AIBU to argue a tumble dryer is more important than a downstairs toilet

[user1471462428]

I have a three bed townhouse. Top floor has en-suite,middle floor has a family bathroom and ground floor with a small toilet. I would like to rip this out and replace with a small laundry washing machine, tumble dryer and a pulley maid. My mum thinks I will devalue the house doing this and it will be inconvenient for the kids. I’m looking to move in the next five years but don’t want to be running to the laundrette to dry clothes till then. AIBU

Iv 3 kids and house hunting. I wouldnt buy a house esp a town house without downstairs toilet

@VinylDetective I’d have to rip the en-suite out and put the electrics in.

@ElizaLaLa

I'd prefer the laundry room. Unless disabilities are involved, what's so hard about walking upstairs to use the toilet? #FuckingLazy

Without the use of the Anglo-Saxon I would say the same of those who consider a tumble dryer to be 'essential'.

I would say having a toilet aside from the one in the main bathroom is good, but it sounds like you have the en-suite with one in, but I don't get the obsession with having loads of toilets in a house. I can understand the need for one to be accessible if someone within the home requires it, but other than that it's not that much effort to walk up the stairs. With children I would take a tumble dryer any day.

Without the use of the Anglo-Saxon I would say the same of those who consider a tumble dryer to be 'essential'.

The effort of walking up some stairs isn't the same as that required for faffing about drying clothes..

I'd keep the downstairs toilet if you're looking to move soon

That’s crazy and you’ll totally devalue your house. I wouldn’t dream of buying a house without a downstairs toilet. You can buy a decent condenser tumble drier for 200 and it doesn’t need to be plumbed in.

I would give my eye teeth for a downstairs loo. My stairs are like the north face of the Eiger! Mind you I'm older than a lot of you.
We have always had a tumble dyer, and it's always had to go in a bedroom. When you start toilet training your little one you will find it a Godsend.

Who cares what your mum thinks or any randoms in the internet? You are a grown adult and can do what you like if it’s your house! Feel free to tell your mum to mind her own business!

Your house sounds very similar to mine. We have done just that. We left the sink and and the plumbing for the toilet is capped off behind the dryer in case it's needed in the future. I definitely wouldn't be without it.

If there is plumbing for a toilet somebody else can easily put one in if that is what they would prefer. It’s not as though people don’t rip out and replace perfectly good bathrooms all the time, and a toilet and basin are relatively easy to install if the existing services are there.

If you already have two toilets (which you do), I'd also go for a tumble dryer over a downstairs toilet.

When I did my extension in my last house, we didn't have room for both a downstairs toilet and a tumble dryer so we didn't install a toilet. We already had an ensuite and a main bathroom.

But I'm not sure I'd rip out a downstair toilet to install a tumble dryer. I think I'd try to find somewhere else for it first. If I was staying for a long time in the house, then I would consider ripping out the toilet but not if selling. I think we are in the minority to prefer a tumble dryer. I don't really get the obsession with a downstairs toilet. We have one now and yes, it's useful, but if I had to choose, I'd choose my tumble dryer still.

I spent 18 years without a tumble drier or a downstairs toilet. We've just had some building work and now have a downstairs toilet and a tumble drier/utility room. I have to say, if I had to choose between the 2 it would be the drier. Having a drier has changed my life through winter trying to get clothes dry was always a nightmare! Whereas I don't mind climbing stairs for the toilet. I do still intend to hang my washing out in summer though but definitely, the drier over downstairs loo wins for me!

We have a John Lewis washer dryer and it’s great. Works absolutely fine. You can even put things in for full wash and straight to the drying cycle, which feels like actual magic. It’s squashed into our downstairs loo area with a load of shelving. We also use a heated airer as it dries things much quicker than normal airers.

Also. I am amazed at people who are adamant they wouldn't buy a house without a downstairs loo. I've never seen it as one of life's essentials although I'm happy to have one now for my elderly parents as they can't manage stairs. But honestly, 18 years and 2 lots of toilet training, I never found it an issue and it certainly wouldn't be top of my must haves if I am ever house hunting again.

Can you put a pulley, or even two, anywhere else? Or you could put one in the downstairs loo and accept that you might not be able to use that loo when you’re drying sheets inside in the winter (you could hang them when the kids go to bed and they’d probably be two thirds dry by the morning). If you can put a dryer in a second shed, I’d do that, and only use it when you really need to. OTOH, we don’t have a downstairs loo (tho I’d like one) and brought several kids up, inc potty training, just fine.

@duckalemon

People without driers. Where do you dry your clothes, towels and bed linen in the winter?

Clothes horse in the bathroom plus dehumidifier. To be fair without the dehumidifier we'd struggle.

This whole debate is weird. If and when you go to sell you could just have a downstairs loo put back in. All the plumbing and pipework is there for it, it isn't like you would be removing this but just capping it off.

My friend's Mum removed her bath in the only bathroom in the house as she needed a walk in shower. She had knee and hip issues and couldn't step into the bath to shower. It was taken out for her and she lived with it for 10 years before sadly dying. My friend had the shower taken out and a bath put back in to put the house on the market.

You could always put in the particulars that there is plumbing for a downstairs loo or just put one back in.

The house is for you for the next 5 years. Not anyone else. I didn't have a downstairs loo for potty training Ds2, it was fine.

@merrymouse

If there is plumbing for a toilet somebody else can easily put one in if that is what they would prefer. It’s not as though people don’t rip out and replace perfectly good bathrooms all the time, and a toilet and basin are relatively easy to install if the existing services are there.

You’re right but if a downstairs loo is on your list of essential criteria you just write off houses without them and don’t bother viewing.

We have a downstairs toilet but got rid of our tumble drier a year ago and rarely miss it. I would love a separate laundry room but not at the loss of a downstairs toilet.

Why don't you dry washing in your En-suite if you don't use it? Heated aired or ceiling mounted pulley.

If it takes a while to dry get a dehumidifier. (Keep the window closed if you do)

Or put a condenser drier in the en suite.

OP we have the same set up and the same problem, we removed the radiator from the kitchen to fit the tumble dryer, otherwise we would’ve put it under the stairs. The other option we looked at was stacking it on top of the washing machine, is that an option?

I’ve got 4 kids (two fo them teens) and all the washing that entails. Never had a tumble drier. Downstairs loo gets used all the time. So I’m with your mum on that!

I was thinking that using the ensuite as a drying room might work well.