Hairdryer in a drawer? Plugged in? Help!

13 years ago

I have heard that some people keep their hairdryer plugged in inside a vanity drawer. Can someone tell me how this is done? Where exactly is the outlet? In the wall or attached to the inside of the vanity? Or to the drawer itself?

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plumkrazy

13 years ago

Oh, and maybe line the drawer with something like this.

Here is a link that might be useful: Heat mat for curling iron, etc

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Comments (13)

lazypup
13 years ago
In my experience when this is done they put an outlet in the drawer. That outlet is fed by a coiled cord from the backside of the drawer that is plugged into an outlet inside the back of the cabinet. In this manner the drawer can be removed by simply unplugging the inside plug.
plumkrazy
13 years ago
I'd like to do this, too! I found this article that might help. Ideally there would be some sort of switch that kills power to the outlet when you close the drawer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dryer Drawer
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just_julie
13 years ago
This was something I really wanted in our remodel. I know it takes 4.763 seconds to unplug and put away a blow dryere... i just wanted to feel spoiled!

The drawers in our vanity aren't as deep as the vanity itself and my dryer has a pretty long cord. We installed an outlet behind the vanity and I use it for my dryer and toothbrush. I measured and cut a pretty exact opening in the back of the cabinet, added some caulk just because it was here.

Here is a link that might be useful:
monicakm_gw
13 years ago
I don't know why this is so hard and often controversial. Don't understand why you would have to have a kill switch either. People leave hairdryers plugged in all the time. Agreed that if you have a curling iron or flat iron you DO need a heat proof liner. We put the outlet on the wall (just like the outlets above the counter) behind the drawer. The hair dryer stays plugged in. The cord isn't stressed or pulled with the drawer opening and closing. It's no different than if it was sitting out on the counter.
My picture isn't as good as justjulie's but we did ours the same way.
Monica

Here is a link that might be useful: Dryer Plug
plumkrazy
13 years ago
Monica, I mentioned killing the switch for someone like myself, who has a flat iron that gets VERY hot and there have been times I've forgotten to turn it off. I was just pointing out a few safety measures for the OP, or anyone who has concerns about burning their house down. If you're just using the outlet/drawer for a hair dryer, not as crucial.
jacobse
13 years ago
We just put one in which looks identical to Monica's. The electrical inspector, who was pretty thorough, had no issue with it. (He made the electrician change the outlets in our newly-constructed walk-in closet to tamper-resistant receptacles, even though it's not required by code in our area until next year and there are no kids in our home, and made him install an arc fault circuit breaker for the new closet room receptacles, even though code only requires it for bedrooms.) I'm not saying that because an electrical inspector okayed it, it's guaranteed to never be a problem, but if there was even borderline questionable, I'm sure this particular inspector would have flagged us.

-- Eric
pps7
13 years ago
We have an outlet in the wall behind the vanity and then an extension cord that sits in the drawer. My dryer stays plugged in. I love this feature!!! I hardly ever use a flat iron, so I plug that in/out everytime. No matter how you do it, I highly recommend it. We also did the same for DH's vanity for his shaver.
terezosa / terriks
13 years ago
We have a cabinet that is similar to an appliance garage with a flip up door between our vanities. There is an outlet in the back of the cabinet. I put in two metal wire type slide out drawers and attached a power strip. I keep my hair dryer, straightening iron and curling iron plugged in. I have a small led nightlight so that easily tell when the power strip is turned on.

My hair brushes also live in that cabinet.
classicalone
13 years ago
Just like pps, we have an outlet in the wall behind the vanity and then an extension cord that sits in the drawer. My hair dryer stays plugged in, in my drawer. We put an outlet behinds DH's vanity also, but he doesn't use it for anything.

We also put outlets in each of our medicine cabinets; I have only my electric, chargable toothbrush plugged in in mine, but DH keeps both his toothbrush and his electric shaver plugged in in his med cab.
alyssak
13 years ago
You can either have an outlet installed directly into the drawer or, for a cheaper option,cut a small hole in the back or side of the drawer and snake the plug through there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bathroom Vanity
kateskouros
13 years ago
we're also putting an outlet through a deep drawer. my cabinet maker fit the drawer with an elevated platform with holes cut into it, so i can "holster" the hair dryer and irons. going to a metal fabricator to get linings made.

not installed yet, sorry!
xc60
13 years ago
I would love to have a hair dryer drawer or a plug in our appliance garage but they are against code here :(.