15 November 2023 , 11:03
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In the US and most of Europe, washing machines are placed in the basement, bathroom, or separate utility rooms depending on the size and layout of the house. However, in most UK households, they are normally found in the kitchen, owing to a ban on electrical plug sockets in British bathrooms, which are usually too tiny to accommodate a washing machine.
An inquisitive American took to Quora to ask, “Why do British people put their washing machines in the kitchen?” To which Brits and Americans had some pretty funny responses. One Brit wrote: “I tried putting it in my bedroom but it was hard to sleep. And it looks stupid next to the TV. Doesn't fit in the toilet.
Look this is the UK. We have small but solidly built houses that probably were built a hundred years before the washing machine existed. The kitchen is the most sensible place we can put it.” Another said: “My experience of America was that most houses have basements, where you found the washing machine. Basements are not that common in the UK.”
An American living in the UK gave their view: “Because there is rarely a basement. I’m a Canuck living in the UK and it hate having the washing machine in the kitchen. The kitchen should be for cooking (and potentially eating) - not a place to keep laundry detergent chemicals close to foodstuffs.
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"I suggested once to a [British] friend that maybe they should consider digging out a basement (not full size of the ground floor, but an alcove of sorts for the laundry and storage) - the shock this caused, it was if I suggested I slaughter cats.”
A UK professional chimed in to give a more technical explanation: “British plumber here. We put washing machines in the kitchen because we have always put it in the kitchen, right next to the water supply, waste pipe, and power. If the property had a suitable utility room, then it might be installed there, but as the majority of British homes and flats aren't designed with utility rooms, that probably explains why the British install their washing machines in the kitchen.”
One more Brit added another reason: “Our bathrooms are usually upstairs, and quite small. Kitchens are usually on the ground floor, and as washing machines are heavy, it makes sense not to lug them upstairs if you don’t have to. Most homes aren’t big enough to have utility rooms.
Kitchens already have the accessories you need - a water supply, drainage and electricity.” An American commenter shed light on the fact this is common practice in US cities where space is scarce: “I assume for the same reasons that NYC apartment dwellers put washing machines in their kitchens (when the building allows).
That’s where you find pipes to bring in and take away water, as well as electric lines, so that means a lot less labour and cost.” Another ex-New Yorker living in Britain agreed: “I grew up in NYC. Our washing machine was in our kitchen. I recently moved from a big house to a smaller apartment in the UK. The kitchen is tiny. Happily, there is a utility room with a washing machine."