Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Does anyone has a "laundry room"?

39 replies

tostaky · 04/11/2011 21:08

if so, how big is it? where is it and any recommendations?
we are buying a new home and im planning one. my mum used to have one (about 4.5 sqm) and it was great...
im wondering if i could do with something smaller and where best to place it (near kitchen or bathroom)

OP posts:

lovingthecoast · 04/11/2011 21:12

We don't have a laundry room but we do have a utility room where we keep the washing machine and tumble drier. We do also dry laundry in there on a pully which raises to the ceiling.

It's about 2m wide by 4m long so not huge but it does the job.

RandomMess · 04/11/2011 21:13

NickNacks · 04/11/2011 21:13

I went to Ikea at the weekend and they had a fab 'bedroom' set up. Off the bedroom was a 'dressing room' then lead into a laundry room complete with ironing table, and then on into the ensuite which lead back into the bedroom.

I want that!

MindtheGappp · 04/11/2011 21:13

I think they are called futility rooms.

We don't have one. Our house was actually built with one back in the 1920s. It would have been called a scullery in those days. Some former owners knocked everything through to form a very big kitchen.

We have our washer and drier in the kitchen, hidden behind the same doors as our kitchen cupboards. The result is loads of floor space and counter space.

My last house had a separate kitchen and futility, and it ended up being two small rooms rather than one big one.

lovingthecoast · 04/11/2011 21:14

Oh and it's off the kitchen which runs along the back of the house. I'd also say a window in there is a must if you plan to dry clothes in it. We also have the tumble drier hose going out a specially designed permanent hole so we didn't need to dangle it out the window.

cyb · 04/11/2011 21:15

I have a loo in my utility room which is a God send

And a really deep sink with grooves inside it for scrubbing clothes like the good old days

lovingthecoast · 04/11/2011 21:15

Ours certainly isn't big enough to do the ironing in though.

cyb · 04/11/2011 21:18

No I cant iron in mine. But then I like to watch Deal or No Deal while I iron so I haul everything into the front room

lovingthecoast · 04/11/2011 21:18

We also have a deep sink in there but it's usually got a pair of wellies in it.

Certainly no loo in there but we have a separate downstairs loo anyway. If we didn't, I'd def try and get a loo in. Our kitchen is reasonably big with space for a large table and a dry area with two 2seater sofas but if it was smaller, I'd seriously consider knocking through to the utility room to get the larger kitchen.

Itsjustafleshwound · 04/11/2011 21:22

I would love a utility/laundry room - the idea of having somewhere non-food but kitchen-y would be a dream ...

Kandinsky · 04/11/2011 21:26

Mine is upstairs, approx 6sqm and is brilliant. It has a sink, some units, washing machine and tumble dryer. It is large enough for a large laundry basket and an airer. I have a condenser dryer as I didn't want a hose and it makes the room nice and warm so things on the airer dry really quickly.

If you want one upstairs check carefully how solid the floors are and thickness of Walls as it would be annoying not to able to use it when the children are in bed as the noise disturbs them. Mine is constructed such that you can't hear anything in the adjoining room if the laundry room door is shut.

startail · 04/11/2011 21:28

I have laundry all over the house, the washer is in the study. I haven't been allowed in there today. DH writing complex computer code.
(I suspect the study was built as a utility room by the owner before last as it has plumbing for a washer. Last owner had it as a bedroom and had the washer in the kitchen where I have my dishwasher. It is all mad!
The insurance people wanted to know how old the house is - well the oldest bit is pre 1850, the aforementioned multi functional room is 1970s, DD2s room is 1980's and we built the conservatory.

gomummygo · 04/11/2011 21:32

Yes, have always had laundry rooms. Usually about 3m x 3m, though my last one was bigger which was really handy. Have always had main floor (I am in Canada and many have them in their basements). I like them best when near the bedrooms, personally. Linen closet nearby a good idea.

Also have utility rooms but have never seen them together, neat idea.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/11/2011 21:37

I would love one, we had one in dh's house but I was too young to appreciate it.

AngelDog · 04/11/2011 21:59

Ours is small and has a Lakeland heated airer in it. It's technically 22 m.o. DS's bedroom, but we co-sleep in our room so he never uses it.

INeedALieIn · 04/11/2011 23:16

We have a utility downstairs and a drying/ironing room upstairs.

This is probably 12ft square. Big enough for plenty of shelving/racks, at least 3x drying airers permanently in use, and the ironing board to be permanently ready for action.

My main tip would be, if possible, south facing with plenty of windows. If so clothes dry really quickly.

FetchezLaVache · 04/11/2011 23:28

My DSIL is Australian and she insisted on a laundry room off the kitchen when she and DB extended the house- it's ace! She's got all proper grown-up shelving and hanging space for the clean clothes to go when they first come out of the dryer and for quite a long time after that as, let's face it, putting the clothes away is a ball-ache chore. There's also a loo/shower room off it. DB is a farmer so he can come in on an evening, strip off in the laundry room, put his clothes straight into the washer, have a shower, put on clean clothes, and then step into the house all clean and not smelling of cowshit.

Inertia · 05/11/2011 08:00

We have one (we call it the futility room too) and I wouldn't be without it.

Ours is just off the kitchen. I would suggest that the best place for it is ground floor rather than upstairs, in case of leaks as well as the noise issue. I'd go for bigger rather than smaller if you get a choice.

I iron in mine, have got a DAB radio but you could consider getting a TV.

Definitely get a big sink in there too, so you can do any mucky cleaning jobs away from the kitchen.

Himalaya · 05/11/2011 08:19

I would love a 'futility room' to hang, stack, store clean and dirty laundry.
My mum has one - I'd say about 6 sq metres with shelves and one of those ceiling pulley hanging racks. The only thing is it is upstairs and she had more than once had a washing machine leak which busted through ceiling below.

EttiKetti · 05/11/2011 08:27

We have a utility room, its 4mx3m with a worktop and sink unit on one long wall. Laundry baskets all in there, and I wash, iron, drip dry, the lot in there. LOVE IT and dreading moving as I know we won't have one!

RedRosie · 05/11/2011 09:04

A family member in the US has a basement laundry room (with ventilation) and it is fab. Huge washing machine, dryer, "ironing station", drying racks and shelving. There is also a sink and cupboards for supplies etc. Very jealous.

campocaro · 05/11/2011 09:06

No utility room unfortunately but our spare room doubles as drying, sorting and ironing room and I also have a linen cupboard in there.

mirpuppet · 05/11/2011 15:19

If you do not hang your clothes to dry downstairs I vote for an upstairs laundry room -- why bring clothes up and downstairs? Of course deal with noise & leak issues.

bossboggle · 05/11/2011 15:21

(Smile) I got a utility room too - wouldn't be without it - can hide all of the of the laundry in there until I need to iron it etc. Am trying to save on the electricity by NOT having the tumble drier on all of the time so hung up two sprung loaded rods and use coat hangers to dry off clothes after ironing them damp - with window slightly open!! Any other electricity saving ideas would be gratefully received!!

bossboggle · 05/11/2011 15:23

Right lets see if I can get one of those smiley faces on here then.......did it!! New to this type of thing but learning!!

Flip

1 2