Weigh all the factors before deciding if in-unit laundry is a must-have.
It’s no fun schlepping your laundry to and from a laundromat or even just up and down the stairs in your building. With time and travel costs added in, a place with an in-unit laundry — your very own washer and dryer — might become your top priority.
But an apartment with a washer and dryer within its four walls may be tough to find in some cities.
There are several ways to keep your clothes clean when you’re renting. Here’s a rundown on some options.
What does in-unit laundry mean?
In-unit laundry refers to just that: a washer and dryer, owned by the building, located in your very own rental unit. Generally, in-unit laundry is in a kitchen or bathroom, or in the bedroom (walk-in closets are a good place to hide them). You can use the washer and dryer whenever you want. You can leave your laundry in the washing machine to fester overnight and not have anyone but yourself to blame. No one will steal your things if you run out for coffee.
In-unit laundry pros
As with anything, there are pros and cons to having in-unit laundry facilities. Convenient access is one of the biggest arguments for in-unit laundry. You don’t have to leave your apartment or your apartment complex to wash and dry your clothes, which is particularly important if you have children. And being able to launder in place during the pandemic lockdown while you were sheltering in place was especially helpful.
Also, any costs incurred for energy use, water, etc., might all be rolled into your monthly rent so you don’t even notice.
In-unit laundry cons
Convenience costs. An apartment with an in-unit washer and dryer is going to mean you’ll pay more in rent. Los Angeles apartment dwellers pay about $325 a month for the privilege of washing their clothes in their apartment. In Philly, it’s $211 and in Seattle, only about $29.
If your electricity or gas is not rolled into your monthly rent and you pay separately, your bills will be higher if you have an in-unit option.
An in-unit washer and dryer can take up precious real estate or storage space. The last thing apartment dwellers want is less storage space.
You’ll also be responsible for using the machines as they’re intended, keeping the appliances clean and letting your landlord or property manager know if something goes awry. Check your lease agreement for the parameters of your responsibility for appliances.
Remember, there’s a difference between normal wear and tear and actual damage. With laundry, if a thermostat gives out in your dryer, that’s normal wear and tear. If you overload the machine and cause the dryer to stop working, that’s something that’s under your control, and the money to pay for that is going to come out of your pocket (or, if you’re moving, out of your security deposit).
What’s the difference between onsite and in-unit laundry?
If your apartment doesn’t have in-unit facilities, your building or complex might offer other options like onsite laundry facilities, in-building laundry facilities or hookups. (Don’t get excited — we’re not talking meet-cute laundry room rom-com.)
If your laundry room is on-site, that means there’s likely a spacious laundry room with washers and dryers waiting for you somewhere on the property. In an apartment community, these rooms may be in a separate, dedicated building.
If the shared laundry room is in-building, multiple washers and dryers are inside your apartment building, likely on a lower level or in another communal area. (The Multi-housing Laundry Association suggests buildings should have both a washer and dryer for every 10-20 units of “working adults.”)
Sometimes, you’ll see an apartment advertisement touting washer dryer hookups (or “connections”). This means there’s the possibility of in-unit laundry — if you bring your own appliances. The plumbing and wiring are already built-in and ready to install a washer/dryer.
Etiquette for washing clothes in a community laundry room
If you have to leave your apartment for some other part of your building to wash and dry your clothes in communal facilities, there are some rules to follow.
Keep an eye on your clothes
A wash cycle is 30 to 40 minutes and the dryer is anywhere from 50 minutes to an hour. If you leave the community laundry room, set a timer so you’re back in time.
Be clean
Wipe up any detergent spills, toss away dryer sheets and clean the lint screen after your clothes are dry.
Be patient
If someone has left their laundry in the washing machine, wait a few minutes for them to return. It’s a tough call to decide to move someone’s wash. Before you do so, check to see if there’s a written policy somewhere near the machines. If there isn’t one, and if the clothes owner hasn’t shown up after a reasonable waiting period, look for an empty basket and put their clothes into it.
Is it worth buying your own washer and dryer?
For more convenience, and if you have hookups in your apartment, you might consider purchasing your own appliances. Many companies make smaller, apartment-size or compact washers and dryers. You just have to have access to a power supply, water supply and venting hose. (Although there are non-venting dryers, they work very slowly and cost three or four times as much as a regular, vented machine.)
There are three other options when it comes to doing laundry in your own space. A portable washer (usually with a capacity of between 1.6 and 2.6 cubic feet) rolls out when you need it and is then connected to a sink or tub faucet.
While these machines can have significant costs, you can find some pretty inexpensive options (as low as $200) at places like Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes or Amazon. Pay attention to the capacity. A 1.6-cubic-foot machine will fit up to 11 pounds of dry clothing.
Stackable washer dryer options come in both front and top-loading machines. A standard size stackable washer is between 4.0 and 5.5 cubic feet and a standard size stackable dryer is between 7.0 and 8.0 cubic feet. While these may fit in a closet, you’ll lose a closet, which is tough when storage is so hard to come by. There are some compact models available.
Stackable units might run you $1,000 to $2,000. Be sure to book the service elevator if you live in an apartment building, and be prepared to pay $150 or so to have your unit installed.
Or, you could invest in a combination washer and dryer. You actually leave the wet clean clothes in the machine, which begins a drying cycle on its own. This appliance ranges from about $1,200 to $2,000.
Finally, if you don’t want to purchase laundry appliances, you could rent a washer and a dryer. But only rent these if you don’t plan on living in your apartment for very long. This is an expensive option.
Can you have in-unit laundry if there are no existing hookups?
Before you purchase a washer and dryer, you need to speak with your landlord or property manager. There’s always the potential for leakage (particularly in an older building that may have limited plumbing and water flow capacity) or possible fire hazards. Your landlord may have a few things to say about your purchase.
Be aware that if you do install something without your landlord’s knowledge you could be breaching the terms of your lease, and you risk eviction.
Is it cheaper to have in-unit laundry?
As mentioned, you’ll likely pay more to rent a space with in-unit laundry facilities. But if your building or complex doesn’t have laundry facilities at all and you have to go to a laundromat, you might save money on your laundry expenses.
According to The Simple Dollar, the average cost per load of laundry at a laundromat is between $3 and $4. That includes the cost of travel and the use of the machines. At home, each load costs between $2 and $3. (If you were to purchase your own standard washer and dryer, you’d have to factor in additional maintenance fees and possible hookup and disconnect fees if you move. You’d need to do about 600 loads of laundry to reap the return on your investment in the washer and dryer.)
Costs for doing a load of laundry in a community laundry room onsite might be anywhere from $1.50 to $4.00. You may have to pay in quarters or purchase a laundry card, but in some more modern facilities, you can use mobile apps to pay.
With no access to laundry services, you might find a wash, dry and fold service, which will run, on average, anywhere from $.90 to $3 a pound.
Ultimately, “cost” depends on your lifestyle and what you put a premium on. The cost of having in-unit laundry may outweigh the costs — tangible or not — of driving or taking public transportation to a laundromat or spending time heading to and from the laundry room.
Keeping your in-unit washer and dryer clean
If you’ve got your own in-unit laundry facility, you’ll have to make sure the washer and the dryer are kept clean for the sake of odors and mold and for safety. FEMA reports that each year, 2,900 home clothes dryer fires, causing an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries and $35 million in property loss.
While living in an apartment means you have less to clean than someone in a larger space, dust and odors are more noticeable.
A washing machine can throw off a heady, musty smell, especially if you use fabric softener. (Mold and bacteria love the residue it leaves on the inside of the machine.) You’ll need to clean it every now and then. Do so by running the heaviest load cycle and letting the machine fill with hot water. You might even take a few minutes to clean out the water supply lines to get rid of any sediment.
Depending on the size of your machine, pour in a cup to a quart of white vinegar and a cup to a quart of baking soda. Let it sit for an hour then finish the cycle, and then run another hot water rinse. This will help clean the interior and get rid of odors, mildew and accidental mold growth.
After each use, leave the door open so your machine can dry out. This can help keep mold, mildew and odors in check.
As for the dryer, you need to monitor built-up lint. Clean the dryer’s lint trap every time you use the machine. Clogged dryer vents can lead to lint build-up and are a fire hazard. But every time you remove the lint trap for cleaning, lots of dust will settle in the area. If you dampen the lint before cleaning the trap, you can keep down the particles. Have a vacuum handy to pick up any stray particles.
If you live in your apartment for a few years, have your landlord check and clean out the exhaust vents.
How do I find an apartment with in-unit laundry facilities?
Once you weigh all the factors and determine what’s best for your lifestyle, use Rent.com to search for apartments and click on the filters for “Washer/Dryer In Unit” or “W/D Connections.”
Source: rent.com