Kitchen or bathroom: where should the washing machine be?

The joy of buying a new washing machine can be overshadowed by a dilemma: where to put it in a small apartment - in the kitchen or in the bathroom? To answer this question, you need to carefully analyze both placement options.

Bathroom or kitchen - let's weigh the pros and cons

There is no clear answer to the question of where it is better to install equipment - in the kitchen or in the bathroom, since both of these places have their pros and cons. Ask kitchen installation advocates and you'll find out that:

• the kitchen is not so humid, so the parts of the washing machine will not corrode;
• here it is usually more spacious and easier to sort dirty laundry, and in a small bathroom there is sometimes not enough space to fully open the hatch;
• in a kitchen, there is no need to languish while waiting for someone in the household to take a bath in order to start the washing process.

Bathroom fans will argue:

• installation in the kitchen also requires a basket with dirty laundry, which is not very hygienic;
• Allergy sufferers will not be able to keep detergents in the kitchen;
• bathrooms are equipped with good hoods, so there is no need to be afraid of metal corrosion in the unit;
• dining in the kitchen and watching panties spinning in a drum is simply unacceptable for aesthetes;
• if the laundry basket is located in the bathroom, then you will have to grab dirty clothes and carry them to the kitchen, where lunch can be prepared at this time;
• if the laundry needs soaking, then it is very inconvenient to drag it to the kitchen across the entire apartment;
• grease and food odors that accumulate in the kitchen will affect the freshness of washed laundry;
• in the bathroom there is usually a concrete covering or tiled floor, which will prevent vibrations, but on the linoleum floor of the kitchen the washing machine can bounce and move.

Because of such ambiguity, everyone must decide for themselves the question “to be or not to be.”

Bathroom: rare, but apt

If you have decided on a bathroom, but don’t know how to fit a washing machine into such a small space, there are several ways to do this:

1. Choose a narrow washing machine, no more than 45 cm. Just keep in mind that to open the hatch you will need another 70–80 cm of space.
2. Devices with sinks built over them have appeared on sale, which can significantly save space in a small room.
3. If you already have a machine, and it is of standard sizes, then purchase a sink with a drain not downwards, but to the side. In this case, the knee will not interfere with installing the washing machine under the sink.
4. If possible, install the equipment next to the sink under a common countertop, then you will gain a place to store all sorts of small items.
5. And if you can’t fit it in a small bathroom, then replace the bathtub with a shower stall, and you will have enough space. Perhaps you can also insert a pencil case or at least a laundry basket.

Kitchen - a classic of the genre

If you can’t install a washing machine in the bathroom, consider the kitchen option. It is best to choose a place closer to the sink, where there is access to water supply and drainage.It is important that you have an outlet at hand, since the cord of the equipment is usually 1.5 m, and using an extension cord for washing is dangerous - a short circuit may occur.

To make the unit fit into the kitchen design, hide it under a common countertop. If you want it to be hidden in a cabinet, choose a built-in model.

But even if you do laundry in the kitchen, try to keep the dirty laundry basket and powders in the bathroom, as they are incompatible with food intake.

Be prepared for the possibility that particles of detergent may end up on dishes or on a plate of food.

Where else can I put it?

But don't think there aren't alternatives to the options above. If you try, you can install the washing machine in other places in the apartment.

1. Toilet. If the toilet is separate from the bathroom, you can install a top-loading machine next to the toilet. For those who like original solutions, the option of hanging the washing machine above the toilet is suitable. You can find a model on sale so that water after washing accumulates in the drain tank and is flushed into the toilet, thus saving moisture.

2. Hallway. If you have a small kitchen and bathroom, you can consider installing it in the hallway. Of course, you will have to rack your brains a little, supplying water there, draining it and installing a special socket, but you will get a convenient table in the hallway for keys, umbrellas and bags.

If desired, the machine can be hidden in a closet or pantry. Just install it so that it is convenient to load and unload laundry.

3. Corridor. If the width of the corridor allows, you can install it in it, and place communications in the wall or hide them in the floor. Above the unit you can hang shelves or a cabinet where household chemicals will be stored.

4.Wardrobe. If you have a dressing room, then you can safely install household appliances there. Here you can place both a dryer and an ironing board. So it will be a complete set.

5. Under the stairs. For residents of two-story houses or two-level apartments, the option of placing washing equipment under the stairs is suitable. If there is enough space there, you can hang shelves for storing washing supplies and put an ironing board, and hide this closet from prying eyes with doors.

Conclusion

Of course, ideally, it is advisable to allocate a separate room for a laundry room, where there will be a washing machine, a dryer, and an ironer. But if the parameters of the apartment do not allow such luxury, you will have to make a choice between placing it in the bathroom or in the kitchen. Each of these methods has both pros and cons. After analyzing them, you can make an informed and correct decision about what exactly is right for you.