Traditionally, washers and dryers are placed side by side in the laundry area. However, they can also be stacked to save space. This is especially appropriate for small apartment and condo dwellers as well as people who simply want to get more space out of their laundry room.

In homes where space is not an issue or a major consideration, washers and dryers are places side by side in the laundry room. But if you have limited space or you don’t have a laundry room, you can work around it by stacking these units. This is especially recommended if you live in a small apartment or condo, or if you simply want to free up space in your laundry room.

There are several ways to achieve this. Stackable washer dryer units come in two forms: one is an all-in-one unit called a laundry center and the other is stacking separate washer and dryer units. Combined washer-dryer units, where clothes are washed and dried in the same drum, are also available in the market.

A laundry center comes with a dryer on top of a washer, both front-loading. The controls of the dryer are at eye level and designed to be easy to reach. Compared to stand-alone units, laundry center models have fewer bells and whistles, so to speak, and while some models can easily fit a cabinet or can be placed in the kitchen, the capacity is limited.

When you buy a laundry center, you are basically getting the washer and dryer as a pair. But what if the quality of one unit is better than the other? What if the washer breaks down before the dryer (and vice versa) and cannot be repaired? It may not be cost effective for you to buy another laundry center when you have one unit (washer or dryer) still running.

You can opt to purchase separate washer and dryer units instead. The search may take longer, but you will be able to get the best possible combination for your needs. You are not tied to any particular capacity or feature or obligated to buy the same brand for the two appliances.

Unfortunately, only models marked as “stackable” can be safely set up in this manner. You will probably need to purchase a kit or supporting frame for washers and dryers to make the stack more stable. Also, you need to make sure that the combined height of the appliances does not make the dryer (which is usually on top) hard to reach.

If you are concerned with saving space and maintenance and replacement costs, a combined washer-dryer unit may be the answer. There is only one appliance to deal with, and many models either come with pre-programmed wash-rinse-dry cycles or can be programmed to handle clothes using the cycle that you specify. There is less variety for this kind of appliance, compared to stand-alone washers and dryers.

Wes Sims specializes in writing about refrigerators and other major appliances. It is important to read reviews and articles discussing appliances for your home like a washer, dryer, or other heavily used items so you know you are getting the best products.

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