Small Laundry Ideas
Even though it facilitates one of the most annoying chores ever, a laundry room- or in-home laundry machines somewhere- is at the top of most urbanites’ wish lists. The task is so much worse when you have to lug clothes (and a bunch of quarters) to the laundromat or dodge cobwebs while you use the units in the basement of your building. And as for sending your laundry out to the nearest wash-and-fold place, we’d like to know: Do you have a money tree? But unfortunately, for most people, it’s just not realistic to make that dream come true in their city apartments–ask any New Yorker how rare it is to come across a listing with the heart-stopping bullet point “washer/dryer in unit.”
First, there’s the fact that many buildings don’t allow any washing machines whatsoever because of outdated pipes. If that’s the case, you’re out of luck unless you move. Then there’s the complicated issue of where to put the washer and dryer. According to StreetEasy, washers are often required to go near a bathroom or kitchen, where there’s already a plumbing system in place that the machine can tie into. Plus, in an ideal world, you’ll have a dryer with a vent (it will dry your socks more efficiently with one, which you know if you’ve ever had the distinct pleasure of learning how to clean a dryer vent), which means you’ll need to be near an exterior wall—getting overwhelmed yet?
But we realize we might have been, gasp, misinformed. Free service Sweeten, which plays matchmaker for homeowners and contractors, has witnessed some incredible craftiness when squeezing a washer and dryer into the tiniest of homes. The biggest takeaway: Leave no inch of space unconsidered. Washers and dryers can be stuffed under countertops, closets, and corners of bathrooms. Sometimes, something is literally out of nothing–hello, new washer-housing kitchen peninsula! Here, Sweeten shared with us some of the most impressive workarounds in New York City:
Get a combo unit and treat it like a dishwasher
With guidance from their contractor, Lindsey and Tim decided to tuck their two-in-one washer-dryer underneath the kitchen countertop in their Upper West Side co-op, which only takes up a little space than standard cabinetry would. But beware: The washer-dryer combo could be better. Consumer Reports recently tested two models and reports, “The machine’s drying capacity is similar to a compact dryer’s, which is why the LG manual states that if you’re using the machine to dry laundry, cut a full wash load in half for “effective drying.” Put another way, by both LG and Kenmore, “the capacity for washing clothes is twice the drying capacity.”
Because the original kitchen in Giovanni’s Brooklyn studio, below, was exceptionally tiny–there was a single line of cabinets with minimal counter space–the neighboring closet, equipped with a washer-dryer combo, was removed to make more room. So, where to put the machine? Building a new eat-in peninsula gave the unit a new-and-improved home–and Giovanni didn’t have to move a single pipe to make it work.
Go vertical
Holly and Christian went for custom natural oak cabinetry in their Greenwich Village kitchen, which allowed them to create a special slender compartment that looks just like the rest of the cabinets but hides a stacked washer and dryer. There’s even a built-in vent!
Gut renovations give you the freedom to think outside the box–who said the shower stall had to stay the shower stall? During their New York City co-op remodel, Lindsay and Nicholas decided to make that area a mini laundry room tucked behind a pair of French doors. Putting the washer and dryer on top of each other means they can still store bathroom essentials out of sight along one wall.
Sacrifice closet space
Closets are inherently tall and narrow, so remove the standard rod and shelves, and you’ve got an ideal spot for stacked units. After installing a washer and dryer in the hallway closet of their Upper East Side home, Laura and Peter pulled a genius move. They arranged a laundry basket and linen storage next door in the neighboring closet.
Kim was one of the lucky ones–her Brooklyn apartment already had a closet that fit a washer and dryer. However, there were better uses of space. Then, a lightbulb moment: She realized an empty area behind the wall next to that nook. “When we extended the wall, there was room for a customized pantry with countertops, shelving, and cabinetry that matched the kitchen,” Kim writes. “After not having a pantry for so long, it’s amazing to have one, and the additional space has been a lifesaver.” Some leftover wallpaper turned the simple French doors into a statement.
Stick with just a washer
Bernice and Davison’s Upper West Side co-op board approved installing a washer in their apartment, but a dryer was a no-go without extensive electrical work. After debating a combo unit, the couple decided to have just a washer. It means embracing air-drying and trips to the basement laundry room when a dryer is a must, but even so, they told Sweeten the solo washer has improved their daily routine immensely.
Janna had the same idea when she renovated the kitchen in her Morningside Heights home. Knowing she could hang her clothes to dry, she skipped the electric dryer and invested in only a Bosch washer, saving precious room for storage in the L-shaped space.
Rethink a spot you thought was unusable
In Henry’s East Village condo, a stretch of empty cabinet space on the other side of his kitchen’s peninsula could have been left alone, an inaccessible corner to quickly forget about. Instead, it became the home for a washer and dryer. As they’re hidden behind a pair of doors, you don’t have to stare at the machines while putting your feet up (a.k.a. avoiding chores) on the sofa.
