Unfortunately, I have a top-loading washing machine. I should have invested in a new or used front-loading machine years ago. For the past nine years, I’ve used a long-handled reacher to retrieve clothes from the washer and put them into the dryer. I also use the reacher to get clothes out of the back of the dryer. I’m sure that the investment in a front-loading washing machine would have given me more efficiency on laundry day.
For my new home, the Universal Design Living Laboratory (www.udil.com), I have selected a front loading washer and dryer, the Whirlpool (www.insideadvantage.com) Duet Spot with a 10” pedestal underneath. This pedestal will allow these appliances to be set at a higher level that will be more convenient for me to use from a seated position. When I went shopping for a new washer and dryer, I approached each machine and evaluated how easy it would be to reach all the control knobs, soap dispenser and lint filter. Not all front loading washers and dryers are created equal.
When you purchase a washer and dryer set, be aware of the door hinge locations. It is best when the appliance on the left side has the hinge on the left side of the door. It is also best when the appliance on the right side has the hinge on the right side of the door. This will allow you more efficiency when transferring clothes from the washer to the dryer.
On laundry day you need to have someplace to hang clothing that you remove from the dryer. There are many brackets on the market that you can attach to your walls at a convenient height for you to reach. Some of these products even fold down when you are not using them.
There are many laundry cleaning products that you will need access to on laundry day. Store them in low cabinets or on shelves that are within your reach. It may be necessary to transfer some of the products out of their original large containers and put them in more manageable containers.
I stack four empty laundry baskets on top of the washer and dryer and use them on laundry day. They are small enough to fit on my lap as I wheel them from our laundry room to our bedroom to put away the clean clothes. We have a have a 16” by 24” tall round plastic laundry basket for dirty clothes. I attached small gliders to the bottom so that I can push it across the carpet. I position this basket between my feet in front of the footrest of my wheelchair and bulldoze it to the laundry room.
As we planned the new house, it became apparent that I was dragging clothes around a lot on laundry day. In our new home, there will be a room next to the master bath that contains the washer, dryer, utility sink, ironing board, luggage, and storage space for all hanging and folded
clothing. The wardrobe will definitely make laundry day more efficient.
FOR SALE***
WC Lift; $7,000 new; only used 2 months; asking $3,000. Invacare Storm TDX 3 Power WC; full reclining; less that 1 year old; $12,000 new; asking $2,000. Quickie II manual chair; good cond.; $800. Call David 589-6620.
*Cookbooks for Sale: Recipes compiled by Chapter members; $10:00. Call David @ 589-6620.
*Video tapes for sale. Various topics related to spinal cord injuries. Call David Allgood or Buddy Lawson.
***If assistance is needed to pay for any of the above items, contact Kentucky Assistive Technology Loan Corporation at 1-800-327-5287 for information on loans at 5% interest to qualified candidates.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR SHIRTS!!
ACCESSIBLE LAUNDRY ROOM, CONT’D
The largest investment needed to make a laundry room more efficient is the purchase of a front loading washer. Doors to the room can be easily removed. Making a laundry room accessible can take hours of frustration away from wheelchair users who want to take back their lives and start doing laundry again.
Ed note: This is a combo washer/dryer in one unit from Panasonic. It is found on the website disabledhands.com
