Every appliance in your home matters. Picking them out can be a chore but it’s important enough that it should be done carefully. While kitchen appliances are important, your laundry room appliances can matter even more.
That’s because not everyone has a washer and dryer so not everyone knows how to pick them out. These people may not even know that stackable washers and dryers are an option. But how much room do you need for the set?
What Is A Stackable Washer And Dryer?
A stackable washer and dryer is a set of appliances consisting of a washer and dryer. The set can be stacked one on top of the other to save floor space yet take up more vertical space than a standard set.
They are usually used to save space and look nice, making them perfect for closets in bathrooms and laundry rooms. But are they right for you? After all, most people don’t know their exact dimensions.
Standard Washer And Dryer Dimensions
The standard washer and dryer aren’t stackable. They go side by side. So you need at least double the space to accommodate them. But the problem is that there isn’t an exact standard for washer and dryer dimensions.
There is, however, an average. The range for width is 24 to 30 inches, with 27 being the average. This is for each single unit. The height is usually 34 to 40 inches. The depth is usually the same or near the size of the width.
Stackable Washer And Dryer Dimensions
Stackable washers and dryers go one on top of the other, which means you need half the floor space for them. However, they are very similar in size to standard washers and dryers and can often be used as such.
The term stackable washer and dryer doesn’t mean that they have to be stacked, it means that they may be stacked. Most washers and dryers can’t handle being stacked and aren’t designed to be stacked.
Other Types Of Washers And Dryers
There are a few other types of washers and dryers that we haven’t mentioned yet. These are much less common and usually have a completely different price range. Here are the other types of washers and dryers.
Laundry Centers
A laundry center is like a stackable washer and dryer but is one unit. Laundry centers take up about the same amount of space as a stackable washer and dryer. They usually have an indention in the center for top-loading washers.
Portable
Portable washers and dryers are usually quite small, sometimes cordless, and always made for vacations. They are perfect for camping, traveling, or staying someone away from home. They are also quite affordable.
Combos
Washer and dryer combos are units that look like one unit but are actually two in one. Most of the time, it takes up the same space as a washer and looks like a washer but it also dries the laundry too. These are all-in-one stations.
Top Loaders Vs. Front Loaders
Top loader or front loader? You probably have a preference yet have no idea where the preference came from. They are both different and have different uses. Most of the time, a dryer is a front loader and a washer is a top loader.
Front Loaders Washers
Because dryers are always front-loading, or at least almost always, we’re going to talk about front-loading washers. First of all, the front-loading washer will match the front-loading dryer, but that’s not the only perk.
Clean Better
It has been proven time and time again that front-loading washers clean better than top-loading ones. According to Consumer Reports, front-loading washers clean quite a bit better than top-loading ones.
This is mostly due to the type of tumbling cycle they undergo that isn’t possible with a top-loader. But it doesn’t matter quite as much if you happen to throw your clothes together and put them on a general cycle.
Use Less Water
Front-loading washers use less water due to the type of cycles that they run. While you may not notice this at first, you will notice the savings that come with it in time. Less water is always a good thing.
When you use less water, you pay for less water. You also will have more hot water for your showers and hand-washing should you choose to use hot water for your washer’s cleaning cycle. So it’s good news all around.
Take Less Drying Time
Because they use less water and wring the water out of the clothes before the cycle is done, it takes less time for the dryer to dry the clothes. This can really save you in a pinch because sometimes, you need those clothes fast.
Like when you are in a hurry to go to an event and your planned outfit or when you are getting ready for work and realize you don’t have any clean uniforms ready. Yikes! A fast-drying dryer does come in handy.
Energy Saving
We’ve already mentioned that the washer uses less water, causing the dryer to use less time to dry the laundry. This makes for less energy used by both appliances, which is a huge step in the right direction.
Just make sure you don’t set the drying time too high to start with nor use a setting too high for the washer. Because this will stop you from utilizing the fact that you can use less energy with doing your laundry.
Less Reaching
If you have shorter arms or simply struggle leaning over the washer, then a front-loading washer will save you and make things much easier. They are better for shorter people because of this but don’t exclude anyone.
Ask a group of people and you’ll probably hear that front-loading washers are easier to use. They even allow you to teach kids how to lend a hand earlier on. As long as you take care of the settings on your own.
Stackable
Now we’ve come to our final point. Front-loading washers are stackable. Yep, you may not have realized it but you can’t stack a top-loading washer. How will you load the washer if you can’t access it?
Sure, if the washer is on top then you can probably do it, or at least it will be exposed. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy. You’d likely need a ladder to do so, which is far less than ideal. So we usually say only front-loading washers are stackable.
Top Loader Washers
Top-loading washers also have a lot of benefits that are often overlooked. They are the classic washer which was used when building front-loading washers caused too many problems to be worth it. Today, either is acceptable.
Fewer Mold Problems
The drum and gaskets on washers often grow mildew and mold. Top-loaders don’t have this problem as often because the water can evaporate so they stay much dryer than the front-loading washer.
To prevent the smell of the mold from bothering you, wipe out the door and gasket between every use. Then once a month, run a cleaning cycle. Some washers have self-cleaning cycles that work like oven cleaning cycles.
Harder To Overload
It is easy to overload a front-loading washer because it takes a lot of effort for it to tumble around. But a top-loading washer has fewer of these problems because the clothes sink to the bottom around the center.
Both can be overloaded, but generally, top-loaders can hold more laundry and rarely suffer long-term effects from being overloaded. So if you have a tendency to do long loads, then top-loading washers are better bets.
Less Bending
Of yourself, of course. When you have a front-loading washer, you have to bend over multiple times when transferring laundry and when you take it out. But a top-loading washer allows you to stand the entire time.
Sure, you may have to lean over but your legs can stay straight. So if you have a problem with your knees or other joints, then you should probably choose a top-loading washer and let someone else use the dryer.
Better Use Of Space
Although they both take up the same amount of space at first, as soon as you open them, this changes. Because you need to open the doors, they can get in the way if you have a front-loading washer, taking up more space.
In fact, it can require as much as double the space for a front-loading washer as a top-loading one. This is a huge negative for those who have small spaces and can’t afford double the space for their laundry appliances.
Often Cheaper
And finally, top-loading washers are often cheaper than front-loading washers. This isn’t always true but it is just consistent enough that it checks out. So if you are tight on money, then consider a top-loader.
They still get the job done though they aren’t always as consistent as the front-loading washer. If you are set on a stackable washer and dryer then you have to get front-loaders. Otherwise, it’s all about preference.
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