Multiple washers

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ahollars

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Since the average Catholic family will never finish their laundry, no matter how constantly the washer and dryer run, I have a question.

I have to redesign my room so that the laundry room is closed behind a door from an adjacent hallway, and this will make the room double the size it is now. I will lose a closet, but there is space to corner a new closet inside the room. I can run splitters from the water faucets to each hose, which are already avialable via a mud sink that I never use, and the dryer exhaust can be fed to a tin junction pipe out to the side opening of the home.

Does anyone have two washer/dryer sets in their home? Assuming you have the space, and I plan on knocking out a wall to create the space, is it economically feasible to have and operate two systems simultaneously without seeing a spike in utility bills?

My wife will appreciate this, but the kids will have to put clothes away twice as fast. :rolleyes:
 
My best friend in high school lived with her parents and two sisters. They had several washers and dryers. I think they actually had more dryers, some of them gas, because the washers always finished before the clothes were dry. They also had a clothesline set up in the laundry room to hang delicates.

I don’t know how financially efficient it was, but with working parents and girls in school, it certainly wound up being an efficient use of their time. To this day, I keep that in mind when designing my dream home.
 
I have several friends who have more than one washer and dryer. One of them has the big washer and dryer in the basement and then off the master bedroom 2 floors up they have smaller stackable washer and dryer. They are a retired couple and she just got tired of carrying all their clothes up and down all the steps on a daily basis.
Another friend has a large home and they have 3 laundry rooms. One huge one in the basement, a very small one (apartment sized washer and dryer) on the first floor and a large set on the 2nd floor where the bedrooms are. Works well for them and their 6 kids, and all the kids do their own laundry. 🙂
 
I agree with having at least two dryers; if you’ve got space for two washers as well, go for it.

My sister had one washer, two dryers. My brother said, “What everyone needs is two dishwashers–one clean, one dirty. NO ONE wants to empty the dishwasher!!” 🙂
 
Have you ever seen the Duggar’s Laundry room? google it, I can’t seem to find a link to attach.

4 washers, 4 dryers.

If you can swing it, I’d do it! I have a hard time keeping up with the dirty clothes of DH and 2 boys.

With a larger family I’d have to restrict the clothing, or never leave the house. It get’s crazy!
 
Before you undergo major remodeling to add a second machine, you might want to check out some of the new washers that can hold larger loads. I used to do a couple of loads of laundry daily, in order to keep up with our family’s wash. Last year, our old washer (which was as big as they come when we bought it years ago) broke and we had the replace it with a new machine. What a difference!!! Our new washer washes significantly larger loads. I’d guess that my loads of laundry was cut in half.
 
Check the specs on newer models, because just buying different machines may help. I also recommend getting a second dryer before a second washer, since drying does take longer. Since you are remodeling, make space for air drying. It’s easier on delicate fabrics and more economical. I’d also think twice about taking out the utility sink. We don’t have one and there are many times I’ve wished we did. Especially at science project time! 😛
 
ahollars said:
Since the average Catholic family will never finish their laundry, no matter how constantly the washer and dryer run, I have a question.

I have to redesign my room so that the laundry room is closed behind a door from an adjacent hallway, and this will make the room double the size it is now. I will lose a closet, but there is space to corner a new closet inside the room. I can run splitters from the water faucets to each hose, which are already avialable via a mud sink that I never use, and the dryer exhaust can be fed to a tin junction pipe out to the side opening of the home.

Does anyone have two washer/dryer sets in their home? Assuming you have the space, and I plan on knocking out a wall to create the space, is it economically feasible to have and operate two systems simultaneously without seeing a spike in utility bills?

My wife will appreciate this, but the kids will have to put clothes away twice as fast. :rolleyes:
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Yes, we have two and love it. And, no, it isn’t expensive. I mean, it will be more, but not that much. I don’t really have anything to compare it to, and plus we have LP gas dryers. Just look at the estimated cost/year on the model you are going to buy and divide by 12.

We have one on the first floor and one on the second. Sometimes we run them simultaneously, sometimes not.
 
gardenswithkids said:
Before you undergo major remodeling to add a second machine, you might want to check out some of the new washers that can hold larger loads. I used to do a couple of loads of laundry daily, in order to keep up with our family’s wash. Last year, our old washer (which was as big as they come when we bought it years ago) broke and we had the replace it with a new machine. What a difference!!! Our new washer washes significantly larger loads. I’d guess that my loads of laundry was cut in half.
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Now if you could just have 2 of those! LOL!

Which do you have? I like mine, but in a few years, I’m sure it will need to be replaced!
 
I should mention, I have a front loading washer with 4.3 cu. ft., so it is classified as “large load” capacity and does have a high-efficiency rating, and the dryer is a cheap dime-a-dozen that is not the matching mate, but the dryer isn’t really an issue.

I cannot fit a larger machine into the room without taking out the wall, and the remodeling needs to happen anyways so that I can have a door that closes, instead of just an open walkway.

The mud sink I could keep. I just need additional hose splitters.

I have kid #6 coming any day, so as the kids get older, one set just will not do the job, unless that’s all we do. That’s not my idea of fun. Hanging clothes outside only works when it’s warm and dry, which is only half the year in Virginia.

I guess the real question revolves around energy and water usage. Will running two sets together balance out the utility usage since the clothes will be done in half the time?
 
Logically the cost should even out. The factor that might make the difference is if you run the washing machines less full than you normally would, which would use more water. Of course, if the machines are packed, the clothes don’t get as clean.

If you decide to get two washers,I would definately get two dryers. Havine damp clothes waiting to get into the dryer would just mean mold and smells at my house! lol
 
ahollars said:
I…I guess the real question revolves around energy and water usage. Will running two sets together balance out the utility usage since the clothes will be done in half the time?
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I really don’t understand that question. :confused: Assuming the machines have the same energy efficiency, there shouldn’t be any additional energy or water usage if you still wash the same amount of laundry.
 
faithfully said:
Now if you could just have 2 of those! LOL!

Which do you have? I like mine, but in a few years, I’m sure it will need to be replaced!
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LOL. Yes, I like 1ke’s plan of one washer on each floor. But carrying laundry up and down stairs is my primary method of working out. If I didn’t do laundry, I’d probably have to join a gym or something. 😛

And to anser your question, I have a Cabrio top-loader. I don’t remember the exact load capasity, but it’s big.
 
If I were building a house i’d put a stackable in every bedroom.

We were thinking of going to two each, but got a high capacity instead. I would love to have two of those, too, actually, but finances prohibit that.

I can’t see how it would cost more to operate two of each. What difference does it make if you wash 20 loads of clothes in 20 hours or in 10? You are still washing 20 loads of clothes.
 
ahollars said:
I should mention, I have a front loading washer with 4.3 cu. ft., so it is classified as “large load” capacity and does have a high-efficiency rating, and the dryer is a cheap dime-a-dozen that is not the matching mate, but the dryer isn’t really an issue.

I cannot fit a larger machine into the room without taking out the wall, and the remodeling needs to happen anyways so that I can have a door that closes, instead of just an open walkway.

The mud sink I could keep. I just need additional hose splitters.

I have kid #6 coming any day, so as the kids get older, one set just will not do the job, unless that’s all we do. That’s not my idea of fun. Hanging clothes outside only works when it’s warm and dry, which is only half the year in Virginia.

I guess the real question revolves around energy and water usage. Will running two sets together balance out the utility usage since the clothes will be done in half the time?
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Another idea is to have two of whatever machine takes longer. With standard machines the dryer takes longer, with the front loaders and the like the washer takes longer.
 
ACTUALLY, if you live in an area where certain times of the day your electrical is cheaper… Why it would behoove you to run 2 machines during the cheap hours, rather than one all day during cheap and MORE expensive hours.

LOL! How else may I enable you!

6 Children, 2 adults, bedding for everyone. Towels for everyone, and perhaps sometimes guests??? Yes, I think 2 washers, if affordable, would be awesome! I would be all over it right now, if I had $$ to toss around. (granted we’re a family of 4) But you’d be amazed at the amount of play clothes I wash, in addition to bedding…
 
When I clicked on this link, I thought it was going to be about foot washing on Holy Thursday. I thought this odd because we are still in the Octave of Christmas, but I suppose one can never make one’s liturgical plans too early.

Have you consulted with your pastor or spiritual director? If not, you should. If you have occasion, call you diocese and see if you can get an audience with an expert in Canon Law, maybe a bishop.

I’m not certain of the implications of this matter under Canon Law, and Church Doctrine. I did an exhaustive search of the CCC, and could find nothing.
 
I have an older top load washer and conventional gas dryer, and a really old Maytag wringer washer that I use for throw rugs, truly filthy gardening clothes, and my husband’s “truck clothes,” which usually reek of diesel. One time the top loader went on the fritz, and I was stuck using the wringer washer for general laundry. You have to drain the wash water and refill it with rinse water, and mind the time you run the machine, as it will continue to wash till doomsday if you don’t stop the agitator. On the whole, it wasn’t bad, and it was a delight to have access to clean clothes without having to go to the laundromat during the two weeks I waited for the repairman.

That Maytag I got at an “antique” store way out in the country. It’s probably older than I am, but it’s built like a Sherman tank and has no rust. I can’t believe my good luck in finding one, and can’t imagine why anyone would just haul one off if it’s in working condition.
 
HouseArrest said:
What difference does it make if you wash 20 loads of clothes in 20 hours or in 10? You are still washing 20 loads of clothes.
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Perfect, oh yeah, and oh so true. If you had to go to a laundromat, you’d fill up as many washers/dryers as necessary to get the job done in the shortest time possible, so do the same thing at home!
 
I say go for what works if you can manage it.

I have to chuckle though. I remember my mother setting up on laundry day with two rinse tubs, and a wringer washer. It was the new convenience to have an electric washer (maytag I think) with a wringer motor. Clothes were then hung on the line. My job in summertime was to wipe the line and hang some of t he clothes. I still miss the smell of line dried clothes - especially bed linen. Now many places forbid the hanging of clothes.

With today’s lifestyles, multiple washers would be a blessing. Also a great way for the children to learn how to do laundry.
 
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