Easyline Laundry Chutes at Self-build Ireland

Easyline is excited to announce that we are demonstrating our laundry chutes at the Self-build show in Northern Ireland held at the Titanic Exhibition Centre (TEC) from the 13th to the 15th of October 2023. Our booth is H22 which is near the main cafe when coming through the main foyer. 

You can claim your FREE tickets for the Self-build show in Belfast by clicking this link. Scroll down the link page and add WEB into the promo code, click apply and + how many tickets you would like, the price will turn to zero, checkout then add your details.

What is a laundry chute?

A laundry or linen chute or shoot as it’s sometimes called is a stainless-steel tube or duct that runs from upstairs of a house, hotel or office to another room downstairs, preferably as close to the washing machine as possible.  Ideally, the chute will have a straight drop although it can be offset using 15°, 30° or 45° elbows. It must be smooth enough inside the chute to allow clothing to slide smoothly down to the lower levels so we don’t recommend galvanised steel or timber as it will rot, smell and burr over time. Our chutes are seamless laser-welded 316L grade stainless steel. The elbows are then acid cleaned to avoid burrs, unlike cheaper systems on the market. They come in a high gloss polished finish inside and out so would not look out of place and sometimes can be made a feature.

Why should I install a laundry chute?

We are not getting any younger so why carry heavy smelly laundry down a flight of stairs? Some will say ‘Well I carry them back upstairs’, but they are usually neatly folded, more compact and lighter as they have been washed and dried. How many times do you go into your kid’s room to find dirty clothes that have been lying for days or even longer? They don’t take it downstairs as it’s a hassle or whatever. As the chute opening is probably less than their room's length away, they may use it. If they don’t it's still less hassle for you. We would say the most important reason to install a laundry chute is safety. Every 90 seconds a fall on the stairs is recorded in the UK and Ireland, there is no easy way to carry laundry without having one hand clear to stop you from falling. A laundry chute also adds value to your home. Typically, the value-added will be the same if not more than the actual cost of the chute. As it's built-in and manufactured with high-quality stainless steel it will be there for the lifetime of the house. 

Where would I install a chute in my house?

For easier access to everyone in the house, the hallway or landing outside the bedrooms is the preferred option. Most new houses have a utility room downstairs with a bathroom directly above so this would be the ideal place. When building or renovating and you have a set of plans you can email them to us and we will provide a drawing of ‘how your chute will look’ as well as a detailed quote. The drawing will include a fire protection recommendation which building control may request but also for your own safety.

We recommend the bottom of the laundry chute end inside a cupboard or press. It must be in such a way that the linen will not pile up in places it should not be. If landing on the washing machine or dryer it can become a fire hazard. Most chutes are positioned over some sort of basket. This ensures all clothing is contained and off the floor. Ideally, the chute shall end above head height with a basket on a shelf below it. You can then have 2/3 baskets on shelves below this to separate the colours etc. Larger buildings like hotels or care homes will often have large, rolling baskets to collect laundry when it falls out of the laundry chute. 

Are all chutes the same?

A laundry chute will vary in design according to the building in which it is constructed. The vast majority will include a door or other enclosure at the top of the chute, some also have a door at the bottom. Our doors are all 2hr fire-rated with a smoke seal and can be hinged at the bottom, top or any side depending on the client’s preference. The opening direction can easily be changed at any time without disruption to the house. Our doors have surfaced, flush and beaded mounted frames, powder-coated white and can be painted any colour or if beaded tiled over. The door is built into a wall, usually in a hallway or bathroom, and encased in a minimum of 30min fire-rated materials (plasterboard is 30min fire-rated). Some laundry chutes have more than one opening so can be used in different rooms or floors. In larger buildings like hotels and care homes, the door is often located in the same place on each floor. These doors are interlinked so only one door at a time can be opened. They can also have a pin code so only authorised users can access the chute.

How big does a laundry chute need to be?

We advise in a normal 2 storey home a 300mm diameter. Basically, a 250mm (10”) will take a double duvet. A 300mm (12”) will take a king-size duvet. We also have 350mm but not s tock item so should allow 1-2 weeks leadtime minimum. A 400mm we would only recommend in a very large house or small hotel where there were several guests and the beds required to be changed every few days. A larger hotel should have a minimum of 600mm diameter.

If you can find a suitable location, consider installing a laundry chute. It can be a breeze if you have an unobstructed path between the two floors.

We make laundry Easy! Easy to communicate with, Easy to buy and Easy to install.

Easyline laundry chutes