How to set up a laundry area in any home

A functional laundry area needs four things: a spot where the machines can connect safely to water, drainage and power, a place to sort dirty clothes, a surface for folding, and somewhere to dry items that should never go in the dryer. None of these needs a dedicated room. A hallway corner, a closet, a kitchen nook or part of a garage can work if each part is planned before anything is bought.

Where machines are installed, they come first because their hookups limit where everything else can go. Plan the sorting, folding and drying areas around them, following the path clothes travel from the basket to the washer, then to the dryer or drying rack, and finally to the folding surface. Homes without hookups can still set up sorting, folding and drying space.

Choose a spot with the right connections

Most washers need a cold and a hot water supply, a drain and a grounded electrical outlet. Many manufacturers advise against using an extension cord with a washer or dryer and recommend plugging the appliance directly into a properly grounded outlet. Electric dryers usually need their own circuit, and gas dryers need a gas line installed by a qualified professional. Check the appliance manuals for the required hookups, and ask a licensed electrician or plumber to confirm that the outlets and water lines meet local code before you install anything.

The drain deserves the same attention. Manuals usually specify a drain height, because a hose that sits too low can let water siphon out of the machine during a cycle. Secure the drain hose so it cannot pop out during a spin and flood the floor. Avoid unheated spaces where temperatures can drop below freezing, since water left in hoses and pumps can freeze and crack parts.

Level the machines and leave room to open them

A washer that is not level walks, vibrates and gets noisy during the spin cycle. Place a level on top of the machine, then adjust the feet until it sits flat and does not rock when you press on each corner. Once it is level, tighten the locknuts on the feet so the position holds.

Leave enough clearance to open the door fully and reach inside. Front-loading machines need space in front for the door to swing, and top-loading machines need headroom to lift the lid. Check the manual for recommended clearances at the sides and back, since these also allow air to reach the motor and the dryer's vent. A common mistake is stacking a dryer on a washer without the kit made for those specific models, or storing heavy items on a shelf above a running machine, where they can shift and fall.

Place the sorting station within reach

A sorting station does not need to be elaborate. Two to four hampers, or a rolling cart with separate compartments, are usually enough for a small household. Basic sorts are lights, darks, delicates and towels with bedding.

Position the station within arm's reach of the washer and close to the spots where clothes come off, so dirty items do not have to cross the home to reach the drum. If floor space is tight, a hamper that hangs from the back of a door or a slim cart beside the washer can work. Keep the route from the station to the washer free of furniture and doorways, since a cart that has to be pushed around an obstacle tends to stay where it is and clothes end up on the floor.

Add a folding surface at a comfortable height

Folding needs flat, clear space, and the top of a dryer is often not ideal for it, because a running dryer vibrates and laundry can slide off. A wall-mounted fold-down shelf, a freestanding table that can be pulled out, or a counter about waist height all work well. A surface at that height lets you fold without bending much, which makes long sessions easier on the back.

Keep detergent bottles and other supplies off the folding surface. Keeping it clear means it stays free of dust and spilled powder, so clean clothes do not pick up residue while they wait to be put away.

Plan drying space and ventilation

Some items should never go in the dryer, so a dedicated drying spot keeps the rest of the laundry moving. A folding rack, a retractable line or a wall-mounted rod can each serve. Hang items so air reaches all sides, and keep wet clothes away from outlets and the machines, so drips do not cause damage or slippery floors.

The dryer needs a clear exhaust path. Vent ducts should be as short and straight as possible, because every bend and extra length reduces airflow and makes the dryer work harder. Rigid or semi-rigid metal ducts are generally recommended, while thin flexible foil or plastic ducts can sag, trap lint and become a fire hazard. Clean the lint filter after every load, and check the outside vent hood from time to time to make sure its flap opens freely and nothing blocks it. Never dry items that have been soaked in cooking oil, gasoline or other flammable substances, and keep flammable products away from the dryer.

Set up without machine hookups

Many people cannot install a washer. Renters often have no hookups in their home, and many apartment buildings offer only a shared laundry room or coin-operated machines. The sorting, folding and drying parts still work in these homes. Keep a hamper or bag for dirty clothes and a set of labeled baskets for clean items, and choose a spot near the bathroom or bedroom so the trip to a shared room stays short. A table or a fold-down shelf can serve as the folding surface, and a folding rack or a rod in a room with good airflow can take the items that should never go in the dryer.

A portable or compact washer can be used in some homes, but only as its manual allows. Follow the manual for the water connection, the drain arrangement, the load size, the placement and every other limit it lists, and do not connect it to a faucet or drain in a way the manual does not describe. Get the landlord's permission before using any appliance, since a lease may restrict appliances and changes to water or drainage.

A laundry corner works best when each part sits close to the one it depends on, whether that is a washer with its hookups or a shared room down the hall. Review the setup after a month or two, and move anything that blocks a door, a vent, the space needed to reach the lint filter or the route to a shared laundry room.