1. Soften sheets with vinegar.

Run a cycle with your bed sheets and a half-cup of distilled white vinegar to give them a quick boost of softness and brightness, and to remove lingering odors.

2. Throw your detergent cap in with the laundry to wash it.

You know those messy drips and sticky spots that decorate the lid of your laundry detergent bottle before too long? Don’t waste time wiping them away. Just toss the detergent lid right into the wash with your clothes (avoid delicates) to get it clean. Just make sure you remove it before it enters the heat of the dryer.

3. Keep chalk in the kitchen to treat grease stains.

Grease stains be gone! Because chalk is ultra-absorbent, you can rub a bit on any oily kitchen stains as they happen, to absorb grease and hold you over until you can throw the garment in the wash.

4. Dry clothes fast with a clean towel in the dryer.

You can speed up the machine-dry process by adding a clean, dry towel to the mix. Toss it into the dryer with your wet clothes to dry everything faster.

5. Fake-iron your clothes with ice cubes.

If you have a dryer in your apartment, you can quickly “iron” your clothes with an ice cube. Just toss the wrinkled clothes in the dryer with an ice cube or two, on the warmest possible setting, and let the ice cube create steam in the dryer to leave your clothes looking smooth.

6. Lift sticky stains with ice cubes.

If you notice a stubborn, sticky mess on your clothes (like gum!) try this: Leave some ice cubes on top of the mess for a few minutes, then easily peel the gunk away once it feels like it’s hardened.

7. Keep socks paired in a mesh laundry bag.

Those mesh bags meant for delicates? They’re also great at keeping small items from getting lost to… wherever it is all those odd socks go. Get a big one (like one from this set), hang it near your hamper, and toss pairs of socks in there as you take them off. When it’s laundry day, zip it up and throw the whole bag in the wash.

8. Trade your dryer sheets for dryer balls.

ICYMI, dryer sheets are not that great. Instead, opt for a set of wool dryer balls. They’ll keep air moving, smoothing out wrinkles and speeding up your drying time. And if you like to scent your laundry, you can drip a few drops of essential oils onto your dryer balls every 10 or so loads.

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Do not attempt to stack a washer and dryer without a stacking kit, even if both appliances are stackable. The dryer may not stay in place if you don’t have the right gear, posing a serious safety risk. Stacking kits allow you to stack a stackable dryer on top of a stackable washer safely.

With a stacking kit, you can save space and streamline your laundry room by stacking your washer and dryer.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Prior to attempting to stack your washer and dryer, it is important to confirm that both models are able to be stacked. In order to stack a washer and dryer, both units must have a front-loading design.

Additionally, it is generally recommended only to use a stacked washer and dryer set from the same manufacturer. This will help ensure compatibility and stability.

STEP 1: Prepare the location for your stacked washer and dryer.

Before stacking your washer and dryer, get the space ready for the machines and make sure the layout is functional. First, measure to confirm that the washer and dryer will fit once stacked. Make sure that there will be enough space between the wall and the units to vent the dryer and to open the doors and use the washer and dryer.

Aim to leave at least 1 inch of space on each side of the appliances, and at least 6 inches of space behind the units to allow enough room for the dryer to vent. Also, measure to ensure the doors will have sufficient room to open fully and check that you’ll be able to comfortably reach the dryer door and interior as well.

Once you’re sure of the location and logistics, disconnect your washer and dryer from their outlets, supply line, and vent.

STEP 2: Replace the default dryer feet with the stacking kit hardware.

A stacking kit for stacked washer dryer combos includes special hardware to replace the existing feet on the dryer. This step is relatively straightforward and typically only requires a Phillips head screwdriver. However, keep in mind that dryers can be heavy and cumbersome to move by yourself. You may want to enlist the help of a friend or family member when tipping the dryer over to replace the feet.

Before removing the dryer feet, place cardboard on the floor to help prevent your dryer from getting damaged. Then lay the dryer on its side on the cardboard. Remove the feet that came with the dryer, and follow the directions included in the stacking kit for placing the stacking support guides in place. Save the old feet from the dryer in case you ever decide that you no longer want to keep your washer and dryer stacked together.

STEP 3: Adjust the washing machine feet to ensure the appliance is level.

Next, place the washing machine in the space you want it, leaving enough room behind it to reconnect everything once the setup is complete. You will need to confirm that the washing machine is perfectly level before placing the dryer on top of it.

A level can help you with this task. If the machine is not level, use an adjustable wrench to adjust the feet. If you need to shorten one or more of the legs, you can rotate the wrench clockwise. To extend the length of a leg, rotate the wrench counterclockwise.

STEP 4: With help, lift the dryer on top of the washer.

Now you are ready to stack the two units. When stacking a washer and dryer, remember the dryer must always go on top because it is the lighter of the two appliances.

However, a dryer is still quite heavy. Find a helper to assist you in lifting the dryer onto the washer. Once the dryer is up on the washer, position it correctly. The front of the washer and dryer should be flush with one another, and the rear side of the dryer should be slightly farther back than the rear of the washer.

STEP 5: Secure the appliances with stacking kit brackets and clips.

The stacking kit should include brackets and clips to keep the washer and dryer securely in place. The clips are placed on each side of the dryer’s base. Then, the brackets will hook over the clips to keep the dryer from moving off the washer.

The components of each stacking kit may vary, so be sure to closely follow the manufacturer’s directions when attaching the clips and brackets to your units. In most cases, you should only need a Phillips head screwdriver for this step.

STEP 6: Reconnect the power, water, and vent.

Finally, hook up your gas or electric stackable washer and dryer to the outlets, water, and vent. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions to ensure that this step is completed properly.

Once your units are reconnected, shift them to their final position. It is always a good idea to run a test wash and dry cycle to ensure that both machines are stable and operate properly. Run a small load of laundry and stay close by to monitor the machines for any leaking or excessive shaking.

Final Thoughts

Stackable washers and dryers can help free up considerable space in a laundry room or even help you create a (nearly) invisible laundry room. Learning how to stack a washer and dryer with a stacking kit will help you achieve these goals and ensure that your units remain stable and safe to use. Remember: If you plan to stack your washer and dryer, it is imperative to confirm that your units are compatible and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Galley or Corridor Laundry Room Layout

It is the most simple, basic, and economical style of laundry room layout since it fits into even the smallest of areas. Typically called a galley or quarter-style laundry room, this layout fits in long, narrow areas found off the side of kitchens or in mudrooms. Because the space is slim, often as narrow as five feet, there is room only on one side for appliances and other large items such as the washer and dryer, utility sink, countertops, and large cabinets.

The other side of the laundry room might be a wall only. At most, the other wall may have hooks or narrow shelving. Keep these to a minimum, though, since they will interfere with the operations of the washer and dryer.

L-Shaped Laundry Room Layout

An L-shaped laundry room layout is similar to a galley-style layout in that a majority of the services are clustered on one long wall: the layout’s long leg. The short leg of the L-shaped layout might have a washer and dryer, a short run of countertops and cabinets, or a laundry room sink. On this short leg is usually space only for one service, not multiple services.

Much of this layout is dependent on the location of the water supply and drainage, as well as the electrical receptacle or gas for the dryer. If these are located on the short leg of the layout, it makes smart design sense to place the washer and dryer here as this gives you a maximum amount of room to open and close the washer and dryer doors.

U-Shaped Laundry Room Layout

If you were to take an L-shaped laundry room, then extend it so that you have two long legs, you would have a U-shaped layout. Much of the heavy lifting of the U-shaped laundry room’s functions is already carried by the other two legs of this layout. This second long leg represents a type of bonus area for additional storage, organizers, shelves, hooks, and clothes racks. This laundry room layout should be at least 90 inches wide, to accommodate countertops on both long walls and a 42-inch wide aisle.

Open Plan Laundry Room Layout

An open-plan laundry room layout is the most design-flexible layout of all. To begin with, you will need a large space. Appliances and storage are located at any point around the perimeter of the room, dependent on the location of doors, windows, water, drainage, and electrical services. As with open plan kitchens that have an island in the center, open plan laundry rooms are usually large enough that they can have a folding table located in the center of the room.

Hidden or Invisible Laundry Room Layouts

When you have no dedicated space available for a laundry room but you still want to do your own laundry, one option is to tuck away the laundry room in an existing room of your house.

Because laundry rooms and kitchens share so many of the same characteristics and needs, laundry rooms are often found hidden away here. Bathrooms have water supply and drainage, so they are sometimes used, as well. One issue with using a bathroom as a laundry room is that they usually lack the 240V increased-power electrical receptacle needed for dryers.

A side-by-side washer and dryer are placed under the kitchen countertop, sometimes with a sliding door or curtain to mask them when not in use. In other layouts, a stacking washer and dryer are placed in the kitchen pantry and closed off behind a door. Storage for laundry items is extremely limited and sometimes is shared with kitchen items. If you have any type of extra space for a laundry room, creating a hidden laundry room within your kitchen should not be your first choice.