Why Two Washing Machines Might Not Solve Your Laundry Problem (And What Will)

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I’m writing this post right after Tisha B’Av, when the laundry piles are usually reaching impressive heights! And honestly, it only reinforces my opinion on what makes an ideal laundry room.

I speak to people every day who are planning a new home, renovating, or designing their laundry room. Almost everyone tells me the same thing: if they have the space and budget, they’re adding two washing machines and two dryers.

The thinking is simple: “If I can wash twice as much at once, my laundry problem is solved!”

And I completely understand the logic. For large families, especially, laundry can feel never-ending. More machines seem like the obvious solution. Two loads at once means half the time… right?

But here’s where I think the conversation needs to go a little deeper.

Let’s talk about what actually happens on laundry day.

You have two washing machines running at the same time. Amazing! About an hour later, both loads are ready to move to the next step.

But here’s the thing: most of us don’t simply throw everything into the dryer. A large portion of our laundry needs to be hung to dry. Dresses, shirts, skirts, nicer clothing… many of these items need more gentle care.

So you separate the loads:

• Dryer items go into the dryer (towels, linens, socks, underwear, etc.)

• Hang-to-dry items get placed into a pile waiting for their turn

And suddenly, you’re left with a very large pile of clothing that needs hanging space.

That brings me to the real question: Do you have enough space to hang everything?

The average delicate load needs approximately 4 feet of hanging space to dry properly (and usually needs close to 24 hours before it’s ready to be worn again).

On a typical laundry day in my house, I need around 12 feet of hanging space — that’s about three loads worth.

Now here’s where the two dryers don’t quite solve the whole problem.

The dryer load will be finished in about an hour. The clothing that needs to hang? That still needs its time.

So while two dryers can definitely speed up the items that belong in the dryer, they don’t help the part of laundry that often takes the longest: the drying space.

In fact, sometimes the extra machines take away valuable wall space that could have been used for hanging areas.

So am I saying don’t install two washers and dryers? Not at all! If you have the space and it works for your family, it can absolutely be helpful.

My point is just this: don’t assume double machines are the magic solution. When planning a laundry room, prioritize hanging space just as much — if not more.

Here are a few things I think make a huge difference:

1. Plenty of hanging space

Think rods, pull-down drying racks, wall-mounted drying systems, or hangers with clips that allows clothing to dry properly.

2. One of my favorite laundry room additions is a dehumidifier.

Many laundry rooms don’t have great ventilation and that can make clothing take much longer to dry. If you don’t have windows that open or excellent airflow, a dehumidifier can be a game changer. It literally pulls moisture out of the air and helps clothes dry faster.

In my humble opinion, this can be one of the best laundry room investments you make.

I’m not against two machines. I think they can be wonderful. I just don’t think they are always the answer to laundry overwhelm.

Because here’s the reality: it’s 8:17 Friday morning, right after Tisha B’Av, and I’m almost finished washing my laundry.

But the items that need to hang? They still have a long way to go. They need to hang over Shabbos, and many of them will still need ironing before they’re ready to wear.

So… am I really almost done?

Need help?

Do you need help designing and planning your new laundry room? I can help you design a space thats efficient and maximizes your space. I’ve seen literally 100s of laundry rooms of all sizes and budgets and I can help you make one that best suits you. Reach out to me to schedule your consultation.

Happy laundry day! 😊

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