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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Downstairs toilet or dishwasher, what's more useful?

151 replies

trailerpark · 27/04/2015 19:57

We are in a small house and there is a tiny room downstairs that could be turned into a downstairs loo potentially, or we could move the washing machine in there and get a dishwasher in the space it creates in the kitchen.....
Which do you think would be more useful?....we have two smallish children...

OP posts:

NoSquirrels · 27/04/2015 21:11

Can't you lose a cupboard and have a dishwasher in the kitchen as it is? We have the world's smallest kitchen but a halfsize dishwasher fits next to the washing machine - less cupboard space but totally totally worth it!

fukkigucci · 27/04/2015 21:12

My parents put in a downstairs loo. It is right outside the kitchen. And it's tiny. It's so so off putting to use. I don't want anyone to hear me wee or fart, I have to tuck my elbows in, it's almost impossible to take a kid to the toilet. And if someone poos, it can be smelt in the kitchen and hallway. So I vote dishwasher.

SnotQueen · 27/04/2015 21:12

Are you people mad?!
Team Dishwasher here.
If it frees up time for you now, then do it.
If urinating teenagers becomes a problem in the future, then cross that bridge when you get to it.

SnotQueen · 27/04/2015 21:13

Oh fukki that's grim.

backsoon · 27/04/2015 21:13

I have neither. I don't care about downstairs loo (even toilet training!) but long for a dishwasher. I agree, I would try and do both though - losing kitchen cupboard and putting a high-shelf up for stuff would work for me.

themagicamulet · 27/04/2015 21:15

I have both but could definitely live without the downstairs loo if it was a choice between that or the dishwasher! I love the way you can chuck all the dirty plates and cups in throughout the day. I haven't had a draining board or a washing up bowl in my kitchen for 15 years - hate the things.

averythinline · 27/04/2015 21:15

I would go for a dishwasher every time... friend has a slimline one think its a bosch and its fab for 4 of them..as her kitchen is small......not keen on worktop ones as mean lose worktop...as someone else said in a small house dont think 2 loos are massive selling point .....

Original poster

trailerpark · 27/04/2015 21:15

I could perhaps lose a kitchen cupboard. I just couldn't work out how it would fit - the sink hangs down into more than half the space underneath if you see what I mean? Do smaller washing machines exist or are they all the same size?

OP posts:

averythinline · 27/04/2015 21:17

it doesnt go under teh sink but is usually in cupboard next too as easier to plumb in...ours is a couple of cupboards away as shares plumbing with washing machine....

BertieBotts · 27/04/2015 21:17

1000000% dishwasher. For toilet training just use a potty. It won't kill you to go upstairs the rest of the time! Not really sure why teenage boys need an extra toilet?

SanityClause · 27/04/2015 21:17

We recently stayed in a holiday apartment which had a washing machine in the loo.

There was no basin, but they could have had one of those ones where the basin fills the cistern.

Would that work?

SwedishEdith · 27/04/2015 21:18

Have you got an understairs cupboard? Our washing machine was plumbed in there when we bought this house.

ToBeeOrNot · 27/04/2015 21:20

Dishwasher, we have a downstairs toilet but use it for storage. Overrated

Princesspond · 27/04/2015 21:21

We had a tabletop sized dishwasher on holiday and tbh I loved it, don't know how economical they are but it was great you just loaded up after every meal and turned on. I love my dishwasher but the unloading is onerous. Wasn't an issue with the table top one. I hate washing up though really hate it so whilst some may think a small one wouldn't be worth it. My friend has one of the top of the range drawer type dishwashers (fisher & paykel) and that appeared to hold similar to the tabletop one

Original poster

trailerpark · 27/04/2015 21:21

Dishwasher sounding very attractive. I am going to check out the slimline ones. The imaginary downstairs loo would not be directly off the kitchen, though at the moment it is a space with no window or light.

OP posts:

MisForMumNotMaid · 27/04/2015 21:21

How big is the cupboard for the loo/ washing machine?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 27/04/2015 21:22

Dishwasher if your loo is separate. We only have a downstairs bathroom and I would like another loo but I wouldn't give up the dishwasher for it - 2 adults and 2 pre-teens create a lot of washing up.

BertieBotts · 27/04/2015 21:23

"Loo definitely. If there are more than 1 person in a house a second loo is a good idea, more than 2 people a second loo is essential!
Dishwasher not so essential."

Whaaa? What, do I live on a totally different planet to some other posters?

I'd class maybe four people as it being useful to have an extra toilet. With six being the minimum to class it as pretty much essential. There are three of us, two boys, and I can't think of one time in the last four or five years that it's been a problem to only have one toilet. What on earth are you doing in there?

Whereas a dishwasher is probably the most essential gadget ever, after a washing machine and fridge.

Staywithme · 27/04/2015 21:23

When you say a room, do you mean the cupboard under the stairs?

BreconBeBuggered · 27/04/2015 21:24

We sold a house with only one toilet and no dishwasher, and temporarily rented somewhere that had both a downstairs loo and a dishwasher.

When we came to buy again when things were more settled, it was the downstairs toilet that was the must-have. Never did buy a dishwasher, though there's plenty of space for one.

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 27/04/2015 21:27

I have w/m & dryer in cupboard in bathroom upstairs (is v big bathroom though) & then d/w next to sink in kitchen. no possible place for a loo downstairs in ours though - understairs too tiny. we do have 2 loos upstairs.

We only had 1 loo for 20 years but have had d/w for 25+

GatoNaranja · 27/04/2015 21:28

Dishwasher

TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 27/04/2015 21:29

I'll reword that last point. We've had 2 loos for 15 years but have had d/w for 25+

Original poster

trailerpark · 27/04/2015 21:31

I am going to check that out too Princesspond.

Our house is late 70s/80s and the stairs (boxed in) go over the living room - so there is a slanty roof in the living room - no cupboard. Though I guess you could put one in.

Kitchen at the moment has washing machine by window, then sink, then corner cupboard thing - so would be tricky to put anything there as it's a corner and door wouldn't open etc.....

OP posts:

LL0015 · 27/04/2015 21:34

My washing machine is in under stairs cupboard. It was re-plumbed when I had the kitchen re fitted, but Victorian house so basically they took the floor boards up and ran a water pipe in. And a waste water out behind the cupboards - simples I promise.

Love it in my under stairs cupboard. It is also a larder, lots of thin shelves across the wall. And stores hoover. The iron board is mounted on the inside of the door along with hooks for the mop, broom and dustpan. And the iron is wall mounted on one of those ikea things.
Also have a slim condenser tumble dryer - which is wall mounted so in theory you could put that over the loo.

And yes, a slim line dishwasher, 45 cm wide. Which cupboard could you remove in the kitchen??????

Think Ikea and get stuff up on the wall!

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