend to do. We are having ours just outside the bathroom door with a separate doorway into a large cupboard: we are taking a bit of the bathroom out to do this, but accessing from hallway.

BaronessBomburst · 05/03/2018 19:26

@MissDuke I think electrics in the UK are better organised. For example, you'd have a dedicated oven point. Here we would just buy an oven, plug it in, and soon learn never to have it switched on at the same time as the kettle.
I'm hoping that's what he may mean.......The voltage is the same.

Pixelpuffin · 05/03/2018 19:34

I'm envious of your massive bathroom
I dream of a huge bathroom

I'd partition a action for the washer so it's out of sight

Ours is in the garage along with dryer....the freezer keeps them both company!

Pixelpuffin · 05/03/2018 19:35

Section not action
Stupid phone

snewsname · 05/03/2018 23:02

I think it probably evolved into the kitchen/utility because of the taking out out to the garden to dry on the line. Now many people don't do this but it's just habit rather than being carefully thought out.
I'd much prefer mine to be in the bathroom. Would make much more logistical sense as I never line dry.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 05/03/2018 23:09

My parents have their washing machine and tumble drier stacked in the bathroom (London). They definitely don’t have 3 metres between the appliances and the bath, but the switches are in the hall outside. This arrangement has worked fine for 40-odd years.

sportyfool · 06/03/2018 09:09

Lots of new builds have utility rooms and toilets in the same room. I hate washing in the kitchen , it's grim . I'm lucky enough to have a utility room but I'd prefer it in the bathroom than anywhere else . Obvs you would box it in nicely not just have an ugly machine and dryer in there ?

Redpony1 · 06/03/2018 09:57

My brother wanted to do this, but he couldn't as only had 2m between bath/shower and where it would go.

What other countries do or what older setups have worked are irrelevant, it's current UK regs/laws that should be followed.

SeaToSki · 06/03/2018 10:12

In the US, they are never in the kitchen. Always a separate hall cupboard, or in the basement or a utility room. I would hate having mine in the kitchen now, I would rather have the cupboard space and not have clean clothes coming out onto a messy kitchen floor (as even if i sweep twice a day there are always crumbs) Also the noise right where I am cooking and living.

malmi · 06/03/2018 10:23

Under UK regs you must have at least 3 METRES from the edge of the bath or shower to the washing machine and its socket. If your bathroom is not big enough for that, then please DON'T DO IT. It's illegal "full stop" to do so.

ankasi · 06/03/2018 10:42

I grew up in Germany and the washing machine was always in the bathroom. Both flats I lived in it was right next to the bath.
But then again, we also had power outlets near the sink/over sink mirror for hair driers, toothbrushes and electric shavers.
And I have never heard of anyone electrocuting themselves accidentally.

malmi · 06/03/2018 11:32

Here you go ankasi, two kids were electrocuted in the bath in Kassel, central Germany, after an electric razor fell in. Now you've heard of it.

www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/kinder-sterben-durch-stromschlag-in-der-badewanne-drei-jahre-haft-fuer-den-vater-13574835.html

liz70 · 06/03/2018 11:59

We holidayed in Belgium once. There was an electric panel heater built into the side of the bath. I was Shock.

IllustriouslyIllogical · 06/03/2018 12:01

Electric Showers are designed to be used in wet, humid environments.

Washing machines aren't - take the top off & have a look at all the wires & circuit boards just sat there waiting for a bit of condensation to drip on them....

Pretty sure that any electric items installed in a bathroom have to be fit for purpose. If it does short out & catch fire, or electrocute someone as they brush past it on the way to the loo - would your insurance cover it?

And if you're worried about the hygiene aspect of it, how do you feel about transporting your clean clothes around near your toilet?? (They spray shit 1000 metres don't you know!!)

Elzee · 06/03/2018 12:04

@rosevi

I have no objections to the washing machine 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.

Put the washing machine in the bathroom if you want, but that argument is just plain daft.

Most people have their washing machine in the bloody kitchen! Confused

Chugalug · 06/03/2018 12:04

What if it floods

brownelephant · 06/03/2018 12:14

if it floods a bathroom is (usually) better equipped. out bathroom is 'tanked' so a flood wouldn't result in much damage. kitchen is lino tiles on floorboards...

Firesuit · 06/03/2018 12:22

The man in that article was surprised that a circuit-breaker hadn't protected the children.

I am also surprised at that. Both my bathrooms have an RCD isolation switch. (Though they didn't originally, so I guess it's not mandatory?)

(I'm in the UK, but if Germans are more relaxed about sockets in the bathroom, presumably they're more likely to require RCD switches?)

Even if he hadn't left the children alone, if he'd been there when the shaver fell into the bath, surely by the time he'd pulled the plug out it would have been too late anyway?

Clearly he's wrong to have left children unsupervised in the bath, but it sounds like the actual cause of death was dodgy electrics, rather than his negligence. (Although I suppose he could be responsible as homeowner for having dodgy electrics.)

Perendinate · 06/03/2018 12:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YouCantGetHereFromThere · 06/03/2018 12:50

Most people have their washing machine in the bloody kitchen! confused

In the UK yes. In the rest of the world no.

TorchesTorches · 06/03/2018 12:58

I live in mainland Europe and have the washing machine in the bathroom. When i first looked round our house, i hated it and wanted it changed. About 2 days after moving in i was completely converted. Laundry basket to washing machine is 2 meters, then washing machine to drying room (guest bathroom) is about 5 meters. It makes so much more sense, vastly more efficient.

anxious2017 · 06/03/2018 13:09

Why is your husband embarrassed?

Is it the thought of having his smalls spinning while someone else uses the bathroom?

IllustriouslyIllogical · 06/03/2018 13:11

Our washing machine is on at 2 in the morning most nights (I know - Fire Services, Unattended, Blah Blah Blah).

I wouldn't want that rattling away 5 feet from my bedroom door, luckily when it's downstairs there are 2 rooms, 2 doors & some stairs so I don't hear it.

Plus it's right near the patio doors for the washing line in summer and the garage for the tumbledryer in winter (I know - Fire Services, Unattended, Blah Blah Blah).

We lived in Germany, in one flat the washing machine was in the kitchen, in the other flat it was in the cellar (3 flights of stairs) and in the house it was in the cellar (1 flight of stairs). Never had one in the bathroom!!

Isetan · 07/03/2018 16:31

The additional problem is that you can only use a machine which is sold as suitable for bathrooms, which UK machines don't tend to do.

Do you really think Miele; Bosch AEG, Siemens and all those other well known German brands make ‘special UK only washing machines’, I don’t think so.

Viviennemary · 07/03/2018 16:39

I wouldn't like this. Because it's convention to have wms in the kitchen. But if you're not planning to sell any time soon and it's convenient for you then do it.. I don't really like the thought of clean clothes being where a toilet is though. And agree with the socket problem.