Doing laundry can be a chore, especially if the laundry facilities are not conveniently located in your home. For many people living in apartments or multi-story houses, the laundry room may be situated on the second floor or basement level. This often requires carrying baskets of dirty clothes up and down stairs. Understandably, some residents may find this inconvenient and ponder whether second floor laundry is really a good idea. There are pros and cons to consider when evaluating the suitability of upstairs laundry rooms.
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What are the potential benefits of second floor laundry?
There are a few potential advantages to having a laundry room on the second floor:
More living space on the first floor: With laundry facilities upstairs, the first floor of the home can be devoted entirely to living areas like kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, etc. This allows more open concept main floor plans without sacrificing laundry access.
Laundry is near bedrooms: Since most bedrooms are located on upper levels, it can be more convenient to have laundry upstairs as well. This way you don’t have to lug baskets of dirty clothes up and down stairs. The laundry can be done right where the dirtiest clothes accumulate.
Dedicated laundry room: In some smaller homes, the only place to fit full size washers and dryers is on the second floor. This allows for a dedicated laundry room rather than just squeezing appliances into a main floor bathroom or closet.
More separation from living areas: Some people prefer to have the noise, humidity and utilitarian look of laundry machines segregated from entertaining spaces on the first floor.
What are the potential downsides of second floor laundry?
However, there are also some disadvantages that should be carefully weighed:
Inconvenient access: Lugging baskets of wet heavy laundry up and down stairs can be challenging, especially for parents with babies, seniors or those with limited mobility. This daily chore becomes more difficult without a main floor laundry.
Safety hazards: Climbing stairs with piles of clothes that obstruct your view can cause missteps and falls. The trip is also longer for small children. There is greater potential for accidents on the stairs when doing multiple loads of laundry.
Noise and vibration issues: The rumbling and spinning of washers and dryers may create more noise and vibration transmission to upper level living spaces like bedrooms if laundry is also upstairs. This can disrupt sleep or TV watching.
Plumbing limitations: Extending laundry plumbing and gas or electrical connections to the second floor may be more complex and expensive in some homes, especially if stacking machines.
Key factors to consider
When evaluating if upper level laundry facilities make sense for a particular home, there are several important factors to keep in mind:
1. Family size and ages – Large families or those with small children will likely find main floor laundry more convenient. Carrying heavy wet laundry upstairs is especially difficult for youngsters.
2. Mobility limitations – Seniors or those with physical disabilities would also benefit from a main floor laundry room to avoid strenuous stair climbing. Look for single story living if this is a concern.
3. Layout of home – The location of the stairs and how directly they access the proposed laundry room is important. A more direct route makes the process easier.
4. Noise tolerance – Consider how much laundry noise will impact the upper floor based on proximity to living spaces and type of flooring. Tile transmits more noise than carpet.
5. Capacity of appliances – Larger top loading washers typically must be on ground floors to handle heavy weight. Make sure upstairs floors can support machines.
6. Plumbing and venting – Professional input is needed to evaluate if existing plumbing system can accommodate drainage needs of laundry on upper floors.
Tips for making upstairs laundry work better
If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and still opt to have second floor laundry, there are things you can do to make the situation more functional:
– Install laundry chutes – Vertical chutes that connect upper floors directly to the laundry room can make transporting clothes cleaner and more convenient.
– Carry smaller loads – Limiting basket size reduces straining and improves safety on stairs. Take more trips with lighter loads.
– Fold downstairs – Leave washed and dried clothes in baskets and bring to main floor for folding to avoid excess stair trips.
– Add dumbwaiter lift – A motorized lift installed in the stairs can painlessly transport heavy baskets up and down.
– Use closet space nearby – Designate upper floor closet areas for dirty clothes staging before trips to laundry room.
– Secure machines – Properly anchor washers and dryers to floor to minimize noise and vibration issues.
– Add sound insulation – Use padding between machines and walls/ceilings to dampen operational noises.
The case for main floor laundry
For many homeowners, the drawbacks of second floor laundry outweigh the benefits. Locating the laundry room on the main living level has some definitive advantages:
– No carrying laundry on stairs – Everything is washed, dried and folded on one floor for maximum convenience.
– Safer for kids and seniors – Eliminates falling risks on stairs with heavy awkward loads.
– Accessible for all household members – Being on the main floor makes doing laundry more independent for elderly, injured or disabled residents.
– Easier plumbing installation – First floor reduces costs and complexities of plumbing connections.
– Reduces noise disturbances – Separates machine noise and vibration from upper level living spaces.
For most homeowners, prioritizing main floor laundry is the simplest solution that offers the fewest compromises in terms of convenience, safety and noise. The benefits tend to outweigh the space considerations that might make a second floor location tempting. Carefully weigh your family’s needs and tolerance levels before deciding.
Conclusion
The question of whether second floor laundry facilities are a good idea really depends on the unique layout and needs of each household. There are benefits like increased main floor living space and proximity to bedrooms that may make upstairs laundry sensible for some.
However, for homeowners with kids, seniors, disabilities or noise concerns, locating the laundry on the main floor is likely the best option. This saves the considerable hassle and safety risks of transporting heavy baskets up and down stairs multiple times per week.
Carefully consider all the pros and cons before deciding if second floor laundry will work for your home or present more problems than it solves. Involve all household members and prioritize functionality and ease over layout when evaluating laundry locations. With some compromises and adaptations, an upstairs laundry may be feasible, but main floor will always be the most convenient choice.
| Pros of Second Floor Laundry | Cons of Second Floor Laundry |
|---|---|
| More open main floor living space | Inconvenient to carry heavy loads upstairs |
| Laundry is near bedrooms | Safety hazards on stairs |
| Allows a dedicated laundry room | More noise and vibration issues |
| Segregates utilitarian laundry | Plumbing and venting challenges |
| Pros of Main Floor Laundry |
|---|
| No carrying laundry upstairs |
| Safer for kids and seniors |
| Accessible for entire household |
| Easier and cheaper plumbing |
| Reduces noise issues |
Key Takeaways
- Second floor laundry may allow more open main floor plans but requires carrying heavy loads upstairs.
- Safety risks, plumbing issues, and noise disturbances often outweigh benefits.
- Main floor laundry is universally convenient and accessible for all household members.
- Consider family size, ages, mobility issues before deciding on laundry location.
- Adapting with dumbwaiters or laundry chutes can improve second floor functionality.
- Prioritize ease and accessibility over layout when planning laundry areas.