Laundry Rooms How To & DIY

Improve the value of your home by discovering our laundry step-by-step tips & ideas.

Emptying a lint trap on a dryer

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How to Prevent Dryer Fires in Your House

When you consider how to safeguard your home from fires, the laundry room might not come to mind. Unfortunately, this area of the house can be a fire hazard. Here's how to protect yourself.
Washer and Dryer in an upstairs closet

How to Drain a Washing Machine

If your washing machine is refusing to drain, leaving you with a drum of water and a load of wet clothes, don’t panic. This simple step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to drain a washing machine so you can bail yourself out of a soggy situation.
Inside view of dryer with clothes inside.

How To Upgrade a Dryer Vent

A quick and easy way to enhance the efficiency and safety of your clothes dryer.
Laundry hanging outside on a line to dry.

What is Laundry Stripping and How Does It Work?

We teach you the basics of laundry stripping, and how to do it safely and effectively to deep-clean towels, sheets, and clothing.
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How to Eliminate Dryer Odors

You know it’s not time yet to replace your dryer, but there’s a stench coming from it that makes you want to buy another one. No need to spring for a brand-new appliance. We’ll show you how to remove the smell from a dryer for next to nothing.
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How to Clean a Washing Machine

Banish errant soils, product residue, odors, and bacteria from the washer to ensure that laundry comes out as fresh and clean as possible.
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How To Maintain, Clean, and Load a Washing Machine

Properly maintaining your washing machine will lead to cleaner clothes and more significant energy savings. Read how to properly take care of your investment in our step-by-step guide.
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How to Clean a Washing Machine

Keep your front loader mold-free! High-efficiency front-loading washing machines use less water and energy, plus get clothes cleaner than their top-loading competition—but they’re also more prone to developing odors and mildew. Here, ways to turn a stinky washer into a clean machine
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How To Choose and Install Laundry Appliances for Your Home

Find out everything you need to know about choosing and setting up the best laundry appliances for your home.
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How To Install a Basement Laundry

Watch as Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner install a washer and dryer in his basement.
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How To Hook Up Washing Machine Plumbing

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey re-plumbs a washing machine.
a finished shutter door ironing cabinet

How To Make a Shutter-Door Ironing Cabinet

Use these louvered or paneled wood beauties to give your home's exterior classic character, or repurpose them as rustic indoor accents
A white wood hamper holding towels in a bathroom.

How To Build a Wood Hamper

Ditch the tacky plastic bin for a more grown-up laundry container. This article shows you how to build a wood hamper.
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From Walk-In Closet to Spa-Like Laundry Room

A luxurious wash-and-dry zone elevates chores while wringing maximum use out of a former closet space
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Automatic Valve Shut-off for Washing Machines

The Intelliflow turns washing machine water-supply valves on and off, so you don't have to
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How to Maintain a Washer and Dryer

Keep your washer and dryer running efficiently with our comprehensive maintenance and troubleshooting tips.
A laundry room where a laundry chute can be added.

How to Install a Laundry Chute

A laundry chute is a simple project that adds convenience to your home routine. Get expert advice on what you need and how to build one.