Welcome Hunzi! How would you mount the cabinets if there was no back? I like the idea, maybe. You wouldn't ever have to have Mr. Hunzi hoist you up into the crawl space, through the cupboard, would you, to retrieve a box?

My friend Enduring!

There is structure there! And I currently have a cabinet door mounted right on the wall. I'm thinking, yes, we'd have to get on knees on the washer counter to reach through the cabinet to get to the crawlspace. It's big enough for good size bins - so I'm thinking a cabinet with a very large cut out - like a sink cabinet can have - big enough to pass the bins through. I'm not sure if this is insanity or not. But storage in this house is a very precious thing so I'd hate to give up the ledge. It's MrHunzi who is enamoured with the idea of cabinets (partly because we discovered he didn't check for level when he did the ceiling - the joists are uneven so the right corner is high by nearly 1 in! So a couple of cabinets with crown would help hide the flaws. (You don't notice it with nothing up there, but we couldn't add a 2nd access hatch/door because it showed how far out it was! But a cabinet won't because of the additional depth - only the corner is high.)

here are a couple of in progress photos -

After we moved the washer & dryer into the new position and are in progress of framing in the network/electrical closet.

Terrible photo (it's really to show the mess of network we were dealing with) - but you can see that cardboard box over the washer - that's in my storage space up there. obviously this is before we drywalled and added the door.

After drywall, but before we cut in the access!

I'll have to get a photo of the current door and situation!

So, anyone have cabinets over their machines? Depth? What do you keep in them? Any special thought/tip/I wish we had done this or didn't do that?

We are adding cabinets over our machines this weekend. Just regular kitchen uppers, 12" deep. The Ikea uppers at 15" deep would probably be even nicer.

Great! We'll be doing custom cabinets so I can pick any depth - MrHunzi suggested 18in but I think that's too deep for an upper! I'm thinking 14 or 16.

Meanwhile, here are a few of the good things done so far!

We put in heated floors!

And vastly improved the electrical and network closet!

No more tangled wires! (ok, less)

Its been a few days, but I have been thinking on this idea. Now I have time to post my idea....

might not work, but could you mount your cabinets on a wall tract/trolly (support from other top and bottom) that fits behind you washer, and run the cabinets to the side when you want to get into the crawl space. This would eliminate the need to go through the cabinets, to get to Narnia. I know that Mr. Hunzi could do this if it was feasible, because of that great sliding wall he did in the bathroom. It might not be feasible though.

A counter is definitely happening - it's just the cabinets that are up for debate.

enduring - the sliding cabinet idea won't work because I wanted a full wall of cabinets so no place to slide it. (I love the thought of Narnia! - I think I have a new name for my storage!)

Right now, I could keep the existing storage zone door, and just put a cabinet over the sink area, but it dings my needs for symmetry.

I am going to kick it around a little more. Most of what would be stored back there would be stuff that is in long term storage - possibly emergency supplies, so not something I'd be getting into frequently.

Meanwhile, here's a progress photo:

The storage shelves built under the bulkhead between the laundry and bathroom.

The secondary lint trap and part of the storage zone on the ledge.

The floor.

the floor is great. This sounds like it is very well thought out.

Another traveling cabinet idea, could you just put the ones in front of the crawl space on a track overhead? Then pull it forward when you want to get into the crawl space. So the ones over the W/D would not be attached to the ones on either side, but only to the ceiling track. Would you put a counter over the machines? If so, then you could get up on the counter to get what you need.

What an improvement this picture is compared to the first photo above! It doesn't even look like the same wall. What color paint is that, its a pretty color; and the white, what color? As I review you photos, I see that it isn't the same wall that I thought you were talking about, haha. But I don't think it really make a difference in my discussion. Does this white panel/door open? It is soooo straight and perfect!

Thanks!

Originally, in Mr,G's fabulous Basement from Hell the old top loader and dryer just sat in the corner of the dark dirty wavy concrete basement 90 degrees to each other and the washer just drained on the floor in the general direction of the floor drain. And the dryer just vented into the basement and the whole thing was covered in lint. GAH!

We replaced the TL (an old Maytag that sounded like a truck with screeching brakes) and bought a pair of Askos - with a condensing dryer since we had no way to vent the basement. Used those for about 12 years. Washer had problems ( needed frequent repairs, and was tiny but I did love the super hot 205 wash) and the dryer was a disaster - took forever to dry things - in a household with two kids and sports - lots of laundry!)

About 2013 we replaced the Askos with LGs. Bigger loads! Vented the dryer into one of those little lint trap things for a while until we really got to working on the Starting From Dirt Basement Bath & Laundry. - That's when we moved the washer & dryer to the other wall. Finally got into the real structural work and was able to cut into wall to add a vent and into the floors to add proper drain lines! The previous space became the network/electrical closet.

The paint is leftovers from my guest room project - Ellen Kennon Seafoam (which looks pale blue-green in the Laundry with no natural light it looks way different in the Guest Room) and Snow (the warm white).

MrHunzi built the door. If we keep it, he's planning to remake it and make the stiles match the size of the of the ones on the sink cabinet - it's a bit chunky. I'll snap a picture of it open so you can see how it works.

Yay - today MrHunzi is fixing the problem with the Laundry storage cubbie - the one under the bulkhead between the Laundry and Bathroom with the shelves that didn't quite fit. Then I'll be able to load that up! Yay!

Hunzi,

Nice renovation overall. In my neck of the woods you may not discharge laundry outlets to the floor drain as the sump pump just hurls it into the ditch outside, then into the creek/River/lake.. So - you really should be getting your laundry outlet tied to a sanitary drain for treatment at your local municipality, much better for the environment.

As for the cabinet, enduring's suggestion of a top track is best, but another option is a sturdy hinge mount to swing the clearance.

laundryvet

laundryvet, I believe Hunzi has the drain now up to code. The description of the floor drain was from the situation prior to their remodel. A Mr. Green had the house, and did a bunch of renovations that were unworthy of a treehouse. It is an hysterical read about Mr. Green over on the bathroom forum and she eludes to him here in this thread. He sounds like a home owner's worst nightmare.

Yes, be assured, we are fully up to code.

And I refer to our previous homeowner extraordinaire as MrG because even though he is most likely gone to a place where he is no longer allowed to play with power tools, I do live in a small enough area that I still run across people who knew him, hence names are changed to protect the unbelievably incompetent.

Oh, sorry for calling him Mr. Green. I see that was totally wrong, MrG it is :)

I like it, now all you need is a Rev-a-shelf in there to pull your stuff out into the real world.

It's about 12 or 13 feet long and 3 1/2 feet deep (before it turns the corner) - that would be a big Rev-A-shelf! ;-)

I'm busy with the little final touches in the laundry - we aren't super happy the laundry cart I bought - Costco sized fabric softener bottles & detergent boxes etc. So, I'm toying with the pretty jars on the counter thing. Has anyone really used these? Do you just haul your "drink dispenser" over to the edge and put the product into the washer dispenser? Any worries with glass jars and breakage? I can just get a new cart, but I'm looking at other options. (I'd put felt pads on the bottoms of the jars so they would slide over the slate counter more easily.) The final door for the ironing cabinet is here - MrHunzi just needs to paint it - so I'm hoping to post a few final photos soon.

Stuff I have:

Big bleach bottles

Big Oxi box

Huge detergent bucket (Kirkland)

Bag of Ariel

Perwoll bottle

Woolite

Various stain sticks & sprays

Discuss!

I don't advise you start with fancy containers...LOL I did that and ended up with a few hundred haha..

MrHunzi isn't happy with the jar idea overly much, and since he does 98% of the laundry, he does get a say. I can put a cart in the closet (same as the old cart) so I'm looking into options. This one looks interesting - but I'll need to check the sizes of the boxes & bottles to be sure they fit.

Another possibility.

Mrs. Hunzi, do you plan to add to the collection( haha) of laundry supplies you have?

I had so many glass jars it was pathetic. When I got my FL Duet I converted everything into quart size stackable plastics, the powders that is.. soo much more orginized. Liquids are a pain, the bottles always lesk around the top edges, Tide and Downy are the worst. The spouted beverage jars like you posted are cute but they have a different set of problems, they drip and than clog up.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but I've been there and learned the hassles.

I probably won't add too much more in the way of products! Usually, he will only use the main detergent (Kirkland powder at the moment - usually Tide HE which he likes better - I was trying to save a bit and I like the smell), and he'll add bleach to the white load, and fabric softener (Downy or Kirkland's) to each load. If I actually get in there to do some laundry, I'll add Oxi to a white load (and run sheets and my Mary Kay white cotton face cloths for my clients), or do the "handwashing" with the delicate cycles - Perwoll, or Woolite, and I'm more likely to pull out a stain remover - or soak something in a bucket for a while and run things with Ariel (MK wash cloths) - but the majority of the weekly laundry is done by MrHunzi so it's pretty basic. I really liked the Persil I used to be able to get (German) but I think they have changed it? - and I haven't tried the new US versions.

mamapinky has been around the block with laundry, lol. She gives great advise. I like to keep it simple myself and Mr. H sounds like he does too. I don't have any brainy ideas, but would love to see what you come up with. I still swoon over that rolling wall you have in the bathroom next door.

• US Persil Pearls. I really love it. I will continue to use it with confidence. I recently looked it up on the EWG site and it scored a "C", where as Tide powders scored an "F". EWG evaluation of Persil ProClean Power Pearls Detergent Original. I have used German Persil and just finished up a German Perls version for colors. The whites version was used several years ago. I started using the US Pearls when it first came out. I have never used much Tide.

• I love the smell of the US Pearls. I use it on all DH farm clothes and all my bath and hand towels (white), and anything that needs a good cleaning.

• I currently have a Miele powder for colors that I need to finish up. Cheer is reportedly good. I have some but haven't used it much.

• I always use STPP in all my powder loads.

• I use a liquid for darks and blacks. I have a Miele liquid for blacks that I'm finishing up, then I'll start on my liquid German Persil for blacks.

• Miele Down wash for down.

• Miele Wool for wool and silks.

• Purex Natural Elements, liquid without enzymes or oxi or brighteners. Mamap says it can be safely used on wool and down. I use it on all delicate items and love the scent. I use it on Rayon.

• Grab Green pods, I believe got a B on the EWG site, the unscented got an A. It is nice. Has oxi but no brighteners, has enzymes too. I am not sure how much oxi it has in it. Its reported that a lighter amount of oxi is used to neutralize the cholorine in the water, so it doesn't fade clothing. That might be the strategy with GG, but it doesn't indicate that. Cheer uses this strategy.

• Le Blanc Linen Wash for sheets. I love this one too! I love the smell of the sheets when dry. Not a great smell in the bottle. Its expensive.

• I have other odds and ends due to the difficulty setting limits to detergents purchases. But that's pretty much the case with everyone on the Laundry Forum.

• If I had to narrow it down my choices would be Persil Proclean Pearls (North American), Purex Natural Elements liquid, for delicate fabrics, Cheer powder for colors, and STPP. I'd be sacrificing something for darks and blacks, and something specific for down, wool, and silk.

Didn't mean for this to get this lengthy.

Enduring I don't see where you'd be sacrificing anything for darks and blacks since you'd be keeping Cheer powder as that's what its formulated for..also as you'd be keeping the Purex that will be for wool, silk, down, cashmere...unless I read you wrong. Actually your choices if you had to narrow it down are pretty darned good.

Mamap, thanks for the feedback. So the Cheer would be fine for blacks too? I thought maybe the liquids for blacks I've been using would be better. Even though I posted the minimalist list, I don't plan on following it...yet :)

Yes the Cheer powder is formulated for darks, no OB's and a nutralizer to kill Chlorine in tap water. Liquids are more gentle on dyes but hard to find a liquid that's OB free and has an antichlor like Cheer powder. Often people don't realize that chlorine in tap water is a huge reason for fading of blacks, darks and colors...even the most colorfast will fade from tap chlorine. Fading will happen regardless but an antichlor can slow the process down as can using less harsh detergents and not using hot on darks unless your washing farm clothes LOL.

YEaH, LOL

Ok, so to be clear - for a pair of major laundry minimalists (especially MrHunzi!)

In our house, we have LG front loader http://www.lg.com/us/washers/lg-WM3575CV-turbowash-washer - it has a steam injection option, and "Cold-Extra Hot" temps but doesn't make it clear what those temps really are (one big thing I miss about my little ASCO - it had a 205' wash) - my HWH is set to about 140) We are mainly down to just the two of us and the German Shepherd. DS visits and does his own laundry on extended stays, and sometimes we have exchange students who will run a load or two a week for themselves.

There are usually 3 load categories:

Darks/Colors (together) Normal/Cotton cycle, Kirkland detergent & fabric softener (everything not "Whites/Bleach" and Towels)

Whites (things that can be bleached), Bright White cycle - Kirkland detergent, Chlorine bleach, & fabric softener Sheets, kitchen towels, MrHunzi's socks, and the MK face cloths all go into the bleach loads. He does like BLINDING WHITE results.

Towels - all the big fluffy ones from Costco, in sand and grey colors (washed on the Towel cycle (I think it's Warm or Cold/cold rinse).

When needed, I'll separately wash a dress or sweater that requires more special attention (not trusted to MrHunzi's care) in a cold or delicate or wool cycle.

So if I understand your suggestions:

Cheer Powder for the dark load. They get done on the Normal/Cotton Warm/cold rinse setting.

US Persil Pearls or German Persil Universal Powder for whites. (Add chlorine bleach? Add Oxi?) They get done on the Bright Whites Hot/cold rinse setting (unless I do them - then they get the Extra Hot Sanitary cycle (longer)/cold rinse and added OXI to the pre/main wash detergents plus Chlorine bleach.) Does my washer get hot enough for powders to do the job?

Towels get treated same as Colors - Kirkland & FS, except for the different machine cycle.

Everything usually gets liquid fabric softener (kirkland's or downy) (unless I'm running a dedicated MK face cloth load - then none)

Delicates - only thing I use a liquid for - either Woolite, Woolite dark, Perwol, I think I had some sort of Perwol dark. And they usually get FS.

- no dryer sheets - I'm allergic to something in them - sneeze my head off.

What's the story with the STTP stuff? When? Why? How?

My water - filtered, softened. No charcoal filter on the system, so probably still has the chloramine from the treatment plant.

We operate on KISS! Keep it simple systems!

Of course, it will probably be a year before I run through the giant tub of Kirkland's! so this isn't a fast change of systems.

I will make one comment for now. Dont use chlorine bleach when your using a whites detergent like Persil Pearls or with oxi as sodium percarbonate and chlorine neutralize each other.

I found that the woolite dark wasn't As good as the Miele dark. I've not tried the perwoll dark, but once. Rococogurl loves the perwoll. The Persil proclean pearls has oxi, and is a stand alone detergent for whites. It would be similar to the Tide with bleach (oxi) if understand correctly. Larsi says Persil is too sudsy for him, he has softened water. My water is moderate hard at 6 grains of hardness. I have a Miele which is very small @ 2cf and I use about 1/4 cup of Persil (the 1st or 2nd embossed bar on the cap). Go to the FAQ for info on stpp.

FAQ laundry

Ok! So I promised to post pictures of my latest accessories and my laundry products! Here you go!

Laundry cart rolled out (tucked into the electrical closet right next to the washer):

Laundry cart tucked in the closet,

Laundry hamper:

Hamper put away:

Cleaned up and prettied my storage shelves in there too, so I'm a happy camper!

Always ;-)

Hunzi