Traditionally, washers and dryers are placed side by side in the laundry area. However, they can also be stacked to save space. This is especially appropriate for small apartment and condo dwellers as well as people who simply want to get more space out of their laundry room.
In homes where space is not an issue or a major consideration, washers and dryers are places side by side in the laundry room. But if you have limited space or you don’t have a laundry room, you can work around it by stacking these units. This is especially recommended if you live in a small apartment or condo, or if you simply want to free up space in your laundry room.
There are several ways to achieve this. Stackable washer dryer units come in two forms: one is an all-in-one unit called a laundry center and the other is stacking separate washer and dryer units. Combined washer-dryer units, where clothes are washed and dried in the same drum, are also available in the market.
A laundry center is conveniently set up with the dryer on top of the washer, and dryer controls at eye level, within easy reach. This kind of appliance, however, is limited in terms of features, compared with stand-alone washers and dryers. Also, the space-saving feature may be offset by the limited capacity.
Having a separate washer and dryer solves this problem. It also gives you the flexibility to choose the model that suits your needs. This can be in terms of capacity (to handle the amount of laundry that you have), energy-saving capability and other special features.
You can opt to purchase separate washer and dryer units instead. The search may take longer, but you will be able to get the best possible combination for your needs. You are not tied to any particular capacity or feature or obligated to buy the same brand for the two appliances.
A combined washer-dryer unit is another option in terms of saving space and maintenance cost, since there is only one appliance to deal with. It can come with pre-programmed wash-rinse-dry cycles that you can select, or it can allow you to have customized cycles that you program yourself.
If you are concerned with saving space and maintenance and replacement costs, a combined washer-dryer unit may be the answer. There is only one appliance to deal with, and many models either come with pre-programmed wash-rinse-dry cycles or can be programmed to handle clothes using the cycle that you specify. There is less variety for this kind of appliance, compared to stand-alone washers and dryers.
Wes Sims specializes in writing about refrigerators and other major appliances. It is important to read reviews and articles discussing appliances for your home like a washer, dryer, or other heavily used items so you know you are getting the best products. For additional information see his/her other resources.