Putting in a Laundry Chute? Here's All You Need to Know
Thinking a laundry chute might change your life? You could be right. Here's the lowdown on putting one in
Georgia Madden
29 December 2021
If you’re tired of of lugging endless piles of washing up and down the stairs, a laundry chute that deposits clothes straight to your laundry could be the sanity-saver you’re looking for. But how complicated is it to put one in, can you install one after you’ve built, and what do they actually cost? We asked two design experts to come clean.
Is a laundry chute worth it?
“Having a laundry chute is a huge time- and effort-saver, especially if you have kids,” says Ellen Thomas, interior designer at smarter BATHROOMS+.
“Having a laundry chute is a huge time- and effort-saver, especially if you have kids,” says Ellen Thomas, interior designer at smarter BATHROOMS+.
“Having a laundry chute in your home is becoming more of a necessity than the luxury it once was, especially in larger or multi-level dwellings where all those little annoying tasks and chores can add up to a whole lot of boring,” says Andrew Jhavery, managing director and founder of Ark Joinery.
“Enter the laundry chute – one of the most underrated and practical additions you can make to your home, if planned and executed properly,” he says.
“Enter the laundry chute – one of the most underrated and practical additions you can make to your home, if planned and executed properly,” he says.
“If done correctly, a laundry chute is a simple and unnoticeable addition that makes the menial task of gathering dirty clothes from the family easy. Life’s hard enough without needing to worry about the additional logistics of carrying 4.5 kilograms of sweaty clothes from floor to floor. Put ’em in a chute and away you go,” says Jhavery.
Keen to put in a laundry chute? Find a cabinetmaker near you on Houzz
Keen to put in a laundry chute? Find a cabinetmaker near you on Houzz
What do you need to install a laundry chute?
“You’ll need the space required for the entry to the chute, which could be on a wall, part of a low bench or built into the end of an entertainment unit or bench seat,” says Thomas.
“The laundry doesn’t need to be right underneath it, but it does need to be close enough that there isn’t too sharp an angle that washing can get stuck on its way down,” she says.
“You’ll need the space required for the entry to the chute, which could be on a wall, part of a low bench or built into the end of an entertainment unit or bench seat,” says Thomas.
“The laundry doesn’t need to be right underneath it, but it does need to be close enough that there isn’t too sharp an angle that washing can get stuck on its way down,” she says.
“The laundry will need a dedicated space for the items to land and exit the chute. Sometimes the chute just exits via the ceiling or comes out from a wall, and there is space for a basket to sit directly underneath it. Sometimes the chute goes directly into a cabinet so you open the door and the laundry has piled up – similar to a dumb waiter,” says Thomas.
Browse more images of lovely laundries on Houzz
Browse more images of lovely laundries on Houzz
A laundry chute built into a bathroom floor.
“You also need to think about how the chute is going to be used,” says Jhavery. “Does the start of the chute need to be low for the kids to access it? Does it meet safety regulations in terms of size and materials? Does it need to be angled to meet a certain end point?
“These things should always be planned well, drawn accurately on CAD and rendered in full before you proceed. You need to ensure you are completely satisfied with the plan before any work begins or it could end in disappointment,” he says.
“You also need to think about how the chute is going to be used,” says Jhavery. “Does the start of the chute need to be low for the kids to access it? Does it meet safety regulations in terms of size and materials? Does it need to be angled to meet a certain end point?
“These things should always be planned well, drawn accurately on CAD and rendered in full before you proceed. You need to ensure you are completely satisfied with the plan before any work begins or it could end in disappointment,” he says.
How complex is it to add one if you’re building or renovating?
“It’s not complicated if the planning is done correctly,” says Jhavery. “It’s one of those seemingly simple-from-the-outside type of jobs. But, like anything, cheap and nasty is going to end in heartache and missing clothes. A poorly operating chute will become a punish quicker than you can say ‘Where’re my pants, Mum?’
“Chute mechanisms, chute size, angle of chute delivery and internal materials are all really important factors, which is why you want someone experienced doing the work,” he says.
“It’s not complicated if the planning is done correctly,” says Jhavery. “It’s one of those seemingly simple-from-the-outside type of jobs. But, like anything, cheap and nasty is going to end in heartache and missing clothes. A poorly operating chute will become a punish quicker than you can say ‘Where’re my pants, Mum?’
“Chute mechanisms, chute size, angle of chute delivery and internal materials are all really important factors, which is why you want someone experienced doing the work,” he says.
“With renovating, it’s a bit more complex as you don’t have the advantage of planning the home from scratch around elements like a laundry chute – you have to work with what you’ve got,” says Thomas.
“That being said, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done just because the chute needs to come from or go to an area of the home that’s not as convenient as straight from a hallway to the laundry. A chute will always save time and increase ease, so installing one is always worth considering,” she says.
“That being said, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done just because the chute needs to come from or go to an area of the home that’s not as convenient as straight from a hallway to the laundry. A chute will always save time and increase ease, so installing one is always worth considering,” she says.
Can you retrofit a laundry chute?
“Yes you can, but it can cost a bomb,” says Jhavery. “And just like anything, what you pay will depend on many factors because every home and situation is varied.
“It is definitely more complicated and difficult to retrofit a chute compared to putting one into a new build or renovation, purely because there could be structural work or modifications required to make it work,” he says.
“Yes you can, but it can cost a bomb,” says Jhavery. “And just like anything, what you pay will depend on many factors because every home and situation is varied.
“It is definitely more complicated and difficult to retrofit a chute compared to putting one into a new build or renovation, purely because there could be structural work or modifications required to make it work,” he says.
A laundry chute concealed in a bench seat.
“Whether it’s worth it depends on the layout of your house, the laundry cabinetry set-up and your budget. Planning an inclusion like a laundry chute into a renovation or new build from the start is the way to save headaches,” says Thomas.
“Whether it’s worth it depends on the layout of your house, the laundry cabinetry set-up and your budget. Planning an inclusion like a laundry chute into a renovation or new build from the start is the way to save headaches,” says Thomas.
Roughly what should you expect to pay?
“Depending on the situation, you may need a builder or engineer to determine if anything structural needs to be modified to make it work first,” says Jhavery. “Generally for a chute that runs between levels with no structural modifications, you would be looking at a minimum of $10,000 to $15,000.
“If you are renovating your entire home and it is part of a joinery package, it would obviously be much more cost-effective,” he says.
“Depending on the situation, you may need a builder or engineer to determine if anything structural needs to be modified to make it work first,” says Jhavery. “Generally for a chute that runs between levels with no structural modifications, you would be looking at a minimum of $10,000 to $15,000.
“If you are renovating your entire home and it is part of a joinery package, it would obviously be much more cost-effective,” he says.
Does the opening of the laundry chute need to be directly above your laundry?
“No – we’ve installed straight chutes, angled chutes, even commercial chutes into homes,” says Jhavery.
“No – we’ve installed straight chutes, angled chutes, even commercial chutes into homes,” says Jhavery.
How do you like to finish a laundry chute?
“I take my cues from the space and the overall feel the client is going for,” says Thomas. “I love a pull-out basket concept for ease of use and to maintain the style of the space as it can be done to look like a tall cabinet.
“If you’re going for a Hamptons look, it can be nice to have the basket on display and choose something woven and beautiful.
“For a modern laundry, having it all streamlined and hidden away would work better,” she says.
“I take my cues from the space and the overall feel the client is going for,” says Thomas. “I love a pull-out basket concept for ease of use and to maintain the style of the space as it can be done to look like a tall cabinet.
“If you’re going for a Hamptons look, it can be nice to have the basket on display and choose something woven and beautiful.
“For a modern laundry, having it all streamlined and hidden away would work better,” she says.
Any tips for success?
“Add it in during the planning stages,” says Thomas. “A laundry chute changes a lot of things around it, so the earlier you add it in, the less you’ll have to redesign other areas of the home around it and potentially end up disappointed.
“And if you don’t consider it until later, just keep in mind that it’s not like changing a door handle – it will have a major impact on the overall design,” she says.
“Add it in during the planning stages,” says Thomas. “A laundry chute changes a lot of things around it, so the earlier you add it in, the less you’ll have to redesign other areas of the home around it and potentially end up disappointed.
“And if you don’t consider it until later, just keep in mind that it’s not like changing a door handle – it will have a major impact on the overall design,” she says.
“If your gut doesn’t feel right with the tradesperson you’re talking to, hold off. I can’t tell you how many times clients come to us after a disaster has occurred. Save your time and energy and do a little bit more research until you are really ready and happy to move forward,” says Jhavery.
“Also make sure you are dealing with a company that has the experience and capacity to help you properly. Some people might be great at installing, but have no manufacturing, design and planning capabilities,” he says.
“Also make sure you are dealing with a company that has the experience and capacity to help you properly. Some people might be great at installing, but have no manufacturing, design and planning capabilities,” he says.
Your turn
Have you got a laundry chute – and does it make life easier? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on laundries? Check out this story: 6 Unbreakable Design Rules for Planning a Laundry
Have you got a laundry chute – and does it make life easier? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on laundries? Check out this story: 6 Unbreakable Design Rules for Planning a Laundry
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We had one in a house that was over 100 years old when I was a kid, very handy for my Mum, with 5 kids. When we purchased our current home (no kids) there was one in the linen cupboard but it was on the floor, so we moved it to the master WIR. but it needs to be at least 1m or more from the floor to stop kids falling in to it. Comes out at the laundry ceiling with a basket underneath. Perfect.
We had a laundry chute installed during a reno two years ago. Even with a fantastic 'can do' builder it was hard to find a chute door to suit the look of the bathroom working with the small space available. We ended up using a Recyclit hydraulic stainless steel door (normally used for garbage chutes) and even though it is a bit small it does the trick. I don't feed the king size sheets down it but everything else works easily. At the laundry end he
created a catch cupboard above the bench, it looks great and is functional, We were lucky to have a innovative builder who loved a challenge.
Back in the 70s we moved into a house with steep narrow stairs. Chute was square hole cut out of floor of linen closet directly outside small only bathroom & directly above laundry. 5 kids & lots of wet towels so worked well. My baby sister says my brother & I dropped her down it onto a pile of washing but have no memory of doing that 🙈 My current house has bathroom above laundry but due to thick concrete floor was too costly to retrofit with chute when we renovated. New house is being designed around a laundry chute in hall linen closet directly outside guest bedrooms & main bathroom with laundry placed downstairs to fit upstairs chute placement.