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Property/DIY

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Original poster

do I need a sink in the laundry room?

60 replies

eternalrenovation · 08/09/2021 14:43

So I'm renovating my forever home and I'm not sure if I need a sink in the laundry room.

In the attached floorplan the laundry room is a dedicated room highlighted in blue. You access it by going under the stairs from the hallway, past the WC.

It measures 2.6 x 1.5m and has one tall cabinet for a water cylinder, then a worktop of 1.9m above a washer and a dryer. I could put in a small sink too but it would cost worktop and storage space.

The WC sink is 2m away from the laundry room, the large kitchen sink is 8m away, and having three sinks on the ground floor seems a bit excessive. I figured I could use the WC sink to fill buckets to mop floors etc.

I'm putting in a new washer and dryer, presumably modern machines mean the old days of soaking stains are less common?

I've spent a few hours looking into this and most people seem to go for a sink but when space is tight I think I could live without one. Having said that I don't have kids now but perhaps my mind would change in the future ... any help gratefully received :)

OP posts:

AmberRoseGold · 08/09/2021 18:28

I just empty my dryer water into my washing machine. Is that a bad idea?

hedgehoglurker · 08/09/2021 18:50

@AmberRoseGold

I just empty my dryer water into my washing machine. Is that a bad idea?

I used to do that too. However I don't have a sink in my Laundry Room, as my current heat pump dryer drains into the washing machine drain pipe. Although I do have a Utility Sink in the adjacent Utility/ Mudroom.

CasperGutman · 08/09/2021 22:45

I was worried about a sink taking up too much space in a small room so we're getting a very small one in our laundry room: just a half bowl with no draining board, so it'll take minimal space, but it'll be a lot better than nothing.

Also: plumb in your dryers, people!

Buffoonborisisatwat · 08/09/2021 22:51

Can you have a sink with a hinged work top just over the sink bit, to cover it when not in use - a bit like a stove top. ie hinge at the back so when up it's leaning against the wall.

DramaAlpaca · 08/09/2021 22:54

One word. Yes.

NewlyGranny · 08/09/2021 23:00

Yes! And if you can, get a good deep one, like a proper trough. Something deep enough to wash a muddy toddler in or rinse a pair of men's wellies or soak a king size duvet cover. You will never regret it.

NoTeaForMe · 09/09/2021 07:37

Can I just ask a quick question - to those if you with a heat pump tumble dryer plumbed in….is it a specific one? We’re looking for a new tumble dryer for our new utility room. The heat pump ones seem to say condenser too? Thanks.

SW1amp · 09/09/2021 08:19

@NoTeaForMe

We’ve got a Miele one now, but previously had a Bosch one Both come with a hose at the back which connects directly into the waste so you don’t have to empty the water drawer

I think pretty much all condensing dryers have the option of being plumbed in or collecting water in the drawer

Roselilly36 · 09/09/2021 08:25

We had one in our utility room, we found it very useful for soaking clothes, washing pet bowl etc. I would add a sink if I was you. But entirely your choice.

hedgehoglurker · 09/09/2021 08:27

@NoTeaForMe

My current Samsung heat pump and old Beko condenser both came with a drainage tube. I think it is standard and not necessarily written in the description.

minipie · 09/09/2021 09:14

@Buffoonborisisatwat

Can you have a sink with a hinged work top just over the sink bit, to cover it when not in use - a bit like a stove top. ie hinge at the back so when up it's leaning against the wall.

We have this. No hinge but a cut out in the worktop that forms a lid for the sink when not in use and basically makes it one big worktop. The tap swivels to move out of the way.

This solution works well but it does require a solid worktop (not laminate) - we have Corian - which makes it quite expensive

steppemum · 09/09/2021 09:24

@DilysPhyllis

3 kids, 1 dog, we have a utility without a sink and it didn't occur to me to have a sink when we had it built as part of the extension. Muddy boots and wellies never come into the house, they stay in the garage out front to dry out and then mud scraped off outside, I wouldn't be washing them in a sink indoors even if I had one. I couldn't tell you the last time I soaked an item of clothing, possibly when they were babies my memory is a bit hazy! Even then it would be in a bucket.

I suppose consider what you would use it for and whether it's worth sacrificing the worktop space. Worktop space is more important to me so I wouldn't sacrifice it.

I do see that everyone is different in how they use their house etc.

But I use my dirty sink every day.

Fair enough, muddy wellies and boots don't usually get washed, they go on wellie rack in garage etc.

But I use it for cat and dog food bowls, and it was so good to remove them from the kitchen. They are fed in utility room too, again, so good to get that out of the kitchen.

So I guess for OP, what would you use it for? Do you have kids/pets?
Do you do things like gardening and painting/decorating?
Do you have a husband who regularly comes in with hands cover in oil?

SignOnTheWindow · 09/09/2021 09:59

If you do want to have kids or a pet at some point, you will want a sink in the laundry room for rinsing shit and vomit off stuff before putting in the machine.

Skinnytailedsquirrel · 09/09/2021 12:48

We don't have a sink in our laundry room. Don't even think about it. We have a bath in there so I can soak anything in a basin in the bath (but never really need to do that). I don't hand wash anything so not really missed.

PoshWatchShitShoes · 09/09/2021 19:32

Yes, I've bought a double 80cm sink for our utility. It's handy for washing muddy wellies/trainers, soaking laundry, emptying the mop bucket (I don't want dirty floor water with chemicals going down my normal kitchen sink).

If we get a dog, it will be a bath for them too.

If it's tight on space, could you create a more open plan Lootility?

alpinia · 09/09/2021 19:37

Our utility was quite tight on space but we still put a sink in. Agree with everything steppemum said, we use it all the time. Only wish we'd stacked the washer and dryer and put in a dog shower too... he definitely does not fit in the sink any more.

Chillyjellytotty · 09/09/2021 22:29

We use our utility sink all the time. Soaking clothes, washing the cat bowls, filling up the mop bucket, bucket to wash the cars, , washing out paint brushes/rollers ect. We also have a bathroom sink very close but the sink in the utility room is much easier to fit buckets and things in.

steppemum · 10/09/2021 08:36

great idea I saw on a thread recently.

If you are doing building/extension, put in an outside tap and drain, but one that has HOT WATER. Then get a shower/hose attachment, and you can wash your dog down outside after muddy walks.

My poor dog gets washed down with hose, even when freezing cold, as he gets VERY muddy, and too big for a sink, too far to get to the upstairs shower! Love the idea of warm water outside tap.

Sparechange · 10/09/2021 09:13

@steppemum

We put in a floor drain and hand shower inside the utility room
It doesn't take up any extra space, but we can bring the dogs (and muddy boys) inside, and hose them down with warm water, which then drains straight down through the floor
It also makes it very easy to mop/clean the utility room floor, because we are just sluicing it out rather than having to endlessly mop mud

Babamamananarama · 10/09/2021 09:28

It's really useful to have a sink that you can use for mucky jobs - soaking houseplants, washing up paint brushes etc. I'd definitely add one.

FannyBrice · 10/09/2021 09:43

yes , i use mine all the time

crumpet · 10/09/2021 09:51

We have a big Belfast sink in the utility room - really handy to have a larger sink available. It gets used for lots of things, and I certainly prefer not to wash muddy boots/ soak muddy kit in the kitchen sink. I wouldn’t say it’s a necessity, but would always have one if I had the choice.

steppemum · 10/09/2021 10:48

just a note to all those suggestions of a big belfast sink.

My mum ha don in the utilty, itwas great for lareg things like the BBQ grill, but I am tall and doing anything in that sink gave me back ache!

I fact there were 2 washing up bowls, one upside down and the other on top, so it was higher, which we used for everyday stuff!

thriftyhen · 10/09/2021 11:17

I think you need one. We have a huge old Belfast sink which is so useful. I use it for washing up the animal dishes, filling buckets (animal or mop), preparing cut flowers from the garden for the house, soaking stained clothing, washing out the compost container, etc. Really anything I'd prefer to keep out of the kitchen sink.

fruitbrewhaha · 10/09/2021 11:37

I have a sink in the utility, it gets used for washing delicates, quickly handwashing a bit of pe kit needed the next day, paint brushes for the kids, I also use it as a receptacle when sorting the laundry into piles, the wool stuff goes in it. It's a smallish sink with a wire basket that slots on one side and no draining board.

I also have a wash hand basin in the loo next door and two sinks in the kitchen, one by the dog area.

I use them all.

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