Trying to decide whether or not to have a second floor laundry room? I share the pros and cons along with flood prevention tips if you move everything upstairs!
As with open shelving in the kitchen, second floor laundry rooms seem to divide people squarely into one of two camps – those who love it and those who are adamantly against it. When we added on to our house in Cincinnati, I had several people advise me to rethink my plan to move the laundry room to the second floor but in the end I decided to go ahead with it. I’m so glad I did – I loved it!
We used our upstairs laundry room for about four years until we moved and I thought it might help to share my experience, including the pros and cons and some important tips for preventing everyone’s biggest fear about a second floor laundry room – flooding! Hopefully this post will be helpful to those of you considering an upstairs laundry room as part of new construction or a home remodel. (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here})
Second Floor Laundry Room: The Pros
1. No more lugging laundry up and down the stairs!
The dirty clothing, sheets, and towels that make up 95% of our laundry are generated upstairs so having a second floor laundry room eliminates the lugging of laundry baskets up and down the stairs.
2. You can eliminate the use of hampers in bedrooms/bedroom closets.
Older houses such as ours have small closets, making closet space a precious commodity. Since our laundry room is in the middle of the second floor, I keep two large hampers in the laundry room and we put our dirty clothes directly in these hampers rather than keeping hampers in our rooms. In addition to freeing up space in the bedroom closets, it eliminates the time it takes to collect the laundry from various rooms before starting the wash.
3. Doing the laundry takes less time
For both of the reasons above, doing laundry takes less time. And let’s face it, could there be a bigger pro??
Second Floor Laundry Rooms: The Cons
1. Second floor laundry rooms can make it hotter in the summer
Running the dryer during the summer months can make it hotter upstairs and increase your a/c bill. However, I found that if I’m vigilant about keeping the door from the laundry room to the hall shut, it’s not an issue.
2. Noise from the washer and dryer can wake nappers
I am blessed with having girls who are great sleepers so it’s never been an issue in our house, but if you have light sleepers and like to do laundry at nap time and nighttime, noise from the washer and dryer being a problem is something to think about.
3. Possible flood damage
A washing machine that overflows or washer hose that bursts can cause much more damage to the house when the washer is on the second floor. Fortunately, if you follow a few simple tips (see below) it will significantly minimize the likelihood that this will be an issue.
Want to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
4. Vibration of Washer
Front loading washing machines can cause significant vibration during the spin cycle and potentially result in the machine “walking”, although it’s much less of an issue with today’s front loading washer and dryers than when they first came out. For this reason, some choose to use the older style top loaders in second floor laundry rooms. If you’re getting a new washer and dryer for an upstairs laundry room, definitely check reviews about how much vibration the sets you are looking at produce and use that information in making your purchase decision. If you have issues with vibration and “walking” of your washer and dryer, anti-vibration pads such as {these} can definitely help (I’ve tried them myself and they work well!).
Flood Prevention in Second Floor Laundry Rooms
1. Have a Water Shut-off Valve That’s Easily Accessible
When your washer isn’t in use, use the water shut-off valve to turn off the water supply to the washer to eliminate the possibility of a flood due to a burst hose. Another option is to install an electronic valve shutoff kit such as Floodstop (available {here}) that has a water sensor that you place under the washing machine – when water is sensed due to a leak or flooding it automatically shuts off the water supply.
2. Use Steel Braided Washer Hoses
Steel braided washer hoses such as {these} are much less likely to burst than standard washer hoses so paying just a few dollars more for a higher quality washer hose is definitely worth it. Upgrading to steel braided hoses is actually a good idea no matter what floor your washer is located on.
3. Place Your Washing Machine in a Drain Pan
By using a drain pan, if your washing machine were to overflow, it would go down the sides of the machine into the drain pan, which is attached to a pipe that drains the water away and prevent an upstairs flood.
4.Consider Adding a Leak Detector
In a worst case scenario that a floor does occur, a leak detector can alert you to the problem before the damage becomes to great. Newer ones such as {this leak alert device} have the ability to send you an email alert so you are alerted even if you’re not home to hear it. I actually have one of these by our water heater and luckily we haven’t needed it but I’ve tested it and it works great!
Having had homes with laundry rooms on all different levels (including the basement – hated that!!), a second floor laundry room is definitely my preferred spot. I’d love to hear your experiences – if you’ve had both first and second floor laundry, which do you prefer?
Want other ideas for your laundry room? Check out these favorite posts:
Our Laundry Room Cabinets (On the Cheap!)
Courtney says
We have 1400 sq. ft and 3 kids. Our laundry room (closet) is on 2nd floor and I love it. Kids’ clothes go right into washer as they go in to the bathtub. No hampers in their rooms. My friend’s upstairs washing machine recently exploded somehow and gallons and gallons of water burst out of the laundry room causing 40k of damage. A drain pan would not have contained it for sure. Their home insurance paid for all repairs. I wonder how often this really happens? My opinion is that the convenience of 2nd floor laundry room outweighs the small risk of huge damage that home insurance would pay for anyway.
Kris Jarrett says
Oh wow – that would be horrible! I would sure think that the risk for something that catastrophic happening would be low. I loved our second floor laundry room!
Anonymous says
Starting to build our house this year, have allowed for two small laundry areas, one at the back door where hubby is likely to drag in muddy boots and overalls. these can be washed downstairs as can floor cloths, dish towels and hand towels from the ground floor.
we are putting a small laundry room upstairs then with a top loading machine (thanks for that advice as would likely have got a front loader, more popular in Ireland). the upstairs floor will be reinforced concrete anyway and both floors will have underfloor heating so intend to air dry clothes on a clothes horse in both laurdry. there is a laundry chute going in connecting one to the other. In good weather we can run the wet clothes from upstairs through the chute and dry outside on line. Lugging back upstairs will be required of course in this event but thats the price you pay for free drying outside! hoping not to need a dryer at all, have one in our current home with no underfloor heating or heat recovery system and still rarely use it other than to soften towel and jeans! little worried about the flooding, but going to get plumber to fit isolation valve.
Betty says
I believe the degradation of our floors upstairs are a direct result of having the front loading on the 2nd floor. I didn’t notice the floor feeling “soft” when we moved in 5 years ago, but today they feel weeker.
DEvans says
We currently have washer and dryer downstairs but hang dry most closthes for environmental and cost reasons. We use a drying rack and bar inside the laundry room. We are moving to a house with the laundry room upstairs which I consider a plus. I don’t believe sound or vibrations will be an issue nor do I believe a flood will go outside the pan. To save space, I’m using a stackable front loaded to allow room for hang drying as the laundry room is quite small and really only fits the washer and dryer.
Anonymous says
Unheard of in houses outside of the USA where people use the washing lines to dry clothes rather than environmentally (and electricity bill) unfriendly driers.
Moving dirty laundry downstairs over moving wet laundry downstairs and outside? no content.
Upstairs is for sleeping (peace and quiet), downstairs is for living and being active.
Laundry speed says
In USA all gone working most of time. Everyone is busy. Clothes left on line would get dirty and rained on or snowed on.
Time is a big factor. Two hour commute every day total. eight hour shift plus lunch. Gone 11 hours a day if it is a short day.
If lucky may get 8 hours of sleep twice a week. Most get by on 6 to 7 hours of sleep a night. So, at home have six to seven hours to see the rest of the family, make dinner, do chores, clean up, and rest. This is why have dryers. Children are busier than adults with homework, sports, friends, special activities and family time. Dryers, microwaves, and anything to speed up chores is a help. The best new item is the robot vacuum. It can be programed to clean and put itself up at hours you request.
Leading busy fast paced life. Clothes dried in the sun and smelling of good clean air is a luxury many cannot afford in USA. No time.
Steven says
They missed one of the biggest cons for convenience: it is much easier to carry dirty (but dry) laundry downstairs then it is to carry wet clean laundry downstairs when you go to the clothesline (assuming the clothesline is in the backyard on the ground floor).
Jan says
Nothing better than a second floor laundry room,No up and down 2 flights of stairs. It is so convenient. All my laundry was basically upstairs except for a few dish towels and hand towels. I love it. I do most of my laundry at night and my children actually use to like to fall a asleep to the noise of the dryer
Kris Jarrett says
I totally agree! We are in a new house now and I miss my second floor laundry room so much!
Johnny Danger says
This is an old article I realize, but this is also the Internet and I must add my two cents… Personally the risk of water damage by having the washer upstairs is too great. The pan yes a must. Steel hoses yes a must. Good homeowners insurance just in case a must. Will it happen probably not, but it could. There is another solution. Washer downstairs dryer upstairs. You take the wet clothes in the laundry basket upstairs and dry them where you are closer to their final home. This is the route I took and I think it is a great compromise that might work for someone else. Nobody says washers and dryers have to live next to each other.
sam says
I hardly manage carrying dry (lighter in weight) clothes and you carry a wet load upstairs. That’d be a No for me. Great idea if it works for you though 🙂
Anonymous says
This is a really good idea, actually. Thanks!
2shay says
Lug wet clothes from the washer to the upstairs dryer? Are you kidding. You do realize laundry baskets have holes in them right? Lets just leave a bunch of spilled water all over the floor to mop up after you just carried 40 lbs up steps.
I am looking to do an addition to my home, laundry room/1/2 bath onto my carport to bring my laundry from the basement. Plus I have a 1 bathroom home so a spare toilet for guests would be nice. I have ranch style home and I think this might be a good choice for me.
Maureen says
My upstairs neighbors has a washer and dryer in an apartment building that is not supposed to have washer and dryers in. I live first floor and I’m getting the vibration off of it it is making me sick I can’t sleep because my bed is constantly vibrating how do I stop the vibration please help this has been going on for a year!!!!
Eva says
Putting a laundry room on the first floor, I believe, was the idea of a builder who never had to do laundry. Why go through the trouble of reinforcing the 2nd floor and lugging a washer and dryer upstairs one time when the person doing laundry can just lug heavy laundry up and down stairs forever? I own a two story home which came with a washer & dryer in the garage. If you park your cars in there, you can’t do laundry. If you herniate a disc, like I did, you can’t carry heavy loads. I solved my problem by adding a stackable upstairs where the builder had placed an extra sink outside of the master bathroom. Do I want to brush my teeth while my husband is in the bathroom or would I rather not have to carry laundry up and down stairs? The answer to that was easy. Now I have the best of both worlds. Muddy clothes, rags & dog bed? Downstairs!! Everything else gets done upstairs! I feel like a genius! A happy genius!
Kris Jarrett says
Sounds like the perfect solution!!!
Marty says
This was sime great information, nothing like first hand knowledge. We are hoping to put the laundry room on the 2nd floor of our remodel and have been wary of vibration. Found this product and wondered if anyone had used it ?
Thanks
Marty
Theresa says
We are remodeling (kids are gone) and we are doing a master suite upstairs with a laundry room. That is where most of the towels, sheets, clothes will be.
We are also putting a washer and dryer in the basement for when the Grands are here for the parents to use.
Thanks for your input…I was most worried about the vibration but we bought a new top loader so it shouldn’t be an issue for us either.
Sandra Yochim says
We have an upstairs laundry for the kids and a main floor laundry for my husband and I. Our master bedroom is on the main floor. We didn’t plan on having two laundry rooms but there was an underutilized space upstairs that was perfect for a second laundry room. I love having the upstairs laundry. My teenage daughter does her own laundry without us even asking. Our front load washer is in a pan as advised and has built in vibration reduction technology. We don’t even notice it running most of the time. Love it, love it, love it.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Thanks for sharing your experience Sandra – how awesome to have two laundry room (and a teenager who does laundry without being asked!). I’ve read about the newer front loaders with the vibration reduction technology and it’s great to know that it’s worked for you – would love to have a front loader in our second floor laundry room when the top loader dies.
Korine Lynn Hauer says
Hi there! We are doing new construction & adding a 2nd floor laundry for our teen daughters. Do you all recommend having a sink added?
DeAnna Arnold says
When I built, I hear all the issues. I put my washer dryer upstairs and for fear of overflow I decided to put a run-off drain. It is simply a drain with the metal cover under the floor to the outside. My washer has overflowed twice. No water damage because of the drain.
Charlene@APinchofJoy says
We just had to make a similar decision but went the other way. Our house has a laundry closet on the second floor landing, but when we moved here we opted to use the basement laundry room primarily because of the noise issue for the adjacent bedrooms. Last fall we had to replace the washer and considered moving upstairs. The deal breaker this time was venting the dryer. The old system just took the vent hose up to the attic and let it stop under a fan which is now long gone. We considered running the vent house to an outside wall but the angles and length of vent necessary were likely to cause problems. Soo back to the basement. And given the much higher noise level of the new washer, that’s a good location.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Sounds like the basement is the best option for you! When we had ours in the basement, we had a laundry shoot from the second floor which was a life saver. Any chance you could add one??
Kristin says
We have a second floor laundry and I am trying to find a way to move it to the first for two reasons:
Sleep is a major issue – although my younger son has had the laundry room outside his door his whole life he still can’t sleep through any part of it. If I put him down while the dryer is finishing he won’t fall asleep until it is done and may wake back up if I try to open it so I can fold.
While most of my laundry comes from upstairs my really dirty laundry comes from the first floor (muddy clothes I don’t let past the garage, kitchen rags). So I have to carry that up right away anyway. Also, I fold downstairs so I can watch tv/chat with my husband so I have to carry all the laundry down, then back up to put away…that counts as exercise, right?
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
Thats a bummer about the sleep issue – that would be enough to make me want to make a change too!
Denise says
Hi Charlene,
I have been debating this issue, and discovered there are several ventless dryers on the market (a common appliance in Europe). A little more expensive, but may be worth it.
Ellora @ Creatively Southern says
My laundry room is upstairs and I thought I’d hate that, but turns out just like you said… close to all the rooms and much more what I prefer. We have a drain pan too. I did have a front load washer until a few months ago. For several reasons, I changed back to a top load, but the vibration was a big reason! Great post!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
It’s funny that you say that Ellora because it seems like a lot of people who get front loaders are unhappy with them for various reasons. I’d be interested to hear what your other reasons for switching back to a top loader were!
Sam says
I have a front loader and I have to leave the door open to ensure it dries in there (this would not work in a closet style laundry space that is small depth wise), I have to be gentle when closing door vs just slamming it (a bad tendency of mine haha!)
Chuckles says
Who should I hire to make a main floor laundry? Plumber?
Some other type of worker?
Maybe a handy man or carpenter to hang a folding or sliding door to create a little laundry closet in the dining room, which backs to the bathroom?
I think the washer can connect to the bathroom pipes and stack that way.
What about the weight of a washer and dryer?
Get an architect or general contractor ?
Get permits so the city can approve this rather alteration y2k the house?
Probably raise my taxes but worth it to have the work overseen by someone who is supposed to k ow about this sort of thing.
Just me and hubby now, kids are grown. Thinking of an apartment size washer and dryer.
All comments welcome.
Amanda says
Great tips! I am about 90% sure I am going to move my laundry room upstairs but don’t know many people with it. Flooding and waking up (future) kids were 2 things some friends warned us about. Great to hear your perspective and that you had a good experience. Thanks for sharing.
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
I think you’ll really like it Amanda! My theory about why my kids are such good sleepers is that I never tried to make it 100% quiet around them during naptime so they learned to sleep through anything. So not that you asked for parenting advice… but when those future kids come your way, get them used to the laundry noise from day 1 and I bet you’ll be good to go!
Anonymous says
so true!
Yazmin says
Must sense nowadays to have the laundry upstairs ! I thought I was the only one with that idea !