Do I NEED risers for my washer/dryer?

[mrsbornkuntry]

About a year ago I bought a front loading washer and dryer for a new house I was moving into. I measured the space to make sure they would fit before I bought so that was fine, but I also bought risers because I thought having the drawers would be convenient. Well, they are upstairs and the closet they are in is not carpeted, but the hallway it faces is so the drawers don't open on the risers, they get stopped by the carpet.

I am toying with the idea of selling the risers. It is nice not bending over to use the washer and dryer, but I am short and since the risers make them tall I can't reach the cupboards above them to put anything in them. So if I sell the risers I could use the cupboards for storage. I'm torn. What have your experiences been?

Since the appliances are heavy I don't want to ask DH to remove the risers to try it out unless I'm sure I'm getting rid of them.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I bought mine without risers. I thought about buying them for a long time until I stayed with a friend who had the risers. I realized I preferred the height of the tops of the machines for folding, laying flat, etc. and I didn't want to lose that.

You might also consider placing plywood beneath the risers so they open fully over the carpet. It wouldn't be an option in my case because the laundry is upstairs and the washer sits on a floor drain that is used for emergency overflow.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Plywood is a good idea, I wonder if I have a drain like that too since mine is upstairs, I can't remember. It would be nice to be able to reach the top of them better for folding though. Hmmm...

 

[jgreco]

+1 on wanting the folding, stain treatment area. I had the risers and sold them, it was also too hard to reach into the cabinets above the washer due to the height being in the way.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

No, you don't need them. We purposely didn't get them, and I had DH install a section of counter top over them (he got one of those slabs of laminate at Home Depot for like $70.) I love it for folding, stacking baskets, etc.

 

[Sadie22]

I don't know whether you need them or not. They're a nice option to have. I'm not tall but still they save my back as it's a reach to the back of the drum. I do have a stick I use to pull things toward me, but still.... I like the storage. I keep seldom-used items in the cabinets about the appliances, so if I occasionally have to climb on the stepstool to get in there it's not a big deal. DH and DSs can reach what they want with no problem.

 

[DawnM]

We have had front load machines for 10 years now and have never had them. For the amount of time I actually want them, we are talking minutes per day, they didn't seem worth it.

I too like the above space for keeping things/baskets/folding.

 

[3Gsandme]

I don't have risers and I want them. Trying to dig small things (socks, little girl undies) out of the back sucks.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

We have had front load machines for 10 years now and have never had them. For the amount of time I actually want them, we are talking minutes per day, they didn't seem worth it.

I too like the above space for keeping things/baskets/folding.

Well, I was going to add that I do a TON of laundry with 5 kids, but I see you have 3 so you probably get what I'm talking about. Thanks for your input

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I don't have risers and I want them. Trying to dig small things (socks, little girl undies) out of the back sucks.

Want to buy a set of risers?

 

[FrustratedDonald]

In my last house I didn't have them and found that eventually my back suffered. I bit the bullet and put them in my new home. It is harder to fold on top of them, but I just do the things that are really necessary and fold the rest elsewhere. I can reach bottom cabinets above them without a stepstool by placing the laundry supplies in shoe box plastic bins that I can just pull out (helps with leaks as well).

I keep kitty litter in jugs in the drawers beneath. The only problem that I have is that they are on tile and the washer keeps wanting to leave the room. Today at the box hardware store I saw rubber feet that were meant to stop that. The dryer is on sliders so that I can clean underneath it easily.

I think the decision depends on what shape your back is in. Keep in mind that none of us are getting any younger. My favorite part of the laundry room are the clothes rods next to the dryer. Saves a lot of time ironing!

 

[csharpwv]

This is just a general FYI about front load washers...

When installed on pedestals, the center of gravity is higher - and when installed in the 2nd story of a home - it can cause a LOT of movement in the joists and ceiling below.

When the high RPM spin cycles engage, it REALLY causes a lot of movement.

Our machines really wanted to leave the room, the same as a PP posted noted about their machines.

On the other hand, the pedestals also absorb some of the movement/vibration - without them may be transferred through to the ceiling below because of the changed center of gravity.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I think because of the carpet at the edge of the laundry closet my machines haven't moved at all, but the stuff on my machines vibrates onto the floor when I use the heavy duty cycle. I literally only have a closet so I don't have any folding or hanging space right now. And I can't even reach the bottom shelf of my cupboards. That's why I'm really leaning toward getting rid of it.

I am concerned about the strain on my back, that's why my MIL has risers under hers and she's only 4'9", but she has a big laundry room and only two people to do laundry for.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is just a general FYI about front load washers...

When installed on pedestals, the center of gravity is higher - and when installed in the 2nd story of a home - it can cause a LOT of movement in the joists and ceiling below.

When the high RPM spin cycles engage, it REALLY causes a lot of movement.

Our machines really wanted to leave the room, the same as a PP posted noted about their machines.

On the other hand, the pedestals also absorb some of the movement/vibration - without them may be transferred through to the ceiling below because of the changed center of gravity.

Good info!


We rent, and we have washer/dryer just on the ground. I only have a 3 person family and I'm still doing laundry all the time (we don't have many clothes so I have to wash wash wash), and I'm 5'3", but I will tell you....when the time comes to buy my own appliances, I'm GETTING the risers.

I use the tops of the machines for random things, and it becomes a horrible mess up there. I want a clear top of the machine! Then again, we do have a sort of built in table for folding, but I tend to bring the basket to the living room for that. And I'm compiling a list of what we want/need in a laundry room for the future. Some people have specific sorts of kitchens on their list of "things I MUST have", but not us. We can adapt to all sorts of kitchens and bathrooms, but the laundry room is THE room for us.

I don't plan on using drawers in risers, because that's bending down, and that's what I'm trying to avoid! I'm sick of having to squat on the ground in order to make sure the machines aren't holding on to things I wash in cold and hang to dry, before I do a hot wash of towels.

Risers are in my future! (but the future isn't close enough to buy yours, sorry!)

 

[mrzrich]

My DH made me risers out of plywood. They aren't as high as the risers that are sold in stores so I can still access the top of my washer dryer easily.

There was a guy on the show Shark Tank that made a riser for the dryer that filtered the warm air and blew it back into your home to save on heating bills.

https://www.heat-helper.com/

 

[sweetdana]

About a year ago I bought a front loading washer and dryer for a new house I was moving into. I measured the space to make sure they would fit before I bought so that was fine, but I also bought risers because I thought having the drawers would be convenient. Well, they are upstairs and the closet they are in is not carpeted, but the hallway it faces is so the drawers don't open on the risers, they get stopped by the carpet.

I am toying with the idea of selling the risers. It is nice not bending over to use the washer and dryer, but I am short and since the risers make them tall I can't reach the cupboards above them to put anything in them. So if I sell the risers I could use the cupboards for storage. I'm torn. What have your experiences been?

Since the appliances are heavy I don't want to ask DH to remove the risers to try it out unless I'm sure I'm getting rid of them.

I had the same exact thing. I regret not having them, if the washer/dryer were 6/12 inches higher it would be an easier task washing clothes.. if it not a hard ship i would keep them.

 

[sweetdana]

About a year ago I bought a front loading washer and dryer for a new house I was moving into. I measured the space to make sure they would fit before I bought so that was fine, but I also bought risers because I thought having the drawers would be convenient. Well, they are upstairs and the closet they are in is not carpeted, but the hallway it faces is so the drawers don't open on the risers, they get stopped by the carpet.

I am toying with the idea of selling the risers. It is nice not bending over to use the washer and dryer, but I am short and since the risers make them tall I can't reach the cupboards above them to put anything in them. So if I sell the risers I could use the cupboards for storage. I'm torn. What have your experiences been?

Since the appliances are heavy I don't want to ask DH to remove the risers to try it out unless I'm sure I'm getting rid of them.

I had the same exact thing. I regret not having them, if the washer/dryer were 6/12 inches higher it would be an easier task washing clothes.. if it not a hard ship I would keep them.

 

[TinkTock]

You should probably check to make sure the washer and dryer doors will open above the carpet before taking the risers out. It would be much worse for the carpet to be blocking access to the machines than to the drawers.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

We didn't get the risers because they were so expensive but wanted them elevated, so DH built a table for them to sit on and it works perfect!! It is tall enough to slide storage container under, or laundry baskets. I take all the laundry down at one time and sort it in different baskets. Once sorted, I slide the baskets under the stand until it's their turn in the wash.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I do not have mine on risers either and I love the ability to fold on top of the washer and dryer.