HI All! I am trying to finalize the design for the laundry room of our house. We currently have front-loading washing machines in our apartment which sit side by side. My choice in the new house is to: 1. Stack them and put a countertop with a cabinet below and above to the left of the machines, or: 2. Put them side by side with a countertop above both and a cabinet above both. The problem is that the machines are tall, so the countertop on the second option would be right about chest level, and there would be less space between the countertop and the higher cabinets. Does anyone have experience with stacked washer and dryers - I like the stacked idea, but am worried about them moving a lot with the washer below and also having the dryer accessible to my children. I am really on the fence about this. Any ideas/advice would be great!
Side by side. I like the pedestals because I have a bad back and don't have to worry about bending down so far, and don't worry so much about my son. I am short though, so stacking would either be out of the question or at least inconvenient for me. I've never been one to fold laundry in the laundry room, though, so my opinion may be affected by that. I haven't had a problem using the tops of the washer dryer to do any pretreatments.
I have a stackable and have never experienced any shaking -- and I love them...I have cabinets and a countertop next to them with a high bar for hanging clothes that don't go in the dryer -- I HATE doing laundry,but my laundry room turned out to be one of the most organized rooms in the house! :) I love having the countertop to fold clothes, put stain remover on the clothes, pretreat stains -- and as for having the kids help, there are tons of ways to have them help -- they can sort clothes, put them in the washer and hand them out of the washer to you to put in the dryer...yes, it is something you can't just let them do that you have to do with them, but my kids love helping me! I have the LG brand and the controls are about chest level for both machines --a great option -- you can have the controls on the top of the face of the machine or you can move them so that they are together -- THey are quiet and in the room that is right next to the family room (where the tv is) and I have never had to worry about the noise. THey haven't moved in 2 years-- so if you are worried about shaking and "moving" across the room...good luck and let us know what you choose!
Side by side
You are going to want help from the kids and they will want to climb up to the stacked, and that is not so safe.
In a parenting class recently, I heard that when a child is old enough to use the computer by them self, they are old enough to run the washer and dryer.
You may want to have them help sort laundry when they are younger so that as they start to run loads, they have practice.
The sooner you let them help, even if it takes longer to do the work now, the longer they will want to help.
My son is 19 months and loves to help empty the dryer into the basket, and our washer is top loader, so I have to hand him the clothing to put into the dryer, but he loves to throw it in and shut the door.
If I tell him to go play while I do laundry, it would become a habit and when he was older he would go do what he wanted while I did laundry, not my favorite thought. And as a teenager I want as many good habits in place as possible, with as little excuses as possible.
Sorry I got carried away, side by side, lol.
S.
mother to Kai
www.HomeWithKai.com
I vote for the side by side. I have heard that shaking is an issue when stacked (a little more that when side by side). Keep us posted on what you decide!
Good luck!
Good morning H.. I have a LG Tromm front loader washer and dryer and just moved from a house to a townhome. In my house I had a walk in laundry room with tons of space and my washer and dryer were side by side and on pedestals. My new home only has a laundry closet and so I was forced to stack them. I had to buy a stacking kit from Home Depot, take the washer and dryer off the pedestals and install the kit to stack them. I hands down prefer side by side, however, had no choice. I had someone help me install the kit and the washer and dryer are working just fine, quiet, and stable. I am not sure how old your kids are but once you stack the washer and dryer if they are as tall as mine there is no way even I could reach a cabinet above them and that is why the pedestals had to come off. If you have smaller versions then I suggest you do some measuring before making your final decision. My opinion after experiencing both is if you have the space to put them side by side that is the best way. Hope this helps. Any questions please let me know.
Hi H.,
I have had both stackable and side by side, and have to say I prefer the side by side ones. The stackables did shake quite a bit, but then so do the side by sides when they are not on a ground (basement or garage) floor. Our side by sides shake the living room floor when the washer is in the spin cycle! I like the side by sides better because it is easier for our daughter to help with laundry (she loves to move the clothes for me) and since I'm a little on the short side it is much easier for me to make sure I got everything out of the dryer (without the use of a step stool, lol). Good luck with the new house!
Personally I like them side by side. I'm a bit on the short end and the ones at work are stacked. I usually have to get a stool just to make sure I get all the dried clothes. Then there's a stool to trip over. Having the counter a bit high wouldn't bother me since I don't like having things on the counter and a place that's a bit higher is nice for folding clothes, no leaning over.
We had LG front loading washer & dryer and stacked them. I thought it worked great- you just have to be sure they are balanced correctly. Have the professional installers do it. It's tricky. But once they are properly balanced, it's fine. I liked it. Having the counter space next to it is convenient for folding clothes.
We've had both. I prefer stacked by far! If you do side by side, make sure they install them right so that they both open out.
My young kids (ages 2 and 4) help with the laundry. They help put the dirty clothes into the washer. When it's done, I open the door on the (stacked) dryer. Then they throw the wet clothes one at a time into the dryer. They LOVE it!!
We started doing it when I was pregnant with twins and couldn't bend down very well. For blankets and towels I usually have to assist or have them just hand the clothes to me. We cheer every time someone makes a "goal".
I usually pull the dry clothes out into a basket (on the floor) and then my kids help me carry it to where we fold them or put them away.
My 9 yr old can also get the dry clothes out if she pulls a chair over there.
We don't have cabinets, but keep the detergent ontop of the dryer so it's out of reach. It's never fallen off.
Stackable is nice for space-saving, but if you want your young children to be able to help with the laundry you probably will need to go with side-by-side. I'm about 5'4" and I have to tippy-toe to reach socks in the back of the dryer. So kids would definitely be using a step stool.
I like the idea of having them side by side, with a long counter above them. All that counter space! :)
I have mine side by side -- and my kids love to help me with the laundry. If they were stacked they couldn't do that. Is the counter above them side by side at chest height because the washer and dryer are on stands or pedestals? My washer and dryer are at regular counter height, so I have to bend over more to load/unload them. But it's nice to have the tops at regular counter height.
