Nowadays, there is no longer a need to spend treasured hours going to public laundries, because you can equip an excellent laundry, or, as it is often called, a “laundry room”, in your home.
Size matters
The size of the laundry must be chosen based on the area of \u200b\u200bthe house itself and the availability of free rooms in it. You should be aware that the room should be of such a size that there is space in front of the washing machine for convenient loading and unloading of laundry. It is also important that there is air access to linen stored in containers and baskets, containers for sorting linen, etc. Many homeowners are not very concerned about this issue when designing, and as a result, very little space is allocated for the laundry room (since there is no other place provided): it can be either a small room or a nook under the stairs, or a corner in the dressing room or pantry, or part of the kitchen area.
Recently, the owners of private houses began to prudently allocate a fairly spacious room for household needs, often it is combined with a dressing room and ironing areas and occupies part of the basement, and sometimes even a small wing of the building is assigned to it.
Technical requirements for the premises
Unfortunately, there are no specific technical requirements specifically for laundries in private homes, but self-respecting architects, during the development of the engineering part of the project, always turn to design engineers who, when calculating, take into account the requirements of SNiP 41-01-2003 “Heating, ventilation and air conditioning ". So, in an unheated basement, it is forbidden to arrange a laundry, and especially a dryer. It is better if the laundry is located near the water and sewer risers and a window is provided in it. It also needs to be equipped with heating and forced ventilation systems, since this is a zone of high humidity. As a rule, depending on the size of the room and the installed equipment, engineers make a thermal calculation, where, among other things, they give recommendations on the choice of ventilation systems. For a laundry, a supply and exhaust unit is often designed with mechanical stimulation (or mixed, if there is a natural exhaust channel). The air exchange rate for the inflow should be at least 10, for the exhaust - at least 13. If there is a room for drying and ironing in the laundry room, then the air exchange rate for the inflow should be at least 4, for the exhaust - at least 6.
Note that if a boiler with natural removal of combustion products is installed in the laundry room, then a forced ventilation device is unacceptable. In this case, a supply and exhaust system is required. It is also necessary to provide a sufficient distance between the boiler and the water intake point (at least 60 cm). The requirements for electrical equipment in the laundry room are regulated by the current PUE and SNiPs for rooms with high humidity: lighting fixtures, switchboards, sockets, etc. must be waterproof, splash-proof, etc.
Floors in the laundry room must be waterproofed and tiled with ceramic tiles. Ideally, a slope and a drain are required
Laundry equipment
Home laundry consists of the following components:
- Washing machine (or even several machines if the family is large) with different washing modes.
- Drying machine.
- Sink.
- Equipment for ironing and steaming (ironing board, iron, steam generator, etc.).
- Baskets/bins for soiled linen, as well as small shelves and countertops.
The latter, by the way, can make your life much easier: it is convenient to store household chemicals on them, fold freshly washed linen, etc.
All equipment must be correctly arranged. So, if two washing machines are installed in the room, they should be at a small distance from each other (about 5 cm). This is due to the fact that the vibration that appears during the operation of each of them can adversely affect the life of the devices.
When determining the diameter of the sewer riser pipe, it should be remembered that dirty water can be drained from two machines at the same time, therefore, the pipe size must be selected taking into account volley discharges.
Coarse filters must be mounted on the supply pipeline (the ideal option would be to install a complex of cleaning systems with a water hardness regulator). Moreover, each device must have its own water supply pipe, which, if necessary, can be blocked without harm to another machine.
Wall cabinets and shelves will help free up space on the floor for a comfortable chair or sofa. Under the sink you can put baskets for clean and dirty laundry. It will not be superfluous in the laundry room and a rack for ironed things. The ironing board, so that it does not interfere, can be mounted on the wall and folded when not in use. The best option for home laundry would be a mini-wardrobe with a built-in ironing board.
Room design
Of course, many people believe that a home laundry is a purely functional space that should not be particularly beautiful, and even more so correspond to some kind of style. But this opinion is wrong. After all, harmony in the design of the house is achieved precisely by decorating all rooms, even if they are purely utilitarian. As for the design of the laundry room, the emphasis here can be placed on color. As a rule, not too much area is allocated for it. Therefore, it is best to keep the interior in light colors, which will visually expand the space and also bring a feeling of freshness and cleanliness to it. Bright posters or photographs on the walls can act as accents. Choose colorful laundry baskets and boxes for small items, pour cleaning products into beautiful bottles - in other words, create a comfortable atmosphere for yourself, and three hours of washing and ironing will fly by!
Laundry rooms typically feature mosaics, ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware, and wet room paint and plaster.
An example of equipment for a laundry area in a private house
Laundry area plan with equipment location
Some cottage owners prefer to set up their own mini-laundry or even dry cleaning in the basement of the house and refuse the services of the respective companies. There are a number of companies that help to correctly plan and equip a home laundry. For example, in this project, a part of the basement floor is reserved for it. There are spacious washer-dryer and ironing areas, as well as separate rooms for storing linen and detergents.
Arranging a separate laundry room is a sure step in optimizing your living space. With the right layout, a lot of things will fit in a compact area, freeing up space not only in the bathroom, kitchen and balcony, but even in the hallway and bedroom.
Scavolini Laundry Space modular wardrobes are equipped with a mass of convenient devices for storing and hanging clothes. In the photo: a retractable bar for "hangers". www.scavolini.comFurniture collection Scavolini Laundry Space is a ready-made project of a beautiful and functional laundry room, custom-made. Spacious storage systems provide compartments for washing and drying machines, ironing boards, brackets for clothes and shoes, clothes dryer, vacuum cleaner, household chemicals and much more. www.scavolini.com
Scavolini Laundry Space, www.scavolini.com One-piece sink with counter top, complete with embossed washboard. The ironing board slides out from under the lid and retracts when not needed. At the end there is a place for electrical outlets. www.scavolini.com Scavolini Laundry Space furniture fronts can be finished in glossy or matt lacquer in a variety of shades. The palette and design of the laundry room furniture follows the style of Scavolini's key bathroom collections. www.scavolini.com Textile laundry basket, Brabantia, www.brabantia.comFurniture from the Sento collection from the factory VitrA Designed for both large and small spaces. Smooth lines and wood details emphasize the Scandinavian character of the design. Chests of drawers, nightstands and multifunctional storage boxes accommodate laundry baskets, detergents and even washing machines. Soft rounded corners provide safety and easy cleaning in a small bathroom. www.vitra-russia.ru
Sento furniture collection in stylish black, VitrA, www.vitra-russia.ru Sento furniture collection with white facades, VitrA, www.vitra-russia.ru Textile baskets, IKEA, www.ikea.com/ru/ruNew project Asko Pro Home Laundry is the most compact home laundry in the world! A complete set of household appliances and equipment can be placed on an area of less than one square meter! Incredibly, the washer and dryer, pull-out ironing board and drying cabinet take up only 0.72 m / sq.
Asko Pro Home Laundry occupies less than a square meter giving maximum performance, www.askorus.ruTFT touch displays with a convenient menu and large program switch knobs help manage the settings. Full control of washing guarantees the cleanliness and safety of even the most delicate items. The Asko Pro Home Laundry collection has received high design awards: RedDot Award, Best of the best 2017 and Elle Decoration's Choice of the Year 2017. www.askorus.ru
Asko Pro Home Laundry, www.askorus.ru Textile laundry baskets, www.westwing.ruRussian company designers Belsi Home proved that even such a prosaic household item as an ironing board can look decent and decorate the interior. www.belsi-home.ru
When not in working condition, the folded Belsi Home ironing board is stored behind a beautiful door with a mirror, www.belsi-home.ru en Clothespins with birds, Qualy, www.finedesigngroup.ruNew washing machines Samsung QuickDrive reduces wash time by 50% and energy consumption by 20%. The Super Speed mode produces a perfect wash in just 39 minutes and is suitable for daily use. Samsung WW8800M models are equipped with another useful AddWash device that allows you to add clothes to the drum right during the washing process. Through the mini-hatch built into the facade, you can add washing powder, fabric softener and the things themselves, forgotten before the start or requiring delicate care. www.samsung.com
Samsung QuickDrive washing machines impress with smart technology. The Laundry Planner function allows you to set the end of the wash when it is convenient for the user. The Laundry Recipe program recommends a wash cycle based on colour, material and soiling. HomeCare Wizard remotely monitors the washing process, alerting the owner of possible difficulties and eliminating them. www.samsung.com AddWash mini hatch with hinged sash built into the front of the Samsung QuickDrive washing machine, www.samsung.com Textile boxes with window, IKEA, www.ikea.com Spazio Time collection of furniture and sanitary ware for home laundry , Idea Group, www.ideagroupbathrooms.com The Spazio Time Home Laundry Storage System is equipped with closet-inspired elements: open and closed shelves, pull-out wire baskets, slanted shoe racks and more, Idea Group, www.ideagroupbathrooms.com Several baskets per one laundry room will help sort laundry by fabric composition, color or purpose. Left: Ferm Living, www.fermliving.com Right: Kate Spade, www.katespade.comPremium line of washer and dryer Electrolux PerfectCare guarantees the safety and quality of clothing, regardless of its material. Durable denim, delicate cashmere, wool or silk will remain in perfect condition after many washes. The latest ColorCare ion-exchange filtration system purifies water of impurities, as a result of which detergents are most effective even at low temperatures. www.electrolux.ru
Accessories included in the Electrolux PerfectCare line create additional comfort. For example, the Stacking Kit allows you to mount your dryer on top of your washer. Descaler and FreshScent aroma composition with a pleasant citrus-floral scent help keep appliances clean, www.electrolux.ruElectrolux dryers operate at half the normal temperature. This mode reduces energy consumption, eliminating shrinkage and loss of shape of woolen and silk items, creating conditions similar to drying in a straightened form. A special program for high-tech garments with membranes preserves their water-repellent properties and structure.
The unique Electrolux FreshScent system allows you to refresh clothes without washing, treating them with fragrant steam with notes of citrus and floral scents. For wool and cashmere, the drum rotation mode is provided, in which the clothes lie calmly on the wall, without being subjected to mechanical stress. Such care prevents shrinkage of woolen products, www.electrolux.ru Wooden clothespins in a bag, Redecker, DesignBoom stores, www.designboom.ru The Spatia kitchen furniture collection from the Arclinea factory includes storage systems for organizing home laundry, www.arclinea.com Textile baskets for storage, La Redoute, www.laredout.ruIf the size of your bathroom allows, organize your home laundry there. Hint: the area of the bathroom can be increased by a corridor or hallway. Another life hack: the washer and dryer fit perfectly on top of each other, saving a lot of space on the floor.
In the closet
For those who are confused by the placement of the laundry area in plain sight in the hallway, there is an option to hide the utility corner behind the cabinet doors.
in a niche
Another solution that allows you to hide a mini-laundry room, as well as gain some more space for it in the hallway, is a niche. Please note: so that household units do not overheat, you should not move them close to the wall, leave some space behind and on the sides for air circulation - so electrical appliances will last longer.
As part of a storage system
There is also a compromise option that allows you to partially hide the laundry area in the hallway, while maintaining quick direct access to the washing and drying machines - built into household appliances. It looks very aesthetically pleasing, while access to the units does not need to open any doors.
In the kitchen
Many consider the kitchen a good place for. Why not go further - and place a full-fledged home mini-laundry room right here? Everything you need will be perfectly hidden behind the facades of the headset, and the transfer of wet areas, coordination and redevelopment will not be required.
under the stairs
Fashion has made it very popular, and the organization of a mezzanine bedroom in small spaces is becoming an increasingly common solution. Does your small apartment also have a staircase leading to the second tier, floor or mezzanine? Use the space below it to good use: place a home laundry there.
Reception can be adopted by those whose housing is located on the attic floor.
Photo: Instagram odinspiracjidorealizacji
In a separate room
Do you think that only owners of country houses and very large apartments can afford to organize a laundry in a separate room? Not at all! Even in a small space, you can separate a small corner, placing everything you need there.
Of course, you will have to sacrifice a small part of the space. But in a dedicated utility room, you can transfer all household items, organize convenient storage of household chemicals, think over the aesthetic sorting of dirty laundry and finally determine a place for an ironing board and iron. Agree, a good compromise?
Please note: no matter where you decide to organize a mini-laundry at home, it is important to provide good ventilation in the chosen room, waterproofing the floor, and also treat the walls (if they are not tiled) before painting or a special primer that prevents the appearance of fungus.
In modern apartments, you can not do without a pantry. As a rule, not only pickles and jams are stored in such a room, but also all temporarily unnecessary things (bicycle, skates, etc.). Unfortunately, in most cases, the pantry is cluttered and its interior is far from the design of the rest of the house in terms of harmony. If you bring the utility room in order, it will become much more aesthetic and functional.
Putting things in order
Before you start developing the design of a pantry, laundry or utility room, you need to conduct an audit in this wonderful corner and get rid of unnecessary trash. Of course, if the apartment was not bought in a new building. Here are some helpful tips to help you transform your home on a budget:
Spring-cleaning. It has already been mentioned before. Without cleaning, it will not be possible to rationally plan the space.
Redecorating. Usually there are no window openings in the pantry, so the room especially needs antifungal and antibacterial treatment. The most suitable material for arranging the interior of the pantry is ceramic tiles, which cover both the walls and the floor.
Provision of a ventilation system. To maintain a normal level of ventilation in the room, install a modern ventilation system in it.
Lighting. A windowless room needs good lighting. An ideal option for a pantry is a luminescent module.
If there is no utility room, where to make it?
The design of any utility room is carried out depending on the location of the room and the functional load assigned to it.
Pantry adjoining the kitchen
If the room is located near the kitchen, it is advisable to store food in it. For convenient storage, we recommend equipping the room with hanging shelves, built-in baskets and modules with drawers. All containers are best placed along the walls, so it will be possible to provide free access to each of them.
Utility room next to the bedroom
This arrangement makes the room ideal for a dressing room. To determine the ideal design of the space, we recommend that you look on the Internet for photos of the interior of the pantry-dressing rooms. If the area allows, place a closet in the room. In miniature rooms, it is appropriate to use floor and hanging shelves, as well as various hangers for clothes, hats and accessories.
Pantry next to the living room
The utility room adjacent to the living room is best to “turn” into a library or study. Even if the room is small, it will probably be possible to place a computer desk with a chair and a bookcase (if necessary) in it.
Storage room next to the bathroom
In most cases, the owners, guided by the proximity of the sewer and water pipes, make a laundry room in the premises. You can wash, iron and dry clothes in it. The design of the laundry rooms implies the placement of appropriate furniture and equipment (washing machine, ironing board, laundry cabinet, dirty laundry basket, etc.). Since things are sometimes dried in the room, when designing the interior of the laundry room, special attention should be paid to ventilation. Otherwise, the room will be very damp and unhygienic.
Utility room next to the hallway
The owners of apartments with a pantry located near the hallway are very lucky. After all, the hallway will be able to perfectly “unload” by placing shoes and outerwear in the utility room. If the pantry is also spacious, it can store not only some things from the hallway, but also household utensils.
Thus, by rationally approaching the arrangement of the utility room, you will definitely be able to make it a practical and functional room, the presence of which will greatly facilitate the life of all households. Interesting options for the design of pantries can be found by browsing thematic photos on the Internet.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Modern housing increasingly allows you to organize a separate room for the hassle with linen - a laundry room. What is she now?
This is a specialized room where the hostess will be able to fully deal with table, bed linen, wear linen, put in order bedspreads and covers, curtains and street textiles.
Here the linen is sorted, if necessary, soaked and bleached, washed, dried and ironed, sorted again and sent to the "points of direct deployment" - the shelves of cabinets and wardrobes.
LOCATION AND EQUIPMENT
The laundry room is out of sight. In the house, a room is allocated for her in the basement or on the second floor, that is, where there is no free access for unauthorized people. An uncomfortable corner suitable only for household tasks will do. The area of \u200b\u200bthis room should be sufficient to accommodate all the necessary equipment and furniture. When choosing a place, the distance from the water supply and sewerage risers is taken into account, the closer the room is to them, the better.
For the laundry room, it is very important to have good ventilation and heating, because you will have to wash and dry things in the winter. Waterproofing is done on the floor, a ladder is provided for convenience - it will be easier to maintain order with it and, if necessary, it will quickly divert water from the room. Sometimes the ladder is used directly to drain water from the car.
Laundry finishing is carried out with easy-to-care materials, most often tiles. You can opt for washable panels, painting.
FUNCTIONAL FIRST
This is a working room where everything should contribute to a more convenient implementation of its main task. It is worth providing a countertop where you can leave a stack of clean linen or make out dirty. Furniture is better to choose simple and comfortable. It will accommodate everything you need, especially chemicals for laundry care: powders, washing liquids, conditioners, starch, bleach, ironing products.
The layout of the furniture should ensure minimal movement of the hostess around the room, for example, by hanging a locker directly above the car, you can take the necessary product from it and immediately put it into a ditch. In the laundry room, especially located on the residential level, you can arrange a small storage for toilet paper, napkins, paper towels and other necessary items. Place here means and items for cleaning, a mop, a dustpan. In a special closet, "register" a vacuum cleaner with all its facilities - replaceable bags and filters, nozzles.
It is better to place baskets for storing dirty laundry closer to the entrance, so that homeowners, without making unnecessary movements, leave things that need washing here. Some housewives try to immediately collect white and colored cotton, delicate items, work clothes in which they garden, etc. separately. Therefore, if space permits, there are taken to be several baskets, so you don’t have to sort the laundry once again, and at a glance it will be clear whether the load is being collected or not.
For already washed laundry that will not dry in the dryer, you need to organize a system for unfolding and hanging. Decide where to store already dry clothes before ironing. And of course, equip an ironing corner with a steam system and a good ironing board with a high chair.
WASHING NEEDED
A special faience sink is installed in the laundry room - it is slightly different from those used in ordinary bathrooms. Its trough is deeper, the walls are straight, although for intensive washing, an inclined ribbed wall can be made like old washboards.
Washing is necessary for individual work with linen, soaking individual items, for removing stains, light hand washing of especially thin and delicate items.
WILL SAVE
The main attribute of the room is a washing machine and a dryer. The algorithm for their selection should include two important points. First of all, the units must be economical. This parameter is always specified by the manufacturer. It is designated by the Latin letter from G to A. Most of today's washing machines have the highest energy efficiency class - A, and in practice they turn out to be even more economical (by 10, 20, 30 and even 50%). The parameter evaluates the energy and water consumption of a standard cotton wash at 60 degrees (this is the longest cycle, and it comes with heated water). For dryers, class B is currently quite good, devices with class A also already exist in the premium segment.
In homes where a two-phase meter is installed, a timer may be useful. This device will allow you to put off washing at night (for the benefit of sleep, the car standing behind the closed door does not fit) to use electricity at lower nightly rates.
DON'T FIGHT OVERWEIGHT
The second most important indicator is loading. Ideally, both machines should have the same load so that the washed laundry can fit completely in the dryer and not wait in line in the basket.
Compact and narrow laundry machines are rarely bought, here 15-20 cm do not play a significant role. Therefore, more often the choice falls on full-size models with a width, depth, height of 60x60x85 cm. They are designed for 7-9, or even 10 kg of laundry. There are devices of large dimensions and, accordingly, loads, for example, up to 12 kg.
FOR COMFORT
For laundry, two types of machines are used - front-loading and top-loading, and often these are activator devices. The first ones can be placed under the countertop, the activator ones are not suitable for this, they have a lid and a control panel located on top.
Sometimes, an activator-type washer and dryer are sold as a pair as a lounge center. They are placed one on top of the other, while the center control unit is located at eye level.
Frontal machines are also set this way, but the control panels for these devices are separate, and you will have to turn the dryer on and off by stretching your hand up (the panel will be at a height of 160 cm). Installing machines one on top of the other saves space, the washing machine goes down, as the most frequently used, besides experiencing more stress from vibration during the spin cycle. A column of cars can be placed in a niche.
If the choice falls in favor of a machine with horizontal loading, you can pay attention to the models installed on the box. Their hatch is located higher, you will have to bend less when loading and unloading linen. To raise the car, you can arrange a podium, including with a retractable box. A number of manufacturers have machines with standard dimensions that have a higher hatch point, such as Candy. In this regard, verticals are somewhat more comfortable, since they load from above.
DRYING
It is easier to choose a drying machine for a laundry room than for a regular bathroom - you can take any type of unit - condenser or bypass. Drain-type dryers work very simply, they simply remove air filled with moisture through a hose into the ventilation. Maintenance on these machines is minimal. Condenser machines collect moisture in a special container, which will have to be constantly cleaned; the device filters will also require the attention of the hostess. But you can simplify this moment by arranging the removal of condensed liquid through a hose into the sewer.
There are also special drying cabinets for drying clothes. Drying in them is due to the active circulation of air flows due to the operation of the fan, with little or no heating of the air. A drying cabinet is used for delicate drying and airing of things, removing odors (a fire, for example). The closet is designed to care not only for clothes, but also for shoes. which will allow you to spend much less time ironing.
Choose a large board with adjustable height, so that if necessary, quickly, standing up, put one little thing in order, or sitting comfortably on a chair, iron the whole batch. It is convenient if the board is equipped with an iron stand and a tripod to guide its wire so that it does not interfere with work.
The board can be active, equipped with a special fan that provides the desired effect: suction - to fix things, for example, a children's skirt with pleats and blowing - to straighten things of complex shape, they will be ironed as if on weight. The board can be equipped with a heating function, its temperature is low or spraying - vaporization. These functions make it possible very carefully, literally with your hands, to sort out delicate gizmos.
In families with a large household, ironing presses or machines are purchased, with their help, simple (in terms of geometry) products are quickly ironed: sheets, tablecloths, curtains.
COMBINE USEFUL AND PLEASANT
The laundry room can be turned into a mini-workshop equipped with a sewing machine, there is a place for a collection of threads and small things for sewing, as well as a corner for a mannequin, on which it is so convenient to adjust things and measure their length.
Many housewives have to spend more than one hour of their time in the laundry room. To make this time more enjoyable, you can hang a radio or a small TV on the wall.
Alexey Kuzmin, copying only with reference to the first
