Washers, Dryers, and Utility Spaces for the Accessible Home

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10

If ambient noise is not a problem, save needless trips to the hamper by placing the washer and dryer in the bathroom. The bathroom lavatory can be used for touch-ups and the counter for clothes sorting. Install an ironing board that swivels out from under the counter, drops down from the wall, or pulls out of a drawer. Portable ironing boards are awkward for most people to set up, and they are bulky to store.

Most children, wheelchair users, and adults of shorter stature cannot reach the bottom of a top-loading washer. The most universal solution is one front-loading machine which serves as both the washer and the dryer. Front-loading machines improve reach and also make it easier to lift wet and heavy clothes. Side-hinged doors allow a closer approach for a seated user than bottom-hinged doors. Choose appliances with doors mounted 15 to 34 in a.f.f.

An existing top-loading washer can be recessed in the floor to improve reach. Be sure to install a drain in the recessed area, because an overflow can harm the motor. A stacking washer and dryer may be especially helpful for users who have difficulty bending.

If small items are still out of reach, wash them in a zippered mesh bag that can be lifted out of the washer or dryer with tongs. A retractable clothesline or wall-mounted hanger over the bathtub is also helpful in handling clothes, and a pull-out basket under a counter to be used as a hamper.

Specify a dryer with the lint filter on the side or front, not in back. Look for models with the controls on the front as well. Touch controls are easier to use but may be too accessible to children. Raised labels can be used on controls marking the start of each cycle. Some manufacturers have control covers in Braille or large lettering. Most washers and dryers are also equipped with bells or buzzers which serve to redundantly cue the completion of the cycle.

Note: a.f.f. = above finished floor

Excerpted from Beautiful Universal Design: A Visual Guide, Cynthia Leibrock and James Evan Terry, John Wiley & Sons, 1999; Used With Permission. © Cynthia Leibrock and James Evan Terry.