OT POLL Location of Laundry Room

[Wbbfan1]

What would be more objectionable to you?

Laundry Room adjacent to a Galley Kitchen. Have to walk through Kitchen to get to washer/Dryer. Room size is approx 5' x 7'. Area is well lit with a Window. Only logical place to put the laundry room upstairs due to lay out of house when built.

Laundry Room located off a Finished Basement in a Utility Room. Room size is approx 6' x 9'. Room will be well lighted and finished. Not a dinghy area.


I ask as I watch a lot of HGTV shows and most home buyers don't like a Laundry room adjacent to a kitchen. At the same most don't like to carry laundry baskets up and down stairs either. Is carrying a laundry basket up and down stairs more of an age related issue or would all ages find it objectionable?

Besides voting I would also like some comments on why you voted the way you did, especially from our female posters.

 

[UcMiami]

I think some of it is a personal choice based partly on what you experienced when a child - the laundry room was always in the basement when I was growing up and so that 'feels' right to me. The convenience of having it on a living level is certainly nice, but it is also a room (for those without children) that gets used for a few hours once every week or two. The bigger question to me would be whether the space next to the kitchen can be better utilized for something that would get more frequent traffic like 'pantry space' or a stand alone freezer, or a wine refrigerator, or to free counter space or cabinet space in the kitchen for infrequently used appliances or other kitchen clutter?

 

[Wbbfan1]

The room can be used to expand available kitchen counter space, cabinets and or freezer etc. If I'm willing to pay the additional remodeling cost part or all of the area could be used to expand the master bathroom to have a double vanity, larger shower etc. The back wall of the master bathroom abuts this laundry room.

I think some of it is a personal choice based partly on what you experienced when a child - the laundry room was always in the basement when I was growing up and so that 'feels' right to me. The convenience of having it on a living level is certainly nice, but it is also a room (for those without children) that gets used for a few hours once every week or two. The bigger question to me would be whether the space next to the kitchen can be better utilized for something that would get more frequent traffic like 'pantry space' or a stand alone freezer, or a wine refrigerator, or to free counter space or cabinet space in the kitchen for infrequently used appliances or other kitchen clutter?

 

[UcMiami]

Ok - so my vote would be for any of your other options for the space. I like big bathrooms and clear large kitchen spaces more than I like laundry rooms, and I use them much more frequently!

 

[pinotbear]

I've had both set-ups, and I greatly prefer adjacent to the kitchen (our current set-up). Easier to multi-task, keep an eye on things, not have to run up n' down.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Twenty years ago I would have said basement, but now I think ground floor - less humping laundry up and down an extra flight of stairs. One thing to consider about a basement laundry is plumbing. Where are the drains located? If they are higher than code height for the standpipe/trap it could be an additional expense.

 

[cordarone]

IME, you can never have enough enough storage space around the kitchen, especially for a galley-type. But as above, also depends on what plumbing is already in place.

 

[OldAlum]

There are a number of factors. Number of people and amount of laundry. Age and abilities of the residents. Overall house space and other needs for the space. Existing plumbing. Distance to bedrooms from laundry room. ETC.
I have the laundry in the basement because that's where it was when I bought the house. I would prefer it on the main floor, but not enough to build a new one. I do have a laundry chute in the bathroom which I love - only need to carry laundry back up. Main floor laundry is generally considered a plus if it is in a good, usable room (seen some that are actually in the kitchen, not so good!)

 

[uconnell]

I have always hated basement laundry room. I have had off kitchen laundry rooms several times and I much prefer it, even in 2story house, even when I was young. Now I hate basement laundry due to age.

 

[Zorro]

We have had some strange polls on this basketball board, but this one gets my nomination for the furthest OT yet. Kickass OT!

 

[Patrick Lilly]

I would ask a realtor in your area to see what buyers prefer in your area.

 

[UcMiami]

We have had some strange polls on this basketball board, but this one gets my nomination for the furthest OT yet. Kickass OT!

OK - but isn't distance OT just another issue like player height, and aren't you now begging for a whole new thread debating relative distances off topic of all the previous year's posts?!

 

[SallyH]

It depends: If I have a two-story house, I want the laundry room on the second floor - that's where almost all laundry is generated except for kitchen towels and table linens. If I have a ranch, I want it on the first floor. I actually moved the laundry from the basement to the breakfast room. I enclosed it with bi-fold doors, and a large counter top, and unless I opened up the doors, nobody knew the laundry machines were there. It also made a great staging area for parties.

 

[trb123]

We do not have basements in California.

I have not yet lived a house where the laundry is next to the kitchen.

 

[Uconnrick]

Best setup I've ever had was a LR right off the master bath in a colonial. The wife loved it as there was never any laundry mess in the house.

 

[Zorro]

OK - but isn't distance OT just another issue like player height, and aren't you now begging for a whole new thread debating relative distances off topic of all the previous year's posts?!

No! No! PLEASE NO!!!!!

 

[Zorro]

I was about to start a poll; "If you don't have inside plumbing, how close to the house should the privy be?". And then I thought; No, Z, don't do itl That is just what they WANT you to do!

 

[pinotbear]

I was about to start a poll; "If you don't have inside plumbing, how close to the house should the privy be?". And then I thought; No, Z, don't do itl That is just what they WANT you to do!

You want it pretty close, Zeb, on accountta it's a cold walk in the winter, and the skeeters will getcha on a summer night, a-walkin' out thar. Either way you do it, jes' be sure it's downwind.....

 

[Replicant]

What would be more objectionable to you?

Laundry Room adjacent to a Galley Kitchen. Have to walk through Kitchen to get to washer/Dryer. Room size is approx 5' x 7'. Area is well lit with a Window. Only logical place to put the laundry room upstairs due to lay out of house when built.

Laundry Room located off a Finished Basement in a Utility Room. Room size is approx 6' x 9'. Room will be well lighted and finished. Not a dinghy area.


I ask as I watch a lot of HGTV shows and most home buyers don't like a Laundry room adjacent to a kitchen. At the same most don't like to carry laundry baskets up and down stairs either. Is carrying a laundry basket up and down stairs more of an age related issue or would all ages find it objectionable?

Besides voting I would also like some comments on why you voted the way you did, especially from our female posters.

The kitchen is paramount and can never be too large. Enlarge kitchen, put laundry in basement. Install a laundry chute from the 2nd floor to basement - you'll only need to carry laundry one-way and it'll be clean!

 

[DaddyChoc]

had it in the kitcken, across from the kitchen and at the end of the galley/across from the pantry (current situation for the next 25yrs)

 

[CL82]

I was about to start a poll; "If you don't have inside plumbing, how close to the house should the privy be?"!

30 feet.

 

[Husky25]

Don't be so presumptuous that only females of the household does or should do laundry. In the game of give and take as it relates to household chores, laundry is low hanging fruit. Doing laundry on a Sunday afternoon affords this sports junkie at least 3 hours of NFL football.

I've lived in homes with all sorts of set-ups. The worst was my first apt. at UConn. The provided laundry facility was on site, but in a different building. The apartment building I lived in right after graduation had the laundry right down the hall. In my townhouse, my washing and dryer were in an unfinished basement, two floors below my bedroom. And now I own a colonial with the washing and dryer in a bathroom closet right off the kitchen. Of all the places I've lived, this is the best.

That said, if I had my druthers, I'd put the laundry room on the top floor, with where the bedrooms, bureaus, and closets, but that is basically for convenience sake. Right off the kitchen is best among the choices give.

 

[Zorro]

You want it pretty close, Zeb, on accountta it's a cold walk in the winter, and the skeeters will getcha on a summer night, a-walkin' out thar. Either way you do it, jes' be sure it's downwind.....

On the other hand, Br'er Bear, there is the matter of the odiferous nature of privies in the summertime. That is definitely a factor, especially with global warming coming on.

 

[UcMiami]

Don't be so presumptuous that only females of the household does or should do laundry. In the game of give and take as it relates to household chores, laundry is low hanging fruit. Doing laundry on a Sunday afternoon affords this sports junkie at least 3 hours of NFL football.

I've lived in homes with all sorts of set-ups. The worst was my first apt. at UConn. The provided laundry facility was on site, but in a different building. The apartment building I lived in right after graduation had the laundry right down the hall. In my townhouse, my washing and dryer were in an unfinished basement, two floors below my bedroom. And now I own a colonial with the washing and dryer in a bathroom closet right off the kitchen. Of all the places I've lived, this is the best.

That said, if I had my druthers, I'd put the laundry room on the top floor, with where the bedrooms, bureaus, and closets, but that is basically for convenience sake. Right off the kitchen is best among the choices give.

The ideal situation for a laundry was what I had when living in Jamaica for 6 years - a helper - twice a week for 4 hours, cleaning, laundry, ironing (including the only time I always wore pressed blue jeans!), local errands and shopping when needed. I'm not even sure where the machines were!
Down side, a propensity for bleach, that invariably ended in large white splotches on ones absolutely favorite pieces of clothing!

 

[Husky25]

The ideal situation for a laundry was what I had when living in Jamaica for 6 years - a helper - twice a week for 4 hours, cleaning, laundry, ironing (including the only time I always wore pressed blue jeans!), local errands and shopping when needed. I'm not even sure where the machines were!
Down side, a propensity for bleach, that invariably ended in large white splotches on ones absolutely favorite pieces of clothing!

I have never used bleach in my life in the wash. In my opinion, the only correct spot for bleach in a residential property is in a swimming pool, as applicable.

 

[vtcwbuff]

30 feet.

I was 6 years old before I knew indoor plumbing existed. We had a 2 holer (though I think it would have to be a real emergency for dual use). Downwind, and 30 feet is too close.

We did have running water though. Run to the well and fill the bucket and run back before you froze your butt.