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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Is it practical to turn ensuite into laundry room (washer and dryer)?

16 replies

Housemover18 · 02/06/2018 20:17

As above, there is no space for a tumble dryer in the kitchen of several houses that we are looking to buy but they do all have ensuite to the master bedroom which we arent really interested in having. I have an idea that we could put the washing machine and tumble dryer in there - and get a plumper to plumb them in. The bathroom obviously has water and a vent already - is that madness? Would it be a big job does anyone know?

OP posts:

EleanorLavish · 02/06/2018 20:22

We had a big bathroom and a separate shower room. Turned the shower room back into a bedroom (nursery), when DC came. Youngest now 5 so turned nursery in to a laundry room. It’s upstairs. Handier than having it downstairs I think.
I’ve heard in mainland Europe/USA it’s quite common to have washing machine in the bathroom?

Jimwenttothedarklands · 02/06/2018 20:26

If you do your washing at night/set it to finish when you get up, it would be a pain because of noise.
I share your view of en suites but equally I don't think I'd want a room full of washing off my bedroom.
As your kids get older, would you be OK with them trudging in and out of your room to dump/get clothes?
I love the idea of a laundry room though!
We don't have room for a drier so we don't have one. It's not too bad most of the time.

Jimwenttothedarklands · 02/06/2018 20:28

Eleanor, I always wonder about safety with that. Same as when USA have hair dryers next to the sink.

Original poster

Housemover18 · 02/06/2018 20:45

I’m not worried about the noise - we mostly wash and dry during the day and have fairly quiet appliances anyway. Also no worried about the ‘roomful of laundry’ thing since at the moment the main laundry basket is in my room and clean clothes waiting to be folded and put away end up there too.

However good point about kids growing older/ doing their own washing etc. Will consider that.

OP posts:

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/06/2018 20:50

Our washer and dryer are in our main bathroom - wasn't a big job to get it fitted at all. We still have a full bathroom suite as well, but IIRC it cost us about 1k getting our old sink unit ripped out, new electrics installed (switch outside bathroom), a big custom vanity unit built, tiled top, new sink fitted and washer and dryer plumbed in.

I absolutely love it!

delilahbucket · 02/06/2018 20:54

I would be concerned about what would happen if the washer leaked. Having more than one bathroom is also a huge plus point, especially when you have kids.
Get a washer dryer. Our Hotpoint one is superb.

DownUdderer · 03/06/2018 00:12

I’d rather have them in the garage, is that an option? I personally hate the smell of the dryer, similar to the smell of a hot iron, I wouldn’t want that near my bedroom!

Original poster

Housemover18 · 03/06/2018 08:45

Fab - thanks statistically that’s really useful.

I really dislike washer dryers - had one in the past and they dryer part broke fairly quickly, the repair man who came round said that it is very common. Plus it means you can’t wash and dry at the same time.

Garage is an option and one that I think could work - can access the garage from the back garden and it has power. DH thinks that will be a hassle, must question him more on why that is.

OP posts:

Iloverupertp · 03/06/2018 09:15

Delialah which hotpoint washer dryer do you have?
I have never found a decent one !

EleanorLavish · 03/06/2018 12:24

What safety aspect Jimwent? Now you have me worried!

another20 · 03/06/2018 13:37

Don’t put laundry in your garage if it is not directly accessible from your house. Could you cut a new doorway from hall to your ensuite and block access from your bedroom. Is there room in there or in landing for a folding table, ironing board and laundry basket? Think it’s a great idea - laundry is biggest drama in our house !

ColonelCakes · 03/06/2018 13:46

Have a look at the blog yellow brick home - they have a laundry off their master bedroom and it looks great! I’d find it annoying for hanging washing outside but that’s only a summer problem! We have a beautiful wall mounted laundry airer from pulleymaid in our spare room, which would be ideal in a laundry room! With that and a humidifier it dries quickly.

another20 · 03/06/2018 13:56

Colonel how does the cost of running the dehumidifier compare with running a tumble drier?

ColonelCakes · 03/06/2018 13:57

I don’t know exactly as we’ve never had a tumble dryer but it’s certainly not astronomical.

MyOtherProfile · 04/06/2018 05:03

I lived in France and had a big bathroom with the washing machine and drying racks in. It made so much sense because we never had to carry dirty washing downstairs or clean washing upstairs. It did make me wonder why we aren't all doing the washing on the same floor as we keep our clothes / get dressed and undressed.
However I think you would be mad to lose an ensuite for a laundry room. Our kids are old enough to hog the bathroom now and we would struggle without 2 bathrooms in the morning. Also our kids often do the laundry as part of their chores so I wouldn't really want them doing that in our room.
The garage would be a good use of space especially if there were a way to cut a door through from the house.

amyboo · 04/06/2018 09:11

I live in Belgium, and most people in appartments here would have their washing machine in the bathroom. We also have proper power sockets in the bathroom too. And, no, in the 16 years I've lived here I haven't heard about a mass of deaths due to electrical appliances in the bathroom.... I'm guessing it's to do with the difference in the way our electrics are done?

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