AIBU to think UK houses and flats are badly designed when it comes to doing laundry?

[YellowBalloonsandOrangeBaboons]

Inspired by moving into an otherwise lovely flat, built in the 90s, which has no utility room (obviously), no space for a tumble dryer, no garden, and a rule for the whole development which prohibits drying washing on balconies. It's got me thinking about all the houses and flats I have lived in in the UK - at least 7, of very different sizes and types, and in different areas - and I have come to the conclusion that architects are spectacularly crap at designing properties as they never routinely seem to take account of something as basic as washing and drying clothes. The only one I have ever lived in that had a purpose-built utility room was built in an extension. Another was old and huge and had a room converted into a second kitchen-cum-utility room. Everywhere else, drying washing has been a monumental, daily pain in the arse.

I just don't get it. It's not a secret that UK weather is generally cold and wet for a good part of the year, meaning that even if you're lucky enough to have a private garden you can't really dry washing there for half the year. Hanging washing all over the house means excess clutter, looks terrible, and creates dreadful problems with damp unless it's hot enough to have the windows open. Now that increasing numbers of flats are being built with no gardens, the problem will surely only get worse. I get even more confused by new builds without gardens that have multiple en suite bathrooms but still no utility room. Why isn't designing somewhere purpose-built to dry your clothes considered a basic in architecture, in much the same way as designing places to eat, sleep and shower? It's rare to design a new flat without at least a second loo now, for example, so it's not like it's just a space consideration. AIBU?

I'd be fascinated to know whether other countries (especially ones without acres of space per property) share this problem, or whether there are any more modern solutions out there.

I don't actually really mind the rule about no washing on balconies as I do see that it doesn't look great. And it wouldn't help much in winter anyway. I'm more thinking about the issue with lack of purpose-built facilities indoors.

yanbu
when I lived in germany there was a communal laundry and drying room in the basement.
in addition each appartement had a storage cage compartement either in the attic or basement. plus communal cycle storage.

but I don't miss the cleaning rota for the communal areas (mopping floors once a week).

Completely agree with you. I’ve got a small 2 bed flat and absolutely no drying space at all. Have got a washer dryer which helps a bit and when DS is at his dad’s I use an airer in his room with a dehumidifier but it’s a nuisance. I’m also first floor so worry that my washing machine disturbs my neighbours so tend to only do laundry when they’re at work. Have stayed in some great flats abroad that have a proper utility room which was so much better.

@VelvetChairGirl

YABU

they are badly designed for everything

Exactly. UK housing stock in general is terribly designed and has been for various centuries. There’s a weird pride in it though. I don’t call living with mold and mildew in your clothing and lungs as advanced first world living but heh, different strokes for different folks.

We are not allowed visible laundry on the balcony either but we put a screen up and that's allowed.

Actually I will say my flat was built in the 1930s and is thought out.

I have a airing cupboard in the hall, a larder cupboard in the kitchen, a broom cupboard in the living room and a walk in wardrobe.

the broom cupboard is big enough for things like an ironing board and has a couple of shelves up one side that are exactly the correct lengh to fit a iron.

also the kitchen windows is patterned so people cant look in, except on one section which I assume was where the original sink was so the housewife could look wistfully out the window while she washed up.

and the council maisonette I grew up in had 2 airing cupboards and store room with sockets etc and there was a bar thing over the bath attached to the wall, if you pulled it, it would come off and it had 5 washing lines attached to it attached to somekind of reel in the wall, you pulled it over and attached it to the wall at the other side of the bath so you could dry clothing over the bath on the 5 lines.

I think what has happened is a focus on what sells a property and to hell with anything else, I dont understand why places have so many bathrooms is everyone incontinent now days?.

Unless your balcony has glass or large open railings, I would also dry outside when possible. As long as it visible to below or others because of ‘aesthetics’ I assume, it’s fine

We use these. Screwed into the balcony railing inside so clothes all hidden from view when drying. And it folds away when not needed - www.homestoragedirect.com/collections/indoor-clothes-airers/products/artweger-ruckzuck-clothes-dryer-and-mounting-set-silver?variant=24723952643

www.stepup-uk.com/ - these are good for indoors

I think it’s immoral that no washing in balcony clauses are allowed in deeds/contracts. It’s not ok. Put in adequate drying facilities if you think people drying their clothes makes your development look untidy.

YANBU

The one bad thing about my house is that there’s no utility room. It’s so impractical.

Totally agree! Why do we keep our washing machines and dirty laundry in our kitchens it's gross, I've taken a small bit of a bedroom and stacked tumble above washer and now it's all out of sight. Best thing I ever did.

I have an early 00s flat and until recently was driven bananas by the washing machine being built into the kitchen - which is open plan with the dining and living spaces. Utterly stupid - nobody wants to hear the spin cycle whilst trying to unwind on the sofa!

I found a slim (40cm instead of 60cm) top loading washing machine and have managed to slot it into our airing cupboard beside the boiler so now have moved it out of the kitchen and gained a cupboard. Am beyond pleased with myself over this because I'd been struggling to solve the problem for a good while. Is there anywhere you can put something narrower?

We also have the no washing on balconies clause, and our management committee would enforce this (with us, not so much with others, there's a very targeted campaign going on which will lead to us leaving eventually) but we have a wide hallway beside the balcony with south facing patio doors so it gets pretty warm if there's even a hint of sunshine.

Hm, come to think of it we do have an airing cupboard so maybe that covers the "must have space for indoor drying facilities" clause a PP mentioned.

But I thought you could only use them for freshening up clothes that had the tiniest bit of moisture left in them. Surely if you put clothes in there straight from the machine it's a recipe for a cupboard full of mould?

There's already mould on the window frames, despite trying to open them where possible (not so easy in the middle of winter) and running a dehumidifier which I hate having to do with fuel prices as they are. Needless to say the extractor fans in the bathrooms (yes, bathrooms plural!) are rubbish and we will have to replace them soon.

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Most architects were men ay least until very recently.

The washing fairy obviously dealt with their clothes. Her and the girl in the Dry Cleaner's.

^^ This.

Poorly designed for storage. For washing/drying. For parking. To deal with extremes of heat and cold.

In other countries flats are a pleasure to live in, even as a family. In the uk sling up any old crap and people are forced to live in it.

YANBU

I've put in a foldable wall mounted drying rack in kichen/dinner - have de-humfider under it and a clothes horse. Also have hot air dryer on landing - have tried it all over the house - have condensor drier under the stairs and two lines in garden roatary and line which goes up and down with pullies. Still struggle with drying space.

The washing machine being where it is - near backdoors otherside to rest of kitchen - dining bit at back of kitchen in front of garden doors - is because previous owners designed the extension and kichen in it.

Last house back of garage had been converted into washing area - drier washing machine space and line in garage - also served as mud room for boots etc from garden with young kids. Again put in by previous owner who dealt with heavily soiled work clothes.

It's only really summer the house is free of washing. Even on MN though you constantly read put it outside to dry - I'm in a very wet bit of Wales with 5 people in house I line dry as much as possible but large parts of year it's not possible.

@DoNotTouchTheWater

I think it’s immoral that no washing in balcony clauses are allowed in deeds/contracts. It’s not ok. Put in adequate drying facilities if you think people drying their clothes makes your development look untidy.

I agree. Especially when people use a tumble dryer instead so worse for the environment and the clothes because some people think it doesn't look very nice.

If you don't want to see washing on balconies, don't look at them.

Cause and effect might be interesting to unpick. Developers plan what optimises revenue and buyers can only buy what is available but if buyers insisted or prioritised laundry over another wc then presumably they would be designed accordingly.

Not only that. But a bedroom that can fit only a double bed but not a full sized wardrobe. If two adults are sharing a bedroom, where are the my supposed to put their clothes and other belongings. Where are they supposed to get dressed, site aside from on the bed. Can two adults be comfortable on a double bed anyway. People are taller and larger nowadays and kingsize is more suitable. Calling this sized room a double bedroom is an insult.
Also houses where kitchens barely have enough cupboard space or a small under counter fridge.

I never ever get the obsession with ensuites. I'd much walk a few paces to a shared family bathroom, than be without a utility.

I’m paying extra to put proper built in cupboards around my house, because at the minute my hoover, mop, ironing board etc are all just dumped in the box room.

I’ve had a towel/cleaning cupboard in an alcove in the bathroom, will be having a proper pantry in the kitchen, and I’ll be getting the space under the stairs converted into a broom, coat and shoe cupboard.

I couldn’t make a proper utility room work as the house is a small mid terrace, I’m just making use of alcoves and ‘unused’ awkward spaces.

I’m thinking of having a covered pergola along the back of the house, just so I can have somewhere to air dry clothes and store wellies etc in the rain. Cheaper than extending!

@Zilla1

Cause and effect might be interesting to unpick. Developers plan what optimises revenue and buyers can only buy what is available but if buyers insisted or prioritised laundry over another wc then presumably they would be designed accordingly.

Or, rather than leaving it all to the market to decide, we could legislate for some minumum standards?

I don't really get the "hanging washing out spoils the look of a place" thing. In Venice they have washing lines criss-crossing the streets (and they use them) and that's a world heritage site.

I don't really get the "hanging washing out spoils the look of a place" thing.

Housing to design to be looked at but not lived in.

@JamMakingWannaBe

In Scotland, the Building Regs dictate that space has to be made for drying laundry indoors. Maybe it's not the same in other parts of the UK. Many old properties have ceiling airers.

Really? I live in Scotland in a new build (5 years old almost) and no facility for drying clothes. In fact we got leaflets to say do not dry inside as it will cause condensation and lead to damp. It's a Wimpey home if that helps

@RedCandyApple

In my old council flat the flats had no back balcony so the residence would hang their washing outside of their house like this pic, it looked horrible and was not nice walking past people’s wet washing (including underwear 🤢) so I can see why other places wouldn’t allow it as it doesn’t look good. Thankful to live in a house with a garden now!

Council and social housing properties are designed for people to actually live in them not just for aesthetics.

Though some of the around me in London look good.

The Japanese drying looks depressing. Plus how can i do that for 5 people.

My tumble is in my bedroom

@Porcupineintherough couldn't agree more though given the tenor of the MHCLG, I'm not sure how quickly improvements are likely. If anything, their directions seems to be to reduce planning constraints.