tell me what happens in your utility room

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We're moving to a house with quite a large utility room, but which needs 4-5k spent on it to damp-proof, replaster, replace ceiling etc (it's basically an outhouse). Can we justify that kind of money for a utility room? I've never had one before, so I'd like to know what people use them for, beyond laundry and kitchen overflow storage. And how is yours organised? Any brilliant storage solutions I should know about? Thanks!

Washing machine, tumble dryer (under counter, so next to the washing machine), and next to that is a sink and draining board. Cupboards underneath the sink. Worksurface on top, where I have three ironing baskets. One for hangers, one for things that have been washed but don't need to be ironed (I take that basket upstairs only one a week), the other basket for clean clothes that need to be ironed.

Wall mounted cabinets over the washing machine and tumble dryer for shoe polish kit, first aid and medicines baskets, childrens paint and coveralls, laundry detergents/softener/vanish etc.

I use the stainless steel sink to soak clothes with stains, washing hands after coming in from the garden, washing paintbrushes etc. I wouldn't replace a utility room sink. Ours is clean but there is dried on gloss paint, which doesnt bother me but looks unsightly.

Also in the utility room are vacuum cleaner, sweeping brushes, dustpan and brush, carpet cleaner, iron, mop and bucket, two clothes horses and all of our wellies and garden shoes.

On the walls are heavy duty massive hooks so that ironing done in there can be hung up on hangers before it is put away upstairs.

We also have lots of sockets at floor level and work counter level.

Wouldn't be without one. Ours is being built with washer, dryer, pulley line, sink, ironing board and airing cupboard. Absolute must in my books.

Everything happens in there. It is big and holds

Washing machine
Tumble drier
Mini tabletop oven and hob
Sink
Airers
2x vacuum cleaners
Steamer & mops
Cleaning stuff
Extra coats
Recycling bin
Normal kitchen bin
Extra fridge/freezer
Cat bowls & litter tray
Boiler, fuse box & underfloor heating guts
Extra cupboards full of washing powder, cat litter, light bulbs, clothes pegs and assorted rarely used appliances like toastie maker and juicer

I do like having a utility room, but it is a dumping ground. My washing machine and tumble dryer are in there along with the ironing board, iron and the huge pile of ironing. the wash basket lives on the landing though.

The cupboards contain excess cleaning products, as I buy from Costco and the detergents for washing.

dog food and leads, bowls etc.

cupboard tall enough for mop, brooms etc. hoover is kept in the cupboard in the dining room though.

Oh yes, iron and board are in there too.

Mine was originally the outside loo! It was then enclosed by the previous owners who pout a large conservatory on the back of the house. It is still our downstairs loo but also has a large sink, washing machine and dryer and shelves for cleaning stuff, iron and ironing board, mop, bucket and floor brush. Really useful as we only have a narrow galley kitchen with nowhere to house everything. Its too small to be used as a dumping ground, every spare inch is in good use!

We have a couple of these in ours they're fab. Clothes dry quicker as they are above the radiator and leaves lots of floor space

www.lakeland.co.uk/23727/The-LOFTi-Laundry-Drying-Rack

I don't have one but then I live on my lonesome so probably don't need one now...

But if you have a family size house i can only imagine it is an asset probably worth spending money on it

In ours-
Dog food/leads/wellies/walking boots/football boots/washer/tumble dryer/iron and board/light bulbs/cleaning stuff/vases/vacuum leaner/toilet rolls/medicines/sewing kit/clothes airer/recycling/
sweeping brush/mop/brush and dustpan. At Christmas we put extra drinks in there.

It has four large cupboards and a shoe rack so actually quite tidy. Also a sink, radiator, window and several plug sockets.

It's really useful.

Brilliant, this is so helpful. Will have a go at cleaning up the old sink to keep the costs down. I like the idea of a big hook to hang ironed clothes on, and a tall cupboard for brooms and mops etc. Also sockets for charging things - wouldn't have thought of that. Would you have open shelves above cupboards and worktops, or more cupboards? We've had to rip out all the old ones as they were so damp-riddled/warped. There are some advantages in having to start from scratch I guess - at least we can make it as functional as possible.

I have a big open plan kitchen/dining/family area but still have a separate utility room which I prefer. It has practical ceramic floor tiles and houses the washing machine and tumble dryer, bin, cat bed, litter tray and cat bowls. I have my microwave, toaster, 2 x coffee machines in here (so that my main kitchen surfaces are not cluttered!) I have various gadgets that I use less in the cupboards here - the bread maker, food processor, waffle maker, etc. Spare sink plus enough storage for all the laundry stuff. Door to garden patio. My only regret due to not having thought about it at the time is not installing a laundry chute from the main family bathroom which is conveniently straight above the laundry room.

I love having a utility room!

We have a dishwasher in ours too, which comes in really handy at Christmas or when entertaining for the overflow - all the roasting tins, etc get dumped in the utility room too to get them out of the kitchen. The dishwasher is about 30 years old and still going strong - we inherited it with the house and moved it in to the utility rather than dumping it when the kitchen was replaced

Op go for it, I have mad ideas of getting rid of d/s loo too gain a utility room, its the only thing I miss from our, old house I have utility room envy

Our laundry, like that of every house I've lived in in Australia, is nowhere near the kitchen , in fact you have to walk the length of the house to get to it. Bizarre.

However it contains the washing machine and airers and leads into the garage. It has a big steel sink so lots of grubby work can be done there; cleaning paint brushes, washing plant pots. Lots of storage. It's where the ironing board lives. No tumble drier because hot air vents in the floor keep the room toasty warm in winter. Most washing is line-dried because we do have less rain than in the UK, and tons of wind being at the top of a hill near the sea.

Cupboards - to hide the crap away.

Its one of my favourite rooms although it is always full of random stuff. It is the place I tidy up first when I am having a tidy up session. It brings me joy.