Ella Stewart Care
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Ella's Story
    • Our Caregivers
  • Services
    • Care
    • Live-in
    • Management
    • Our Care Guarantee
  • Contact
  • Info
    • Service Area
    • Blogs
  • Apply
  • Employee Portal
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Ella's Story
    • Our Caregivers
  • Services
    • Care
    • Live-in
    • Management
    • Our Care Guarantee
  • Contact
  • Info
    • Service Area
    • Blogs
  • Apply
  • Employee Portal

Aging in Place by Room - Part 49 - Laundry Room Cabinets, Shelving, & Countertops

6/11/2020

1 Comment

 
By Anna Hazard
Laundry Room Shelving Picture

Introduction

Storage within a laundry room layout meant for aging in place should focus on safety, easy accessibility, and on lowering the amount of effort required to complete each task. Cabinets and countertops should be carefully located within close proximity to the room's appliances for easy transfer of laundry without hampering movement or maneuverability.

If cabinets or other storage & work areas are located too far away from the washing machine or dryer than shifting clothing and other laundry items will become more onerous & require more physical strength. In counterpoint, an awkwardly close placement may end up blocking access to the appliances, walkway, or otherwise end up impeding movement (particularly if the user is maneuvering with a mobility aid).
 
Otherwise cabinets, counters, and other storage places for commonly used laundry items (such as detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, iron & ironing board) should be placed within easy reach of the location where they will be used and at a level that will not require the user to bend over or reach above their heads.
Laundry Cabinets & Shelving Picture
Available at The RTA Store

Cabinets & Shelving

The less maneuvering required during the various steps of cleaning the laundry, the safer is the chore and less likely to cause strain on the user. Thus, it would be optimal to have cabinets or other shelving between or next to the washing machine & dryer for easy access to necessary items such as detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets while doing the laundry.

​If a base cabinet won't fit or otherwise isn't available in the area, then fold-down, collapsible, or roll out shelves & counters can be installed instead that can be used to temporarily store items while they are in use and then collapsed and stored out of the way once the task is completed.

Height & Specifications
 

For safety & accessibility reasons upper cabinets should be installed at least  3" lower than the conventional height (closer to the 48" height recommended by the ADA) for easier use by those in wheelchairs & others who may have trouble reaching upwards.

​In addition spills & other accidents are less likely to occur on shelves that are closer to the floor level (with said spills also less likely to land on the user in contrast to higher overhead shelves). Thus, frequently used items should always be stored on the shelves with easiest access with the upper shelves reserved for more rarely needed things.
 
Shelving Options

Otherwise, roll-out trays, pull down shelves, and lazy susans are more accessible versions of shelving that can be installed within the base cabinetry. For higher cabinets, pull down shelves are recommended to place items within easier reach while pull-out shelves are recommended for lower shelves that may otherwise require bending or stooping to access.

​Other options include adjustable or open shelving (with no doors) for easier access. If shelving with doors is installed, then the handles should be switched over to D-shaped pull handles which are easier on arthritic hands than rounded knobs.


Laundry Room Countertop Picture
Available at Cabinets by C & F

Countertops

Within the laundry room there should be available counter space that is accessible while both seated and standing. This space will be needed for folding & sorting laundry and can also be used for ironing as well as providing a space to hold other frequently used items such as detergent.

Height, Specifications, & Layout

 
The counter height should either be adjustable or available at varying heights in order to make certain that everyone within the household will have easy access to at least one counter space without the need to stretch or bend over.

The ADA recommends a 
standard height of 36" with knee space beneath of at least 30" wide x 27" tall so that a person could be comfortably seated directly at the counter. More optimally, the laundry room would have a counter work surface at 30" tall (for those seated) and 42" tall (for those standing normally).

Otherwise, counters should be carefully positioned so they do not block access to the door, to the washer & dryer, or otherwise encroach into the path through the laundry room. Popular placements would include across the top of the washer & dryer as well as  
having a standalone counter away from the entrance door and against a wall that is close to the dryer (for ease of use when folding laundry or ironing).
 
Material, Surface, & Other Options


The counter itself should be made from a smooth & waterproof material such as solid surface, quartz, engineered stone, or sealed wood. Popular & inexpensive laminate countertops are not recommended due to their lack of durability tending to require maintenance & repair within a few years after installation.

​Quartz countertops and other engineered stones are recommended for those with enough budget as they are highly durable with a suitable surface for dealing with wet or dry laundry. Moisture sealed wood countertops are a more economical option.


It's also recommended that the counter top have rounded edges with a soft material on its surface to help reduce potential injuries caused by bumping or falling against it. A soft covering made of heat resistant fabric would also make the counter top more suitable as an ironing board replacement.

In addition, the counter should be a different color from the floor and walls with a distinct accent color on it's edge to help those with visual problems maneuver around it.
The overall structure should also be sturdy enough to be able to support a person's weight (in case the user ends up bracing themselves against it during a fall or accident).

View the Rest of the Series

Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Exterior
Part 3 - Landscaping & Gardens
Part 4 -  Patio,  Porch, & Deck
Part 5 - Garage & Carports

Part 6 - Entrances, Exits, & Thresholds
Part 7 - Exterior Steps & Ramps
Part 8 - Threshold Lighting & Windows

Part 9 - Interior Doors & Halls
Part 10 - Interior Steps & Staircases
Part 11 - Interior Stairlifts

Part 12 - Interior Elevators
Part 13 - Interior Lighting
Part 14 - General Interior Flooring
Part 15 - Interior Flooring Comparisons
Part 16 - HVAC & Energy Efficiency

Part 17 - Power, Communications, & Other Interior Systems
Part 18 - Living Room
Part 19 - Kitchen Layout, HVAC, & Electrical Systems
Part 20 - Kitchen Lighting, Flooring, and Sink Faucets

Part 21 - Kitchen Countertops & Cabinets
Part 22 - 
Kitchen Refrigerators, Freezers, and Dishwashers
Part 23 - 
Kitchen Ovens, Ranges, Stovetops, and Cooktops
Part 24 - Kitchen 
Microwaves, Blenders, & Food Processors
Part 25 - 
Miscellaneous Kitchen Items
Part 26 - Dining Room Layout, Tables, & Other Furniture
Part 27 - Dining Room Flooring, Lighting, & Meal Serving Equipment
Part 28 - Bedroom Layout & Closets
Part 29 - Accessible 
Beds 
Part 30 - Bedroom Furniture, Electronics, & Other Accessories
Part 31 - Bedroom Flooring
​
Part 32 - Bedroom Lighting
Part 33 - Bathroom General Layout
Part 34 - Bathroom General Tips for Showers & Tubs
Part 35 - Bathroom Accessible Tubs
Part 36 - Bathroom Accessible Showers

Part 37 - Bathroom Accessible Toilets
Part 38 - Bathroom Sinks & Vanities

Part 39 - Bathroom Cabinets & Shelving
Part 40 - Bathroom Grab Bars
Part 41 - Bathroom Flooring
Part 42 - Bathroom Lighting
Part 43 - Bathroom Ableware - Toilet Aids & General Accessibility
Part 44 - Bathroom Ableware - Shower, Bathing, & Grooming Aids
Part 45 - Laundry Room Location, Layout, & Spacing
Part 46 - Laundry Room Carts, Rolling Hampers, & Chutes
Part 47 - Laundry Room Dumbwaiters
​Part 48 - Laundry Appliances (Washers & Dryers)

Part 49 - Laundry Room Cabinets, Shelving, & Countertops
Part 50 - Laundry Room Storage & Organization

Part 51 - Laundry Sinks, Lighting, & Flooring
1 Comment
Steam Team Auto Spa link
2/10/2023 11:18:34 am

Thanks for sharing!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About

    News updates, tips, and guides on senior care, senior health, stress relief and a host of other caregiving related topics from the professionals at Ella Stewart Care.

    RSS Feed

Picture
Home | Services |  Caregivers | Blog  | Contact us| Facebook