Laundry Sinks and Laundry Tubs

Old laundry rooms are often the most poorly designed rooms in the home. This is why laundry room remodels are among the fast-growing areas of home improvement out there. Laundry sinks and tubs, in particular, can be useful if they aren't located in dank basements that make the laundry area inhospitable for much other than scrambling back and forth for basic laundry needs.

On the other hand, large laundry tubs are often unnecessary in contemporary homes. One of the things you can do if you're remodeling your laundry room is remove your old laundry tub for a more manageable and useful laundry sink. In either case, here are some things to consider with tubs, sinks, and getting the most from your laundry room.

Laundry Tub Installation
Perhaps the most common problem with laundry tubs is that, although homeowners want one, there's often poor drainage or no plumbing to accommodate one. It's not an easy problem to fix, but it's hardly impossible. When feasible, the most reliable solution is to tear up the floor and install a new laundry drain and plumbing. If this isn't a possibility, below-grade and above-grade tanks and sump pumps are another option.

Along with installing a new laundry tub, these plumbing options may also enable you to move your laundry area upstairs. First floor laundry rooms are naturally warmer, more inviting places to do your laundry and eliminate the need to climb stairs while carrying a large amount of clothes.

Laundry Sinks
If you're choosing a sink for your laundry room, you'll need to decide what type of sink you want and what you'll use it for. Even if you don't need a large laundry tub, an indoor utility sink will still allow you to hand-wash any laundry items that you need. Smaller, more traditional sinks are still great for laundry rooms. You can wash your hands, rinse out measuring cups and other laundry supplies, and clean the laundry room itself. Small sinks will also help your laundry room remain uncluttered, increase your storage space, make room for plants or a portable CD player, but still give you basic washing capabilities.

Laundry Sink Accessories
Almost as important as the sink itself is what you do with it. A simple sink basin can be helpful, but including a towel rack, under sink shelving, and/or a soap dispenser will make your laundry sink a truly valuable asset to your laundry room. While laundry room decorating isn't the biggest priority for laundry room remodels, towels and shelves can make a plain basin a more pleasing laundry room fixture. These accessories can be part of the laundry sink installation or they can be added to your current sink.