jesska
stranger
Reged: 22/02/2009
Posts: 12
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My husband and I are buying a house which we plan to tweak quite bit to suit family life. One thing I definitely want is a utility room big enough to have a washer and a dryer (yes, it's extravagant, but not if you have 2 boys under 3!). There is a WC on the ground floor that we could probably expand to include a hidden utility space... but we also might be able to steal some space for this on the first floor, where most of the bedrooms are.
Now, a confession - I am american, my husband is English. In the US, you often have the "laundry room" - as we call it - upstairs, whereas my husband assures me that "English people always put the utility room on the ground floor, close to the garden". Given that I really do not plan on hanging out the washing unless I have to, why can't I put the utility room upstairs, where all the dang laundry generally IS?? Is it crucial that it be on the ground floor? I realise we have to be sensitive to resale value but really, since I will be the one humping lots of laundry up and down the stairs, I think I should have a say in it, right?
What do you think? Where is your utility room and if you were buying a place with an upstairs utility room would that seem extremely odd to you?
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nick_cee
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 12/09/2007
Posts: 2804
Loc: Looking forwards to Spring
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Hi Jesska, we have a utility room which used to be the wash-house with a built in copper with its own fire.
I suspect that the reason they were downstairs was because of carrying all the water to and fro.
I like mine downstairs for ease of access to the garden and washing line, there is a big sink for dirty children and husband, it is not a disaster if water gets spilt and when the machine is running at night I cant hear it upstairs.
Having said all that its your choice put it where you feel it will be best for you.
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www.talesfromthe-trenches.blogspot.com
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Beans
stranger
Reged: 24/05/2009
Posts: 16
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Hi I would put it downstairs near to the garden if possible or fit it into the existing downstairs toilet room. If I was buying your house I would find it weird to have it on the first floor. The main reason is because if it's a nice day I like to put the washing on the line (better for the environment than a tumble dryer and it's free!). I also think it would be noisier to have a washing machine upstairs.
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dickyryan
enthusiast
Reged: 25/07/2008
Posts: 265
Loc: Camberley in Surrey
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Downstairs is the norm for the UK - you come in from the garden and kick off dirty shoes, wash yr footy boots in the sink there, etc. Another factor is the possibility of a leak from wash machine not causing as much chaos on the ground floor rather than on an upper floor.
I suppose it's also the ability to take washing straight out to the washing line in the garden...... however it's yr house have it where it suits you...a new buyer can always revert back to their requirements!
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www.alteredimagesdecorating.co.uk
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lindsay
veteran
Reged: 06/09/2007
Posts: 1486
Loc: here or there
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Also washing machines live longer if they have a nice level concrete floor to sit on. And it means you can take advantage of lower cost electricity in the evenings to do your washing without keeping everyone awake.
And i'm curious (ok, nosey!) - why don't you want to hang your washing outside? I don't cos i only have a balcony overlooking a dirty main road but fresh air is definitely the best way to dry and air your sheets if you can.
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www.somethingsthat.wordpress.com
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jesska
stranger
Reged: 22/02/2009
Posts: 12
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I admit I hadn't thought about the immediate access to the garden - but we won't actually have that anyway (unfortunately there is no reasonable place to put a utility with an outside door on the ground floor). But I see what you mean. In the US, particularly where I am from (New England), we call that a "mudroom" and in fact no one uses their front door... they always come in through the mudroom.
And Lindsay, I think part of it is convenience (and a bit of laziness). At any given time I usually have 2 munchkins to chase around (or hanging off me), so I need a simple way to get the laundry done that doesn't necessarily involve suiting up toddlers for outdoor play. Also, some time ago I lived in Russia, where I hand washed all of my clothes and sheets etc for 4 YEARS and hung them to dry (not outside...they would freeze!), and then had to iron everything... and I have viewed tumble drying (not to mention machine washing) as the zenith of modern civilization ever since. In most other areas I am pretty green, so perhaps I can use that eco-karma for a while until the kids can hang out their own laundry!
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irishhelen
stranger
Reged: 13/11/2008
Posts: 7
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A friend of mine recently changed a small bedroom upstairs in their house into a utility room with the arrival of baby no. 1 and she thinks its fantastic ... they kitted it out with shelves and a mini washing line and its a perfect fit to do all the ironing too. There is a good sized window in it which I guess helps as well. It makes sense having it upstairs seeing as that's where all the clothes come from in the first place ...
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houseenvy
Grand master
Reged: 02/08/2007
Posts: 3928
Loc: Room 101
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If you're using the room mainly for laundry purposes, I would agree that it makes sense to put it upstairs, although it really depends on your day-to-day living patterns. i.e. if you tend to do ironing downstairs while supervising children / watching t.v. etc, you will still end up carting washing up and down the stairs. Likewise you'd need to think through stain removal / hand-washing (although of course you can now get machines with a hand-wash programme, they still seem to gradually shrink wool...).
I want a New England house with a mud room and a laundry.  
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lindsay
veteran
Reged: 06/09/2007
Posts: 1486
Loc: here or there
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me too HE! I have no suitable drying space. Luckily I don't believe in ironing though and only use mine for pressing or veneering when i make things.
I'm debating getting one of those brabantia wall-mounted dryers and putting it on my workroom wall. Has anyone got one? Are they any good?
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www.somethingsthat.wordpress.com
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tassle
enthusiast
Reged: 07/03/2008
Posts: 291
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hey, i have the brabantia wall-fix, though we have it outside. its really good, but quite pricey!
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Sooty
journeyman
Reged: 22/07/2008
Posts: 69
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I've got a wall fix as well, its great and easy to use. I got mine on Homebase 10% off day, I am sure there will be another one soon.
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lindsay
veteran
Reged: 06/09/2007
Posts: 1486
Loc: here or there
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ooh, and i've got a 20% voucher for Homebase that has to be used next weekend. Somewhere!!!
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www.somethingsthat.wordpress.com
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uk03878
veteran
Reged: 12/09/2007
Posts: 1363
Loc: "Home of the Fens"
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My utility room is the former scullery - downstairs - where the boiler is - and therefore where you can dry clothes in the winter!
I don't have a tumble dryer - or a freezer or a microwave actually (they are all the work of the devil) - Mae isn't impressed
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I have nothing to sell but I need a signature - so here it is
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lindsay
veteran
Reged: 06/09/2007
Posts: 1486
Loc: here or there
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Stop bragging UK  . My utility room is my kitchen, living room, dining room - and occasional spare bedroom combined.
Oh who needs space anyway? 
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www.somethingsthat.wordpress.com
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lindsay
veteran
Reged: 06/09/2007
Posts: 1486
Loc: here or there
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Just found a brabantia wall dryer very cheap online if anyone wants one - http://www.housemakers.co.uk/epages/Hous...p;ParentID=4826
Sadly i think it's too big for my space.
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www.somethingsthat.wordpress.com
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