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Hi! I recently scored a twin tub washing machine for free from a neighbour who moved out and left it behind. I live in a rental apartment with a very small bathroom, and the shower is raised approx. 10-15cm off the ground. The washing machine relies on gravity to drain the water out (no pump) - what’s the best and cheapest way to raise it up high enough to drain properly? Currently having to lift the whole thing to get it to drain fully but obviously that’s not really sustainable longterm. Probably wanting something to raise it up around 20-30cm so it can drain downwards. Ideally only want something the width/breadth of the machine itself as space is a bit of an issue.
Pictured is the washing machine I have and the real estate photo of my bathroom (with red circle showing where machine is currently). Happy to build something myself or look at premade options, just not really sure where to start.
Thanks!
A simple and very effective solution here would be to build a small plinth that the washing machine can sit on @basilbeam, sized only to the footprint of the machine so it doesn’t take up any extra space in the bathroom. Using 19 mm structural plywood is a good choice because it’s strong, dimensionally stable, and readily available.
The basic idea is to build a shallow box or frame. You’d use the plywood to create the four sides, set to whatever height you need, somewhere around the 200–300 mm mark. Inside that frame, you can fix strips running across the width to act as internal supports. These spreads the load and prevents the top from flexing when the machine is full of water and spinning. Once the internal supports are fixed in place, a full sheet of 19 mm plywood goes on top as the deck for the machine to sit on.
Everything can be screwed together, which makes it solid but also reversible if you ever move out, important for a rental. If you want extra grip, you can add a rubber mat or anti-vibration pads on top so the machine legs don’t creep during use. Because it’s a bathroom environment, sealing or painting the plinth with paint or a waterproof sealer is also a good idea to protect it from moisture.
This type of plinth creates a stable, flat platform that raises the machine enough for gravity drainage, without needing to lift it manually. It’s inexpensive, easy to build with basic tools, and neat enough to suit a small space. I've created the below rendering to illustrate.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
