Pros and Cons of Setting Up Laundry in the Garage

The garage has always been a versatile space for anything we can think of using it for. And if you are thinking of using your garage for laundry, you are not alone. In fact, a lot of homeowners have done this over the years. Most are glad they made that decision, while others are not entirely happy about it. 

In this post, we’ll look at the Pros and Cons of using the garage as your laundry room. And then, later in this post, we will discuss some essential factors to consider before converting your garage into the laundry.

Pros

Here are some good reasons why you should use your garage for laundry

Free up space

Moving your laundry to the garage is an excellent way to free up space in your home. Some homes have a dedicated room for laundry. Others have their washing machine and dryers inside a kitchen cabinet. Whatever the case may be, moving the laundry machines to the garage means we can have more space in the living area for other things.

For instance, you can convert that old laundry room into a guest bedroom, your kid’s playroom, an office space, or your arts and crafts room if you are into that sort of thing. The freed up kitchen cabinets can also be used to store kitchen appliances and cleaning supplies.

 In my opinion, this is the most compelling reason why many homeowners want to do this.

Reduce Laundry Noise

Another reason to move your laundry to your garage is to reduce noise. Doing laundry can disturb the entire home, and nobody likes that. Products like the Audimute Anti-Vibration Pads (on Amazon) are made to reduce the laundry noise caused by vibration, and I must say, they work incredibly well. But they don’t get rid of the noise entirely.

Doing laundry in a secluded room, such as the garage, paired with anti-vibration pads, is a great way to reduce the noise in your home.

Excellent place to keep dirty clothes

Having our laundry in the garage makes it logical to keep our dirty clothes there as well. We can simply remove our clothes after coming back from the gym and putting it in the laundry basket. Your kid’s dirty clothes can be removed in the garage and kept there ready for the next laundry day.

You don’t have to enter the house with your sweaty sweatpants and joggers anymore. And overall, it will help keep your home tidy.

Pipe and washing machine leaks will be no issue.

Water leaks with laundry machines are a big problem for many homeowners. These leaks can deteriorate your flooring and leave a bad scent in your living area if left unattended for a while. You certainly don’t want that to happen.

Moving your laundry to the garage is one sure way to avoid all these issues. That’s because most garages are made of concrete floors. Water leaks won’t be a problem at all for a concrete floor.

Cons

Here are some disadvantages of having laundry in your garage

It can cause a musty smell in the garage.

Laundry in the garage can cause a musty smell if the garage is not well ventilated and maintained. The laundry will introduce a lot of moisture in the garage. And if this moisture is stagnant, it will produce bad smell in your garage. Most of us are probably familiar with a musty smell in the bathroom but not the garage.

This is something that can be easily fixed with a product like a dehumidifier. However, it’s important to know, especially for homeowners with no windows or vents in their garages.

Garages can get extremely hot or cold.

Depending on where you live, your garage can be extremely cold or hot in some seasons. This is definitely not an ideal situation for washing. That’s because your clothes can freeze after you take it out of the washing machine.

For instance, if you live in Alaska, or Minnesota, having your laundry set up in the garage will be a bad idea. But if you are in Southern California or Florida, this might be an excellent idea. 

The point I’m trying to make is that if you have freezing temperatures where you live, you may have to reconsider. That is unless you are part of the few homeowners who have a garage air conditioner installed or have excellent insulation in the garage. I’ll explain in detail later in this article. 

Dirty garage floors

Garages are arguably the dustiest place in our homes, and this is to be expected. That’s because anytime your vehicle enters the garage, it comes along with dust from outside. So, over time this accumulates on the floor.

This is a major disadvantage of having your laundry in the garage. That’s because any cloth that falls to the floor has to be rewashed, and this can be particularly annoying. Also, water leaks and splashes on the garage floor can leave the place very messy. To avoid this means you may have to clean your garage floor frequently.

Things to Consider Before Adding Laundry Room in the Garage

Now that you know the benefits and downsides let’s take a look at some vital things to consider before having your laundry in the garage.

Space in your Garage

Is your garage big enough to fit a washing machine, dryer, laundry basket, ironing board, shelves, drying rack, or any other item you may need for laundry? Can I still park my car inside with all of these laundry supplies fixed? Asking these questions will give you a clear idea of what to do and how to make the most out of the available space. In essence, the more spacious your garage, the more options you have.

A single car garage, when organized properly, can fit all the essentials elements you need for laundry. A two-car garage will have enough space for more options such as storage racks, ironing board, table for folding your clothes.

Nearby Plumbing Line

Is a plumbing line near the garage? Will it be costly to get water supply to the garage? If you are going to use a fully automatic washing machine, you obviously want to connect it to a water supply. So there has to be a plumbing line at the garage, or at least nearby. 

Fortunately, this is not an issue because there are usually plumbing lines at the garage. However, if you are unsure, you can hire a plumber to check this for you.

Garage Ventilation

Do you have adequate ventilation in your garage? Is your garage part of your home’s ventilation system? Are there windows in the garage? How often do you open your garage? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself. 

As I mentioned earlier, laundry in your garage will increase the humidity in the garage. When the moisture in the air does not circulate, it will leave a musty smell in the garage. You certainly don’t want that.

If you have windows or a vent in your garage, this will not be an issue. Also, if you open your garage door more often, that will solve the problem. Opening your garage door allows a breeze of air into the garage and eliminates all the stagnant air inside. 

Another thing you can do to avoid this problem is to install a dehumidifier in the garage. This device will absorb all the atmospheric moisture in a room. Dehumidifiers come in different types and sizes, and your choice will depend on the size of your garage. 

A more permanent option is to install a garage ventilation system. That is, however, an expensive option, in my opinion. Especially if you’re simply thinking of setting up laundry in the garage, I will recommend a garage ventilation system for homeowners who are converting their garage into a living space, an office, or a man-cave. 

Temperature Condition in your Area

Garages are usually exempted from our home’s HVAC system. That’s because they are rooms meant to house your vehicle, so temperature regulation doesn’t really matter in such a situation. However, as I mentioned earlier, garages can get extremely cold or hot, depending on where you live and the temperature condition in that area.

Freezing temperatures in the garage will give you a bad experience while you wash. Firstly, the clothes you have washed and taken out of the washing machine can freeze, and secondly, you won’t feel comfortable being in the garage for the entire time.

The same applies to hot temperatures as well; that is, you won’t be comfortable in your garage. And it gets hotter even when you turn the dryer on.

Check the state you live in, and the weather condition in your area, put that into consideration when you are deciding to set up your laundry in the garage.

Having a well-insulated garage door and/or walls helps reduce the transmission of heat and cold from outside. It makes your garage comfortable to be in, which means you can be there for as long as you want as you wash your clothes. That is one option, and the more expensive.

Another option is to install a ductless mini-split air conditioning unit. These devices are excellent for both heating and cooling your garage. Most of them have an option to pair with your smart home system. Which means you can control them with a thermostat or an app on your smartphone.

Cost

The cost of setting up the laundry room in your garage is also an important consideration. You will have to hire a plumber to connect your washing machine to a plumbing line, and then set up new drain lines for the washer and dryer. Depending on where the machines are placed, you may need an electrician to fix a new electrical socket outlet.

There will be additional costs for cabinets, hangers, a sink, and any essentials you require. Depending on the garage’s situation, you may also need garage vents, insulation or air conditioner, and more.

These are just a few examples, but I think it helps make my point. These are all considerations you need to make.

Conclusion

There are very good reasons for adding a laundry room in the garage. It will free up space in the living area and reduce laundry noise. Also, pipes and washing machine leaks won’t cause problems. The downside, however, is, garages can be extremely hot or cold, and it can contribute to a musty smell in the garage.