DIY: Washer/Dryer Cabinet Conversion Made Easy
03-06-2018
Author: in The Road Less Traveled
Having a washer/dryer—whether stackable or an all-in-one unit—in one's RV or travel trailer is merely a wish for some and is an absolute necessity for others. When you're afforded full-time hookups at an RV park that allows their use, they're quite convenient. If you aren't hooked up; however, there's little that will empty your fresh water tank and fill your gray faster than doing a load of laundry, if the machine will run at all. If you plan to boondock regularly, however, you may find they take up quite a bit of space that could be better used for something you're more likely to use.
Most washer/dryer cabinets are located in either the bedroom closet or in the kitchen area. Ours, for example, is in the hallway between the kitchen and bedroom. Although you could fit your space with a rod for hanging clothes or leave it open for stowing camping gear, you might want to install shelves.
Remove (and Dispose of) Your Existing Units
How you remove your washer/dryer depends entirely on the unit(s). Some just need to be unhooked from the plumbing and slid out. Others are bracketed in place. Check your manual to see how yours is/are secured. Regardless, you will likely need a dolly and an assistant or two to get it/them from the cabinet to, and out, the doorway.
If it still works, you could probably sell it on eBay, craigslist, Facebook Market, or to a thrift store. If it doesn't, contact the local salvage yard.
Measure Your Space
Take a tape measure and measure the space for depth and width. Keep in mind that if the cabinet has doors, you'll need to stop short about an inch or so from the front to allow an appropriate amount of room between the front of the shelves and the back of the doors.
Decide how many shelves you want and how much space between each. Although it's common for shelves to be evenly spaced, this is a personal choice when you're building your own. Begin at the ceiling and measure down the back of the left wall to where you want the first shelf to be placed, and then take a pencil and mark the space. Do the same on the front of the left wall, as you'll have two brackets on each side for each shelf. Do the same on the right side, and then follow this process for each shelf you plan to install: two on the left—each measured from the ceiling for accuracy—and two on the right.
Needed Supplies
Although this is extremely dependent upon how you want your shelves to look, you'll need some form of the following supplies:
¾ to 1-inch thick pieces of wood
4-sets of brackets to hold each shelf
sandpaper
something to finish the wood
When buying the wood, you want to choose something that you can buy in the width of how deep you want your shelves, and you want it cut to a length that will fit the width of the cabinet space. You can either cut this yourself or have it cut—for a small fee—at the lumber yard or home improvement store.
You want to get a combo pack of sandpaper that ranges from coarse to fine grit. To finish, you might choose paint or varnish. It’s a good idea to keep in mind your intention for the space, and determine whether or not the wood should be sealed. You can bypass this entirely by covering the shelves with cloth or shelf liners, or even leaving the wood natural.
Prepare the Shelves
You have several options for this step. If you want them painted or varnished, or even left natural, you should sand them. Begin with the coarse-grit sand paper and sand with the wood grain (not across it) until it feels fairly smooth, move to the medium grit and do the same, followed by the fine-grit. It's a good idea to do this outside, as you'll get saw dust everywhere otherwise. If you want to leave them natural, go to the next step.
If you want them varnished or painted, use a paint brush and—going with the grain—apply thin layers of the product, allowing adequate drying time between. Consult the particular paint or varnish can for the specifics. If the shelves are likely to be around food or moisture, it's a good idea to also apply sealant like polyurethane after varnishing.
Gluing fabric around them or using a commercially available, customizable shelf liner or contact paper, provides an easy finish if you don't want to sand.
Mount the Shelves
It might not be a bad idea to double check your original measurements before mounting the brackets. Then drill small pilot holes where your first bracket will go. (You could screw directly into the wall, but you might splinter the wood.) Place the first bracket against the back, left wall and use a screw driver to secure the screw into the pilot hole, thus mounting the first bracket. Follow this by back right, and then test one of your shelves to ensure that it's actually level. Install the front left and right brackets and then repeat the process for each of the shelves.
Once you have all of the brackets in, merely slide in your shelves.
In Conclusion
For many, the idea of getting rid of their washer and dryer is ridiculous. If you find that you use the campground laundry facilities more often than your own, take on this project to convert the space to something more useful. With space as a premium, an addition is appreciated and this DIY is remarkably easy to accomplish. If you want the conversion, but don't feel confident doing it yourself, there is likely someone you know who could help. Enjoy your new closet!
Most washer/dryer cabinets are located in either the bedroom closet or in the kitchen area. Ours, for example, is in the hallway between the kitchen and bedroom. Although you could fit your space with a rod for hanging clothes or leave it open for stowing camping gear, you might want to install shelves.
Related Read: The Best Way to Do Laundry for Fulltime RVers
Remove (and Dispose of) Your Existing Units
How you remove your washer/dryer depends entirely on the unit(s). Some just need to be unhooked from the plumbing and slid out. Others are bracketed in place. Check your manual to see how yours is/are secured. Regardless, you will likely need a dolly and an assistant or two to get it/them from the cabinet to, and out, the doorway.
If it still works, you could probably sell it on eBay, craigslist, Facebook Market, or to a thrift store. If it doesn't, contact the local salvage yard.
Measure Your Space
Take a tape measure and measure the space for depth and width. Keep in mind that if the cabinet has doors, you'll need to stop short about an inch or so from the front to allow an appropriate amount of room between the front of the shelves and the back of the doors.
Decide how many shelves you want and how much space between each. Although it's common for shelves to be evenly spaced, this is a personal choice when you're building your own. Begin at the ceiling and measure down the back of the left wall to where you want the first shelf to be placed, and then take a pencil and mark the space. Do the same on the front of the left wall, as you'll have two brackets on each side for each shelf. Do the same on the right side, and then follow this process for each shelf you plan to install: two on the left—each measured from the ceiling for accuracy—and two on the right.
Needed Supplies
Although this is extremely dependent upon how you want your shelves to look, you'll need some form of the following supplies:
¾ to 1-inch thick pieces of wood
4-sets of brackets to hold each shelf
sandpaper
something to finish the wood
When buying the wood, you want to choose something that you can buy in the width of how deep you want your shelves, and you want it cut to a length that will fit the width of the cabinet space. You can either cut this yourself or have it cut—for a small fee—at the lumber yard or home improvement store.
You want to get a combo pack of sandpaper that ranges from coarse to fine grit. To finish, you might choose paint or varnish. It’s a good idea to keep in mind your intention for the space, and determine whether or not the wood should be sealed. You can bypass this entirely by covering the shelves with cloth or shelf liners, or even leaving the wood natural.
Prepare the Shelves
You have several options for this step. If you want them painted or varnished, or even left natural, you should sand them. Begin with the coarse-grit sand paper and sand with the wood grain (not across it) until it feels fairly smooth, move to the medium grit and do the same, followed by the fine-grit. It's a good idea to do this outside, as you'll get saw dust everywhere otherwise. If you want to leave them natural, go to the next step.
If you want them varnished or painted, use a paint brush and—going with the grain—apply thin layers of the product, allowing adequate drying time between. Consult the particular paint or varnish can for the specifics. If the shelves are likely to be around food or moisture, it's a good idea to also apply sealant like polyurethane after varnishing.
Gluing fabric around them or using a commercially available, customizable shelf liner or contact paper, provides an easy finish if you don't want to sand.
Related Read: Easy DIY Updates for Your RV Kitchen
Mount the Shelves
It might not be a bad idea to double check your original measurements before mounting the brackets. Then drill small pilot holes where your first bracket will go. (You could screw directly into the wall, but you might splinter the wood.) Place the first bracket against the back, left wall and use a screw driver to secure the screw into the pilot hole, thus mounting the first bracket. Follow this by back right, and then test one of your shelves to ensure that it's actually level. Install the front left and right brackets and then repeat the process for each of the shelves.
Once you have all of the brackets in, merely slide in your shelves.
In Conclusion
For many, the idea of getting rid of their washer and dryer is ridiculous. If you find that you use the campground laundry facilities more often than your own, take on this project to convert the space to something more useful. With space as a premium, an addition is appreciated and this DIY is remarkably easy to accomplish. If you want the conversion, but don't feel confident doing it yourself, there is likely someone you know who could help. Enjoy your new closet!
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Author: Carrie Todd
