Small loads that take 6 hours to do is only suitable for a single person or couple. And 27” isn’t enough width to get a 24” machine behind a door. It would need to be an open alcove with a curtain.

Lead in sinks/tubs/showers isn't really a concern since you aren't drinking it. Plus, any lead is not coming from the pipes inside the house, which are copper. While there may be lead in the solder joints, virtually none of it is on the inside of the pipes. Plus, any lead that may be there has been coated by deposits over the years

Have you actually had a test performed for lead? If so, the lead contamination is most likely coming from outside the house.

And those 'lead pipes'? Not lead They're iron or galvanized steel.

I think in a two story house more than 75% of your dirty laundry will be on the second floor.....towels, clothes, blankets, sheets...etc. I have always had my laundry on the first floor so can't speak from experience but see nothing wrong with having your washer and dryer on the second floor. But be sure there is a safety floor for leaks, which does happen....and I would vent the dryer to an outside wall, if possible.

Thank you so much, Patricia, Sophie & Tatts, for your advice. Patricia & Sophie, I haven't ever used a ventless dryer and from your comments it sounds like a bad idea. What do you think of a full-size Electrolux stacked washer and electric dryer? I ask because their website says they are suitable for 2nd stories, from their specs they appear not to need side clearance so my 28" recess in the closet would accommodate the 27" width of the washer/dryer, and I wouldn't need to run a gas line to the closet.

Patricia, main floor laundry would be better than in the basement, but I am certain that I personally would prefer laundry next to my bedroom. I spend ample time upstairs every day cleaning or with kids, and it's only a half-story up from the main floor. The floorplans I posted show the current kitchen, the angled stove/sink of which I plan to change next summer when we hopefully rearrange the 1st floor. As far as I know, the only thing behind the stove is a laundry chute. Next summer I would be taking the space where the refrigerator and adjacent cabinets are and donating it to the master bedroom, which would enlarge the 2nd closet in that room. Sorry about the confusing plan I posted. I will try to make a clearer one showing all the proposed changes when I get a chance.

Sophie, I definitely don't want an open alcove with a curtain, so what do you think of this instead:

Tatts, I did have the water tested, and it is well over the EPA action threshold. I want my kids to be able to brush their teeth in the bathroom or get a drink of water at night. The fixtures are newer, so my plumber's best guess is that it is from lead solder (also there is no detectable lead in the kitchen sink, which was added in the 90s, and my city replaced all the lead service pipes around 2000, so it can't be coming from outside the house). There is also lead in the broken 1930s tile in the kids' bathroom, and in the bathtub (which tested positive not only by XRF but also with dust sampling), so we are replacing all of those things with similar materials this summer. I know that the vast majority of people would not worry about the lead, and we have lived with it for a long time by changing our habits, but it is worth a lot to me to just get rid of it.

Erinsean, do you mean an outside wall as opposed to venting through the roof?

I love my 24" ventless dryer. It is only a year old, so I wonder if technology has improved? It does take longer to dry clothes, but certainly not 6 hours. It takes 2 to do aload, on average. I don't have an oversized washer either, so it hasn't been an issue. I can dry our pillows and blankets in it without difficulty. That said, if I had a couple of youngsters in the house I probably would want a bigger capacity.
The reason I chose one is so it could go on an inside wall, and is supposedly much safer than a vented dryer, as there isn't the worry about lint buildup and fire.

Helen, would you mind posting the brand & model that you have? It sounds like it still might be too small, but I could live with 2 hours of drying time to avoid adding the vent and gas line. My dishwasher takes 2 hours and it doesn't bother me.

I have the Bosch stacking washer and dryer
washer WAT28401UC
dryer WTG86401UC
One thing that took some getting used to is that the clothes don't have that hot, crisp dryer smell. It almost feels like they are could be still damp sometimes, but there is no actual moisture. It is odd. They say it is gentler on clothes as a result of not heating them as high, but I do miss that smell a little bit

I have stacked full size Neptune’s in a former upstairs hall closet. The best decision I’ve ever made since 90% of my laundry is generated upstairs. No vibration issues, actually it’s extremely quiet also. So much more convenient.

Tackle that inefficient kitchen first and you might be able to find more room for what you need. The whole floor’s layout is pretty wasting of space.

I am currently remodeling and getting the Bosch 800 washer and ventless dryer based on reviews and recommendations from my very savvy neighbor.

I have no idea where the information is coming from regarding six hour cycles but based on the user manual, that is not true of the Bosch and the washer and dryer hold quite a bit - again look at the specifications regarding how many towels can be done in a load. I would think the convenience of doing laundry where it is created and then unloading it where it is returning make it a highly desirable addition - so what If you have to do an extra load or two in the course of a week :-)

There is not significant vibration with a Bosch - Bosch is known for exceptionally quiet appliances.

The reason I am going with the Bosch is twofold - first the dryer hooks into the washer so installation is simple. Second, they have an amazing water alarm season which is critical for a washer located where a flood would cause a lot of damage. The Bosch 800 has two flood safeguards - the hose is double lined and there is also an integrated water alarm system and pan - if the alarm senses water, the machine stops and no more water goes into the machine and the pan holds any water that has leaked through.

If there is anyway of finding space for the 24" stackable units, I would certainly do so.

Under-counter filters will remove any lead and other things from the water, and waaay cheaper than all new plumbing, especially if it's only based on your plumber's "best guess". I just bought a new cartridge for mine last weekend, piece of cake to change. We don't have any problems with lead or chemicals or germs, but the water sometimes has an off-taste, especially in summer.

Your house is filled with lead paint, since it's so old. And let's face it, anyone over the age of 40 is guaranteed to have been raised at least part of their life in houses full of lead paint. And I don't see evidence that it's caused any linkable harm. I don't suggest being careless about lead, but there's a limit.

I'm coming into this conversation late, but want to add that I've had a ventless Electrolux dryer for more than a year now & have never had it run for anywhere even close to 6 hours, and 1 1/2 hours max. Nor do my clothes come out wrinkled. Actually, all the shirts come out better than they ever have. I haven't ironed a shirt since the new set. But I do take them out of the dryer while still damp & hang to dry.

I have the Bosch 500 set, in a closet. Have the ventless dryer. I wash a queen size bed sheet set weekly with no issues. It dries in 40 minutes. A load of towels dries in about the same time or if it's a very full load maybe 50 minutes. The way the dryer is used depends on the size of the loads. There are cycles and timed settings. I like the set a lot.