A washing machine is an essential part of our everyday lives, however, it’s also one which takes up a significant amount of room – a tricky proposition if you only have a small home. In this article, we’re sharing ideas for storage of washing machines and exploring how to safely store your appliance. 

Safety first

A washing machine is a fairly complicated bit of kit and is made up of some quite delicate moving parts. Because of this, it’s incredibly important that you take care of your machine properly and store it safely to avoid damage or malfunction which will result in costly repairs. 

It’s also vital that you always hire a professional to plumb in your machine and to handle any electronics as failing to do so can be really dangerous for your washing machine, your home and your family. 

How to safely store your appliance

When it comes to storing your washing machine, you may be lucky enough to have a few options and we’re going to explore some of these in this section: 

The kitchen

The most common place for a washing machine is on the floor in the kitchen as this provides easy access when going about your daily business. This is a good solution if you have the room in your kitchen but do bear in mind the fact that you will most likely have lots of appliances and equipment plugged in here so it’s important to make sure that your electrics are safe and that you’re not overloading the circuits. 

Utility room

If you’re lucky enough to have one of these rooms in your home this really is the best solution for your washing machine storage. A utility room is a purpose built space in which to keep appliances, outerwear and produce in order to keep it out of the way. Before storing your washing machine in the utility room, make sure that the space is fully water / weather-proofed and that the electrics and plumbing have been professionally done. 

The bathroom

If you don’t have a utility room and your kitchen is too small / crowded for your machine, a bathroom can be a good solution. When fitting a washing machine in a bathroom, try to keep it as far from the shower / sink as possible – and always make sure that you clean the machine regularly to prevent whiffy smells infiltrating your bathroom. It’s also a good idea to make sure that your bathroom has adequate ventilation to prevent excess condensation building up in the room. 

The garage

If you absolutely, positively do not have the room to store your washing machine inside the house, a garage can be a good solution as an outdoor storage for your washing machine. As with other locations, you should always ensure that plumbing and electrics are completed by a professional. Additionally, you may want to check out the integrity of the floor of your garage to make sure that it’s strong enough to withstand the regular vibrations when your washing machine is in use. Finally, you’ll need to pay attention to the walls and door of your garage to make sure that there are no cracks, gaps or holes through which vermin can enter as these can, in some cases, cause damage to the wiring and workings of your washing machine. 

Handle with care

This probably won’t come as a major shock to you but washing machine’s are extremely heavy and you should, therefore, avoid trying to move this appliance by yourself. When moving a washing machine into your house or from room to room, at least two people should be involved and you should always take it slowly in order to avoid causing damage to the machine or, more importantly, to yourself !

It’ll all come out in the wash

As we’ve shown in this article, there are a few options available to you when it comes to storing your washing machine – all of which should be perfectly safe as long as you follow safety guidelines. As well as storing your machine safely, the same goes for disposing of it. When your washing machine has reached the end of its useful life, you should dispose of it responsibly by taking it to your nearest dump or recycling facility or asking your local council to do this for you.