Laundry Room main floor vs upstairs ???

[asta]

I have a relatively new front loader and I don't think it is recommended to place these upstairs because the floors are not as sturdy on a second level. These new machines spin so hard that you need a good, solid surface. Make sure you factor this in before locating one on an upper level. My master bedroom is on the first floor so having one upstairs isn't an issue. My children have the job of bringing their clothes down and taking them back up when done. Other than that, I prefer to have the machines downstairs where I can easily check on the laundry while I do other things.

 

[disykat]

I love having mine downstairs. I like that when the buzzer goes off and I need to switch loads around, it's close. If it were upstairs I'd have to keep going up to do that. I also like folding on the bar in my kitchen where I can continue watching tv, keep an eye on something on the stove, supervise kids, etc. And I actually LIKE having the laundry right in the middle of everything, because it has to be dealt with immediately and doesn't pile up. Everyone schleps their own laundry back to their rooms after it's folded.

 

[asta]

ours is on the first floor and I hate it. Upstairs would definitely be better except on the odd chance of a leak/flood.

This just happened to a friend of mine. She actually has two laundry rooms and the pipes froze in the upstairs room and flooded the downstairs. Her hardwood floors warped and they had to sand and seal their floors again. This has to be one of the biggest pains. In addition to all of the dust, the fumes from the stain and sealer caused them to have to move out of the home for 5 days.

 

[momrek06]

I built a new home in 2005 and purposely put the laundry room in the basement. My previous house (we were there 15 years) I had the laundry room inside the first floor bath. I hated that. There was always laundry in that room STARING at me. Hiding it in the basement has been a JOY!!! I designed a huge room with shelving, ironing board, washer and dryer, drying racks....all the bells and whistles one would want in a laundry room. We tossed around the bedroom floor but I did not want the noise from the machines. So it went into the basement. I put it right at the bottom of the stairs in its own room. I shut that door and no one sees a thing esp ME!!!!!

 

[PaulaSue]

in the towhouse it iwas besdie the kitchen, now it is upstairs ad I love it. The room is bigger and I have a ice table to fold right under the hanging rod.

Much better IMO.

 

[DawnCt1]

I would put it on what ever floor you spend the most time. If you are on your main level the most then you will be running up and down the stairs to do the laundry if you put the laundry room upstairs.

I agree. I go upstairs probably once or twice a day. That's it. My laundry room is off of the kitchen and its convenient there.

 

[N&B'smom]

Mine is not only upstairs, it's on our 3rd floor! It's a separate room off the kid's playroom.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

My advice - put it downstairs near the area that you spend most of your time, but install a laundry chute from a closet upstairs. We have this set-up now and it works out perfectly.

We all drop our dirty laundry down the chute into a large bin. It is washed, dried and folded downstairs with no extra trips up and down the stairs all day long, then carried back up by the boys in baskets set aside just for their clothes.

 

[Kathi OD]

No cons to having the laundry room upstairs until you have a leak and don't know it. Then the mess (including new ceilings downstairs) is more than you'll want to deal with.

 

[Laurabearz]

Another upstairs vote!

I also highly reccomend putting in TWO dryers.

OMG it's heaven! I never have to wait for clothes to dry!

 

[TaraPA]

Another 2nd floor laundry room girl & LOVIN it! In the original house plan it was supposed to be down in the mudroom off the kitchen & garage. I spend more time upstairs, so I did some re-arranging. There was an extra guest bathroom right off the master BR - I moved the master BR entrance further out into the hall so that this "guest bathroom" was now inside the master suite - and made it a laundry room. Best move I ever made. Newer washers & dryers are very quiet - it's rare that I hear mine when it's running even when I'm in the master suite.

Don't worry so much about the leaks....how many of us have toilets & tubs on the 2nd floor - they can leak & cause water damage just as quickly. Also - we have our washing machine in a tub - they make special plastic utility tubs just for this reason - to sit your washer in if it's on the 2nd floor. They sell them at Lowe's & Home Depot. We also have a water shutt off valve in the laundry room in case of an emergency that we're home & can get to the valve.