b'The laundry, although unglamorous, is an important partyour clothes than top-loaders. They also tend to use lessResene SpaceCote of the home; its function often far broader than justwater and energy, and can take a dryer stacked on top.Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom with silver cleaning clothes. For many households, the laundry isHowever, Sue says, we have a long-running love affairprotection and where we store the gardening gear, the sewing machine,with the top-loader. These tend to wash faster, and itsMoulDefender is ideal for laundries to protect or the recycling bins. Its where we wash the dog, keepvery easy to quickly lift the lid and add that extra shirt.against bacteria the beer fridge and arrangeowers. Most people buy 5.5kg machines, but for mid-size toand mould.For one household in Northland, its where theyllet thelarger families, you should consider a bigger model. It is also important to consider ducting when designingsh, says Sue Gillbanks, director of Kitchens by Design.They went for a Corian benchtop because its seamless andthe layout of your laundrythe water for the washing extends up the wall, making cleaning simple, she says. machine and the air from the dryer have to go somewhere. If possible, your dryer should be vented outside. If thats The key to getting your laundry to work for you is to decidenot possible, choose a condenser dryer.what youll be using it for before you begin. For many people, space is an issue and the laundry simply consists of a washing machine and dryer tucked away in a cupboard inFor long, clean lines, and increased bench the kitchen or bathroom. For others, the laundry needs tospace, you could consider choosing a be that larger multi-purpose utility room. front-loading washing machine.Begin by writing a list of the uses and appliances youre after: Washing machine and dryer, of course, a tub orIn a regular tumble dryer, air is drawn from the surrounding two, or maybe a butlers sink. Sue recommends choosingroom, then heated and blown through the clothes as the a pull-out tap for your laundry tubtheyre especiallydrum tosses them about. This hot air evaporates some of helpful if yourelling large vases or shampooing pets. the water in the damp fabrics, and the resultant moisture-Do you have room for an ironing board or press? Anladen air is then exhausted through a vent duct to the airing rack? How much storage space do you need foroutside. If the air isnt vented outside, youll have to open clean and dirty washing, and will you store your spareall your windows while the dryer is working, to prevent linen in the laundry? Many people have a second fridgesteaming up the house and creating mildew problems.or a freezer in their laundry too, and larger spaces mayIn a condenser dryer, air from within the drum is heated, even include a sewing area. then blown through the tumbling clothes. The moisture-Once you know the full scope of the room, then its timeladen air is then passed through a heat exchanger, where to look at layout. And while it needs to be practical, youthe water recondenses and is drained away. The dry air is want it to look good too. Laundry baskets can pull out fromreheated, and again blown through the drum and clothes. integrated drawers, or you can choose a nice freestandingAn air-cooled condenser dryer releases a lot of hot air, but hamper. Whichever you select, just be certain you haveits dry air and wont fog up the windows. enough storage space for all your dirty washing. As anal tip, Sue says if youre mounting your dryer on For long, clean lines, and increased bench space, youthe wall, make sure its high enough to be able to open could consider choosing a front-loading washing machine.the lid on your top-loading washing machine. Dont set Tucked neatly away under the bench, front-loaders haveit too high, though, or you wont be able to reach that Resene the reputation of being gentler and taking better care oflast sock! Sweetwaters| 43'