Early washers and dryers went where the plumbing was usually the kitchen. They were noisy and often went in the basement. But designers say today s quieter, more compact and more stylish machines are back throughout the home.
Sustainability concerns are also changing laundry spaces. Energy-saving features on the machinery are standard, and homeowners are asking for simple sinks for hand-washing garments, as well as racks and retractable clotheslines to air dry, designers say.
Those who have an in-home clothes washer and dryer often take it for granted. But even in larger homes, we haven’t had the convenience all that long. Indoor plumbing and power made electric washers and tumble dryers possible, and by 1937 they appeared on the market.