Sharing Laundry in the Garage

[Rascal]

My new place has the washer and dryer in the garage and I am trying to think of trick ideas to keep the wife happy.

I am adding cabinets for storage and a table top for folding, but I'm stuck on ideas for hanging clothes. One idea is basically a ladder over washer/dryer, connected to the cabinets sandwiching the units, but I'm wondering what you all have thought of?

(Sorry, just realized I posted this in the wrong forum)

 

[thudson331]

maybe use the retractable rope lines that they have in hotel rooms. that way it is temporary and wont invade your space.

http://www.prodryers.com/servlet/the-1702/ASI-0712-SURFACE-MOUNTED/Detail

 

[Kulapp]

I to have the washer and dryer in my room and it ***** I lose 8' feet on floor and wall space it's already a small garage. It's great to see a bunch of dirty whites when your welding or fabing something up.

 

[bczygan]

Put everything on mobile bases with quick disconnects, so you can push it out of the garage when you want to work in there.

I'm kidding of course..........kind of.

 

[norcaljr]

I have the same issue.

 

[shannonw]

I ran into this a few weeks ago, thought it was a cool idea if you only hang dry a few things

http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/utility-and-storage/fold-away-laundry-room-drying-rack/project

 

[paranoid56]

i have the same issue, (well not hanging things) but i stacked the washer and dryer to save space. and thats the only thing in the garage for that. clothes get washed then dried then moved inside

 

[zkling]

Watch out for humidity and bleach induced rust issues on your tools.

 

[djjsr]

I put two 15" wide cabinets over the washer/dryer and left a 2 foot space between them. Installed a 2 foot closet pole attached to the cabinets. Works great, wife happy.

 

[Rascal]

I ran into this a few weeks ago, thought it was a cool idea if you only hang dry a few things

http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/utility-and-storage/fold-away-laundry-room-drying-rack/project

That is almost exactly what I am thinking but instead of bottom hinged from the wall, hanging from the ceiling and lower - sort of like an attic ladder but with no fixed pivot. I want the whole thing to lower down.

She hangs a ton of clothes to dry and I am scratching my head, thinking what I can do that will be out of the way when not in use.

Following along with this idea, I am working on an system of hanging this type of 'ladder' from the roof and put it on a pneumatic piston or lever that allows it to raise up/down. I only need a couple of feet of articulation. Hmmm...

 

[48RON54]

Can we get some pics of what you are working with/what you are doing? I only ask because mine are in the garage as well and it's somewhat obvious the wife dislikes it....anything i could improve in there to get her out there doing laundry more often would really improve my quality of life lol

 

[afmrick]

maybe use the retractable rope lines that they have in hotel rooms. that way it is temporary and wont invade your space.

http://www.prodryers.com/servlet/the-1702/ASI-0712-SURFACE-MOUNTED/Detail

Similar idea only with my lines:
http://www.target.com/p/household-essentials-retractable-5-line-dryer/-/A-10437419

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Just to give some ideas. What you are looking into is a spare walk in closet in the downstairs bathroom. Wife wanted laundry and a shower in this closet. I put a corner shower in. Ran some closet rod above for hanging. Stacked the washer and dryer. Made a flip down table to work on. Modular closets ahead and next to the washer/dryer. Only difference with my space vs the op is I shoe horned a corner shower in there. This set up would fit perfect in the corner of a garage as well. I can take better pics if any of this can be incorporated into the op's design.

 

[ccgarages]

Does she want to lie things flat to dry or hang them up? If she just needs something to hang the clothes on, maybe a slide-out valet rod would do the trick? Could probably DIY something that would attach to side of existing cabinet and push back in when not in use. The ladder/pull down idea would be great to put inside the shower if feasible - otherwise you may have a wet concrete floor - never good!

 

[Imcrazy]

We bought a house that had one of these installed in the laundry room

http://www.kitchensource.com/bau/ai-ba806.htm

 

[ren71]

I bought something similar to these at Costco. Folds flat when not in use.

 

[MDGearhead]

http://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/art/10225645/

I have this one, other than being somewhat narrow, it works well and folds out of the way.


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[Rascal]

Gearhead. The one you posted (from Ikea) folds down and flat?

 

[Rascal]

And a pull out rod. That is an awesome idea. I never thought of that.

All these options are great. Thanks guys

 

[MDGearhead]

Gearhead. The one you posted (from Ikea) folds down and flat?

Mine does not look exactly like that and it folds down flat. I got it last summer so the design might have changed.


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[Steevo]

Are you working on the plans for the future laundry room addition, that will get it out of your garage?

 

[Jetfixr320]

No issues with the tools rusting from the washer and dryer in my garage, been in the house 11 years. But, the washer and dryer get covered with dirt and dust from cutting and sanding.
Your wife won't like that.

 

[Rascal]

Are you working on the plans for the future laundry room addition, that will get it out of your garage?

I wish I could. The layout of this house simply will not allow for it.

No issues with the tools rusting from the washer and dryer in my garage, been in the house 11 years. But, the washer and dryer get covered with dirt and dust from cutting and sanding.
Your wife won't like that.

And that is a cause for concern. The first time clean clothes (left in the garage) end up smelling like oil or gas from the motorcycles, or get covered in saw dust, I will definitely hear about it.

 

[kenfath]

Explain to wife the purpose of a dryer.

If that doesn't work consider adding a rod to your garage door. Neighbor whose garage door doesn't face the street and is secluded, kept the stiffening rod from the original one piece door and installed it on the replacement overhead door. Clothes are placed on hangers that are hung from the rod on the open door.

Most of the dryer sheets leave clothes dried in the dryer smelling fresh. Life is easier when the dryer does nearly all the work.

 

[Rascal]

Explain to wife the purpose of a dryer.

If that doesn't work consider adding a rod to your garage door. Neighbor whose garage door doesn't face the street and is secluded, kept the stiffening rod from the original one piece door and installed it on the replacement overhead door. Clothes are placed on hangers that are hung from the rod on the open door.

Most of the dryer sheets leave clothes dried in the dryer smelling fresh. Life is easier when the dryer does nearly all the work.

My wife has million reason not to dry 'good clothes' i.e. anything not a t-shirt, underwear or other basics. It's about a 50/50 split of what gets hung or dried.

Part of the reason for me wanting something that folds/raises/moves out of the way is to help prevent the garage from becoming a long term closet. My garage faces the street and is clearly visible to all. With $20k in bicycles, 4 motorcycles and thousands in tools, I try not to leave the door open and advertise my belongings. A garage in the back of the house would be great though.