washer/dryer in garage? (appliances, house, water heater)

[Momma_s]

So, until moving here, I had never heard of a w/d being in a garage before... IMO, it seems silly to have clothes cleaned in a dirty garage!

I'm wondering how you get your laundry from bedroom to garage, and back again... I mean, do you sort your laundry as they dirty, or just prior to washing? Do you have an indoor laundry area? Do you fold your clothes in the garage? Where do you dry your delicates that can't go in the dryer?

Perhaps this is a silly question, but it has been befuddling my mind for some time now! Why are w/d's put in garages anyway?

Thanks for answering my (possibly) silly questions!

[Ludachris]

I think it's because CA is mostly a warm climate. If it snowed there you probably wouldn't see that. Being a car guy, I hate having the washer/dryer (and water heater) taking up space in my garage. It doesn't seem like a natural place for appliances. But it's very normal to see that in CA, especially in the older homes.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Yes, its pretty normal for California. You sort the clothes in the house into baskets, take them to the garage and throw them in the machine. When they're dry, you throw them back in the baskets to take inside for folding. I guess they put them out there because its cheaper since they don't have the finish that space. There's also no floor drain or pan required in case of a leak because at least its not inside the house.

[gizmo980]

That's where my washer & dryer is... never thought that was weird until just now, but I'm pretty much a native Californian. Mine is connected to the downstairs hallway, and is literally like 5 steps from the door - so there's not much opportunity for the clothing to get dirty. Maybe it does have to do with the climate, but my dryer (we didn't have a washer) was in the garage when I live in Tahoe, which is a much colder place. That one kinda sucked because it wasn't attached, so you had to get yourself & the clothing COLD in the winter. Brrrr! In my current house in SF, I think it's more of a space issue, since it's a narrow row-house without much closet or hallway space. Huh......

[california5]

When I was a kid our washer/dryer were in the garage. I know my mom hated it and our next house had an indoor laundry room.
I've never had them in the garage, thankfully, but when we lived in Maine the washer/dryer hook ups were in the kitchen. In my opinion that is worse than being in the garage.

[DMenscha]

I've always thought that the washer and dryer should be in the Master Bedroom suite. I don't do the laundry when I'm sleeping and it's a PITA to haul everything downstairs and back up the stairs every time. My shirts might even have a chance to make it back on the hangers if my closet was close by!

[EZrhythm]

Yep, the ol' laundry hook-ups in the garage were a way to build lower cost housing. Lower cost for the builder that is.
I suggestion to make it a bit nicer is to put down some carpeting from the door to the appliances so there is no cold foot syndrome on cold days. Linoleum tiles can be put down to to create an area to be kept clean for clothes that end up on the floor.
A nice thing about the garage is that there is room for a big table to do the folding.
I picked up an old door that was no longer wanted and turned that in to a nice smooth, clothes folding, workbench.

There are special mesh bags so delicates can be put in the dryer. Or dry delicates for a shorter time like 10 minutes or before they are completely dry, enough to get the wrinkles out, then hang.