What Happened to Laundry Chutes?

In the early to mid-20th century, laundry chutes were popular in luxury homes. Nowadays, you’ll still see them in hospitals and hotels, where heaps of dirty linen need ferrying across multiple floors, but they’re rarely seen in modern homes.

If you’re tired of collecting clothes from your teen’s bedroom floor and tripping while carrying an overflowing laundry basket downstairs, simply dropping the textiles down a duct might appeal. I spoke with a construction manager and chute supplier to learn when laundry chutes are beneficial and whether the installation costs and complexities are worthwhile.

What Is a Laundry Chute?

A laundry chute is a chimney-like construction that relies on gravity to transport dirty laundry from your home’s upper floors to a lower location near your washing facilities. They’re typically discreet installations, often boxed in or hidden within cupboards.

Laundry chutes rose to popularity in the late 19th to mid-20th century. A symbol of wealth, they also streamlined laundry tasks within large homes, and it was thought the enclosed chutes could reduce the risk of spreading disease via soiled linens.

How Come You Don’t See Laundry Chutes in Houses Anymore?

Below are some reasons these old home features aren’t commonplace installations anymore:

• Changing home designs: Increasing single-level and smaller homes reduced the need for chutes.
• Lesser lifespan of old wooden chutes: John Graham, Managing Director of Easyline Chutes, says they don’t last as long as modern stainless steel varieties, and they might not meet current safety standards. After removing the old wooden chutes, homeowners often don’t replace them.
• Can be fire conduits: “If a fire started on the lower floors where the laundry piled up, it can transfer the flames much more readily to upper floors through the chute,” says Construction Manager Brandon Walker.
• Higher hygiene standards: There’s minimal risk of soiled linens passing on serious diseases.

When Can Laundry Chutes Still Be Useful?

Sometimes, residential laundry chutes still have their place. Some reasons you might want to install one include:

• Reduces fall risk: Graham says stairway falls are a leading cause of injury in the US. Not having to carry a pile of linen down them reduces the risk.
• Assists people with limited mobility: Getting downstairs can be challenging enough without a load of laundry in tow.
• Streamlines a daily chore: In a large house, one with multiple floors, or with a large family, one or more chutes can make laundry day chores easier.
• Appeals to children: “Kids are more likely to use a laundry chute than carry clothes downstairs,” Graham says.

How Much Does It Cost to Install a Laundry Chute?

“A typical laundry chute for a two-story home with 8 feet ceilings costs around $1000,” Graham says. He points out that this doesn’t include tax, delivery or installation costs (which can add considerably to the costs).

While several US companies supply commercial laundry chutes, few supply residential models. You may have to pay extra for an imported stainless variety.

Can You DIY a Laundry Chute?

If you’re a handy homeowner, you can DIY a laundry chute. However, experts don’t recommend it. Graham suggests contacting a professional laundry chute company to supply a fire-safety-certified, non-corroding stainless steel variety.

“Homemade chutes aren’t fire-rated, so insurance companies won’t cover them,” Graham says. Plus, he points out they’re often made from wood, meaning they hold odors, and splinters can rip clothes.

Installing a laundry chute typically requires boxing in the duct and alterations to ceilings and walls. If you’re not deft with DIY or there are building codes to comply with, hiring a contractor to finish the fit pays off.

How To Install a Laundry Chute

“A laundry chute should take around two to four hours to install, not counting cutting the holes in the floor and boxing in,” Graham says. For DIY installations, you should receive detailed instructions from the chute supplier. It typically involves building up the chute, framing the chute doors in the wall or ceiling, and securing and safely sealing the doors.

Laundry Chute Safety and Building Codes

There are often building and fire safety codes to comply with regarding the chute material and the installation process. Walker recommends double-checking these, as they vary across states and municipalities. “Installing a chute might require a structural engineer to come and survey before anything can even get started,” he says.

Graham mentions a couple of standard fire safety requirements. “The chute above the floor should be enclosed in a minimum of 30-minute fire-rated material, which is usually pink plasterboard,” he says. “The gap between the chute and the floor should also be filled with a minimum of one-hour fire-rated material, which is normally fire foam.”

He also says the door should be set at a height where young children can’t reach it. “Most laundry chute specialists advise the door to be a minimum of 3 feet from the finished floor level,” he says.

FAQs

Where should a laundry chute be located?

Laundry chute locations vary, depending on the home’s size and layout. However, Graham says most modern homes have a utility [laundry] room. “Due to plumbing logistics, there’s usually a bathroom directly above, so it’s the obvious place to install one.”

What to do when clothes get stuck in a laundry chute

If you have a smooth stainless steel laundry chute and don’t shove too many items in at once, you shouldn’t have a problem with stuck clothes. However, if they do, try using a broom handle to move the blockage.

Does a laundry chute add value to your home?

Laundry chutes can add value to your home if the material and installation are of high quality. “Most modern chutes are made of stainless steel and will last for the life of the house,” Graham says.

What are vacuum jet laundry chutes, and why are they becoming popular?

Both Graham and Walker mention the growing popularity of a new type of laundry chute. The Laundry Jet doesn’t rely on gravity to transport the clothes. “This vacuum laundry chute sucks the dirty linen from an upper or lower floor and even sideways,” Graham says. “Although considerably more expensive than a gravity chute, its endpoint can be up to 200 feet away from the furthest entry point.”

About the Experts

• John Graham is the Managing Director of Easyline Laundry Chutes. Under his direction, the company maintains, installs, and cleans laundry chutes across the UK and beyond; video interview, Jun. 20, 2024.
• Brandon Walker is a Construction Manager for ASAP Restoration. He has been in the painting and construction industry for over 20 years; email interview, Jun. 20, 2024.