Washing Machine and Dryer Pedestal / Stand: a DIY Happiness!

We all know washer and dryer pedestals are VERY expensive and are ridiculously priced. You can certainly buy another washer for the price of the two pedestals; or perhaps a new refrigerator! This instructible shows you how to make yourself a cheap pedestal or stand for your washer and dryer.

The advantages of having a pedestal or stands for your dryer and washer is that you eliminate the need to bend over to pick up your laundry. Also you can place items under the pedestal such as soap, laundry detergents, etc. The pedestals are a practical accessory for front loading washing machines and dryers.

Materials:

Plywood (the thicker the better. mine is about an inch thick)
2" x 4" wood
Drill or hammer
Saw
Screws or nails ( 3 inch screws/nails, 2 inch screws/nails)
Glossy paint

All items can be bought at your local hardware stores. I got all these at home depot. The plywood cost $15 since it was very thick. The 3 pieces of 2" x 4" x 10" cost $2.35 each.

Since I already measured the base of both my washer and dryer, I went a head and had home
depot cut the plywood for an extra .15cents per cut thus eliminating back pains and muscle
sore from cutting the plywood myself. I highly recommend doing this.

1. Make measurements around the base of your washer and dryer. My measurement was 27" around, a perfect square. Mark this measurement ion the plywood. This will serve as the top panel where the washer and dryer would sit. 27" x 27". (have Home Depot cut it)

2. Make measurements for the height of your pedestal. In this instructible, the height for my pedestal was 15". Most pedestals are around this height range.

3. Mark your measurement for height on the plywood and also your length. This will serve as the side panels. In this case two 15" x 27". (again, have Home Depot cut it)

4. Measure and mark the 2" x 4"s. Two 25" for the length and four 13" for the height. The four 13" would serve as the leg support .

*note* 25" is the length because the plywood was about an inch thick. Depending on the thickness of your plywood, you just have to make the necessary adjustments. You don't want the side panels protruding on the side. We want to seamlessly connect the woods together.

To do this, just subtract the thickness of the 2 side panels from the main length of the base of your washer or dryer. That will be the length of your 2x4's. Hope that made sense.

1. Cut the plywood-- Top Panel and Side panels.

2. Cut the 2" x4"s.

3. Connect the one 25" with the two 13". You can use nails or screws which ever you feel comfortable. I use screws this way I prevent the would from cracking. Also I drilled a hole before I screwed it in.

4. Do the same with the other 25" and two 13".

5. Connect the 2 x 4's into the side panels. Secure using screws or nails.

6. Place the top panel in place. Secure using screws and nails.

7. To cover the back, measure from each end of the side panels. That will be your size. Height will still be 15".

Now paint that beautiful work of art to match your washer and dryer. You can brush or spray paint it! Which ever you choose, be creative.


If you feel that you don't need to use the space underneath the washer and dryer, just measure and cut a piece of plywood and nail or screw it in place. That size would be 15" x 27" (in my case). After that, You are are done! You've basically have made a platform!


If your washer and dryer are inside your house, instead of painting the wood, you might want to consider carpeting the top and side panels. This should help minimize the noise radiated from the washer onto the wood. You can also, instead of painting, cover it with some kind of vinyl, or tolex. Have fun and be creative.

And finally, enjoy your work of art. Say good bye to back pains and most of all to those ridiculously priced pedestals. Best of all, the total cost for this project? Less than $25. PRICELESS!!!

Now if I could just find the time to make the drawers... to be continued!


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