Are Laundry Pedestals Worth It?

Laundry pedestals, which raise your washer and dryer off the ground, are definitely worth considering for your home. While they come with an added cost compared to a traditional laundry setup sitting directly on the floor, pedestals offer a number of benefits that can make them a valuable investment over time.

Increased Comfort and Convenience

One of the biggest perks of laundry pedestals is the more comfortable access they provide. Bending down to load and unload a low-sitting washer and dryer means stooping, stretching, and potential back strain, especially the lower they sit. With a pedestal setup, you gain the following comfort and convenience factors:

Easier Loading/Unloading

Raising your machines cuts down tremendously on how much you need to bend and reach to access them. This prevents back, hip, and knee pain from repetitive leaning and squatting movements doing laundry.

Improved Accessibility

A pedestal washer/dryer setup provides better accessibility for those with mobility issues or conditions like arthritis or pregnancy that make it painful or difficult to bend down low.

Storage Space

Many laundry pedestals come with built-in storage drawers to keep laundry essentials close by yet out of the way. This means no more rummaging around elsewhere for what you need.

Improved Functionality and Performance

In addition to offering ergonomic benefits, laundry pedestals also provide functionality improvements over traditional floor units:

Elevates Your Machines

Raising your washer and dryer improves draining and drying performance by elevating the units for more optimal operation. This also decreases issues with leaks, mold, or odors.

Sturdier Operation

Having your washer and dryer coupled atop a laundry pedestal setup lends extra stability. This helps minimize disruptive vibration during spin cycles.

Flexible Customization

Pedestals are available in a choice of heights and configurations to perfectly suit your space and needs. Opt for drawers, open shelves, or mixing different arrangements between your washer and dryer pedestal.

Enhanced Style Potential

A final advantage of laundry pedestals is the aesthetic appeal they lend a laundry room or closet. As these functional perks show, pedestals provide ample practical upside. However, they also serve as chic design elements offering:

Sleek, Built-In Look

The clean sightlines of a washer and dryer perched atop matching pedestals looks elegant and integrated compared to bulky machines parked on the floor.

Coordinated Style

Stylish pedestal finishes like glossy white, warm wood tones, or matte black allow coordinating with your main laundry appliances for a pulled together look.

Multi-Purpose Utility

Besides tieing your laundry zone beautifully together, pedestals also work great around sinks, stoves/ovens, and more to elevate visual interest and functionality throughout your home.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

While the list of positives makes a fairly convincing case for installing laundry pedestals, a few potential cons to weigh include:

• Added upfront cost
• Eating up floor space in smaller laundry areas
• Difficulty accessing plumbing/electrical connections for repairs
• Can make moving bulky appliances trickier

However, for most households, the ergonomic comfort, performance optimization, and style merits handily outweigh the downsides. And keep in mind that over years of facilitating easier laundry duty, the initial price tag on pedestals pays dividends in preventing injury or joint pain.

Helpful Buying Tips

Sold on the idea of upgrading to laundry pedestals? Use these pointers while shopping:

Measure Carefully

• Confirm ceiling height to ensure pedestals will fit properly
• Measure alcoves/doorways to guarantee clearance moving them in

Mind the Gap

• Account for fill/drain hoses stretching between laundry units and hookups

Coordinate Capacities

• Match pedestal storage size to laundry needs (more drawers offer expansive room for supplies)

Comparison Shop

• Weigh prices between buying pedestals bundled with laundry appliances vs. stand-alone
• Factor in variables like materials (metal vs wood) and feature differences (drawers vs shelves)

The Bottom Line

While no home necessity comes cheap, dispensing a bit more for a laundry pedestal setup returns worthwhile dividends in terms of better ergonomics and performance. Once you ease the physical strain of laundry duty and streamline functionality raising your appliances off the floor, the initial outlay on pedestals proves money well spent. Your back and body feel the relief over extended use, while your laundry zone operates more smoothly and looks cohesive. For most homeowners ready to replace aging washers and dryers, upgrading to pedestals makes excellent sense.

References

Maytag. “Are Laundry Pedestals Necessary?” https://www.maytag.com/blog/washers-and-dryers/are-laundry-pedestals-necessary/ Accessed 17 Jan 2023.

Whirlpool. “Are Laundry Pedestals Worth It? Pros and Cons”. https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/washers-and-dryers/are-laundry-pedestals-worth-it-pros-and-cons.html Accessed 17 Jan 2023.