so the laundry room is the last project---

[NMDemDist2]

I have a small laundry room/freezer room/hall to the back door that's the last room in the house that needs a re-do

it currently has a regular washer dryer side by side set up and i really want to put stacking units in there to free up room for a decent broom/vacuum cleaner storage area and some pantry shelves

it's just hubby and i so we do about 4 loads a week, but i really don't want to go to an 'apartment' sized unit since washing king bedding is an issue as is the heavy cotton rugs my old dog sleeps (and sometimes 'leaks' on)

i'd also like the new 'steam' settings on the new units to save on dry cleaning bills. if they work that is......

i'm thinking putting a very small chest freezer next to the washer/dryer stack so it can double as a folding table which will pretty much take up the old washer/dryer area, then use the upright freezer area across from it for brooms etc

any experience you'd like to share??

[Warpy]

1. My main advice is to pick out the washer/dryer

and then type in "Brand name complaints" into the Googler and find out what the major issues are. It can be a real eye opener, from things like drums that frequently crack and need replacement to annoying little things in the control panel. They'll also tell you what customer service is like.

You might find you're a lot better off with something stodgy that actually works well.

The front loading washers are out for me. If you try to process raw wool in those, they felt it.

[NMDemDist2]

2. and there in lies the rub

i've seen ones i think 'oh boy! this is it!' then do the research you suggest. not so much after that


i don't mind stodgy at all, but even the newer 'apartment' stackers are getting horrible reviews. i really need the floor space in there

i'm stumped and frustrated and don't want to spend a fortune then have nothing but trouble....

[Warpy]

3. You might find a company that makes a decent washer

but their dryers suck. Another might make a decent dryer but their washers suck. There is no law that says they have to match, you know.

Also sort out the big problems, like cracked drums, from the minor problems that can be corrected with a quick service call.

[NMDemDist2]

6. since they're gonna be white they'll match no matter what

[Stinky The Clown]

4. We have experience on two houses with full size stacking units. It is the only way to go.

One of our rentals has one. It is a small city rowhouse so room is precious. We carved out enough room for a generous laundry room, so long as the unit could stack. While looking for a stacking unit, we found that pretty much any full size front load machine could be stacked below its matching dryer. So that's what we did.

When it was time to replace the units in our house, we went the same route. We have one more rental and that is what we'll do there, too, when it is time.

The cost for the stacking vs side by side is in the same range, so that's not much of an issue.

Can't speak to the "steam" thing . . . . no experience with that accessory.

Good luck!

[NMDemDist2]

5. hi Stinky! do you recommend a certain

manufacturer?

[Stinky The Clown]

7. We have a Kenmore set in our house.

Maybe 5 years old. Maybe a bit more. One level down from the top.

The set in the rental, I don't recall. A name brand, but not the top of the line. Neither set has caused us any problems at all.

[NMDemDist2]

8. excellent! we have a Sears appliance and yard tractor store here

and i prefer buying appliances there when possible.