How to install a washing machine in the kitchen and bathroom

Original ideas of designers and technicians in arranging a living space allow every square centimeter of space to be used functionally and rationally. And all this thanks to the appearance of built-in household appliances on the market. So, for example, you can install a washing machine in the bathroom or kitchen so that the design of the room will only improve. We will describe how this can be done in this article.

In the kitchen or in the bathroom: which is better?

It is impossible to answer definitively the question of where it is better to place the machine, in the kitchen or in the bathroom. The most important reason is what the apartment owners themselves prefer. There is a category of people who, for various reasons, may be categorically against placing a machine in the bathroom or, conversely, in the kitchen. And even the dimensions of the room or the washing machine itself cannot change their opinion.

But let’s approach this issue from a technical point of view, and formulate the pros and cons of installing a machine in these rooms.

The advantages of placing the machine in the kitchen are as follows:

• firstly, all the main household appliances will be collected within one room, which will allow you to simultaneously control the washing process and cooking a pie in the oven or heating food in the microwave;
• secondly, thanks to the free space in the kitchen, which will be allocated for a “washing machine”, you can free up space in a small bathroom;
• Thirdly, the choice of a washing machine for installation in the kitchen is almost in most cases unlimited, Even in a small room it is quite possible to find space for a free-standing machine of standard dimensions.

But there are also disadvantages to the fact that the machine will be in the kitchen:

• after washing, the machine door needs to be opened slightly, but this is not aesthetically pleasing and will disrupt the design of the room;
• in a machine built under the countertop or in a free-standing one, it will not be possible to store dirty laundry, as it will be visible;
• and another disadvantage is that powders stored in the kitchen next to the washing machine evaporate harmful substances that can settle on food.

Placing a washing machine in the bathroom also has its advantages:

• By building the machine in the bathroom, you can save space in the kitchen for a large table;
• the toilet and bathroom are the sanitary zone of the apartment, so it is excellent for storing dirty laundry and washing it; it is quite possible to store powders and conditioners here;
• in the bathroom the machine is less audible, especially if you close the door, so it will not distract from household chores or eating;
• in the bathroom you can always keep the hatch door open without fear of disturbing the aesthetics of the room.

The disadvantages of installing a machine in the bathroom are as follows:

• high humidity is dangerous for electrical appliances, so when installing a “washing machine” you will have to carefully consider the electrical wiring and connection;
• choosing a machine for the bathroom can be difficult, for example, in most typical apartments the doorway to the bathroom is narrow and ranges from 55 to 60 cm, this means that it will no longer be possible to carry a machine with a depth of 60 cm, you will have to choose something from smaller ones units.

So, when choosing between a kitchen and a bathroom, you need to focus on the most basic thing, namely in which room you need more usable space.

Choosing a machine to embed

All machines can be divided into three groups:

• free-standing;
• with the possibility of embedding;
• fully built-in.

You can install any washing machine, even a free-standing one. The only difference will be in the embedding method. A fully built-in machine involves installation in a special niche in the kitchen unit, while the tabletop is attached in a special way instead of the top cover of the “washing machine”, and the front door covering the drum is attached to fasteners installed on the front of the machine body.

A built-in machine does not have such fastenings. Such machines only have a removable top cover. However, they can be hidden inside a regular kitchen cabinet, and the front door can also be screwed to the side walls of the furniture; details about this type of machine can be found in review of built-in washing machines. A free-standing machine can be hidden in a similar way in a kitchen unit or installed under a countertop.

In most cases, when choosing a washing machine, many are guided not by its ability to be built in, but by its dimensions. After all, if the kitchen set was made in advance, then you cannot put any machine in the niche provided for it. For a bathroom, the size of the automatic machine is even more important, especially if the room is very small and the door is located on the side of the bathroom.

Modern washing machines have become much more compact. The market offers a large assortment of narrow units, the depth of which varies from 32 to 45 cm.In addition, there are special machines that differ in height, which makes it possible to install them under the bathroom sink. The height is like this mini washing machines no more than 65 cm.

In the case where it is planned to install a washing machine in the kitchen only under the countertop, consumers are also interested in the color of the machine. Today there are the following colors:

• white;
• silver;
• black;
• red;
• gray-blue;
• green;
• golden;
• lilac.

Particular attention should be paid to the way washing machines load laundry. Loading can be vertical or frontal. Top-loading machines are great for bathrooms because they are compact in size. They are almost 20 cm narrower than a standard front-loading machine.

It is not very convenient to place a top-loading machine in the kitchen, since you will have to give up an additional countertop, or make a folding countertop and lift it if necessary.

Machine placement options and room design

There may be several options for placing a washing machine in two rooms. Let's look at these options illustratively.

The simplest placement option is to place the washing machine in the kitchen in a free space.

The most common way is to build a washing machine in the kitchen under the countertop. In this case, the color of the “washer” is of great importance. It is optimal if it matches the color of other household appliances, for example, a refrigerator, microwave, stove.

From a design point of view, the optimal way to install a machine in the kitchen is to integrate it completely into the kitchen unit. This will expand the boundaries of choice of kitchen design and color scheme.The washing machine is not visible, everything is designed in the same style.

Here are a couple of original ideas for placing the machine in the kitchen.

As for the bathroom, even in it, despite its dimensions, the machine can be positioned in different ways. For example, built under the sink.

Install the machine under the countertop.

Install the machine into the niche.

If there is space, place separately.

A great option to integrate the machine into furniture.

When placing a washing machine in the bathroom, you need to think through the design of the entire room. This way the washing machine will become one of its full-fledged elements, and not a stand-out white spot.

Technical side of the issue

Connecting an automatic washing machine in the kitchen and in the bathroom is not fundamentally different. In both cases, you will have to carry out approximately the same procedure. Let's list them:

1. organize a water pipe outlet to connect the inlet hose;
2. install a siphon with waste water outlet;
3. install electrical wiring and install a moisture-resistant socket;
4. first place the machine so that all communications can be connected;
   

   At the same time, check whether the hoses are long enough so that you can freely pull the machine out of the built-in niche.

5. connect the machine to the water supply and drain pipe;
6. Place the machine in the designated place and adjust the legs.

Having decided to install a washing machine under the countertop, you need to correctly calculate all the dimensions of the future niche in which the machine will be located. Be sure to leave a gap between all the walls of the furniture and the machine so that when it vibrates, the machine does not touch the walls. For more detailed installation information, see the article on how to install the machine under the countertop.

Thus, A washing machine today is not just a household appliance that makes our work easier, but also a design element in a bathroom or kitchen. The functionality of the room and its aesthetics will depend on the space allocated to the washing machine.

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