Plans

Free DIY Toy Plans // How to Build a Children’s Retro Washer + Dryer

12.21.14 By //
You Can Build This! Easy DIY Furniture Plans from The Design Confidential with Complete Instructions on How to Build a Retro Washer and Dryer via @thedesconf

If your kiddos love to play house then they will adore having their very own stacking retro washer and dryer to pretend play with! My littlest adores clean up, it is one of my favorite things about him! He just hates a messy space, lol! Let’s see how long that lasts, eh? As with most of our free plans for toys and play, this fun thing is part of our Handmade Holiday series that will be ongoing till the end of time!

As with all of our plans, you are building at your own risk and you should have a firm understanding of building in general before you attempt many of our plans (some are easy as pie and perfect for beginners). With that, go forth, have fun, take lots of pictures and share them in a showcase on the site or on social media with the hashtag #builtTDCtuff and we will share our faves! Be sure to tag @thedesignconfidential on Instagram / FB and @thedesconf on Twitter / Pinterest. If you are a blogger and you post about your build, don’t forget to include a link to your post on your showcase here. Don’t forget… for all of our newer plans, clicking on the images will let them expand to enormous sizes with much greater clarity. The older plans may need updating so please let us know if you need one fixed!

You Can Build This! Easy DIY Furniture Plans from The Design Confidential with Complete Instructions on How to Build a Retro Washer and Dryer via @thedesconf
$50-$75
You Can Build This! Easy DIY Furniture Plans from The Design Confidential with Complete Instructions on How to Build a Retro Washer and Dryer via @thedesconf
  • 1 – 3/4” plywood at 4’x8’
  • 1 – 1×3 at 8’
  • 2 – 3/4” plywood at 14”x30-1/4” – Sides
  • 3 – 3/4” plywood at 12-1/2”x16-3/4” – Top, Shelf, and Bottom
  • 1 – 3/4” plywood at 16-3/4”x27-1/4”– Back
  • 1 – 3/4” plywood at 16-3/4”x27-1/4”– Front
  • 1 – 3/4” plywood at – 3”x16-3/4” – Front Bottom Apron
  • 2 – 3/4” plywood at 10”x11-1/2”– Washer and Dryer Doors
  • 2 – Plexiglas at 8” diameter circles – Washer and Dryer Windows
  • 2 – 1×3 at 3-1/2”– Filter and Soap Drawer Stops
  • 2 – 1×3 at 2-1/2”– Filter and Soap Drawer Fronts
  • 4 – 1×3 at 2-1/2”– Filter and Soap Drawer Sides
  • 2 – 1×3 at 2-1/2”– Filter and Soap Drawer Backs
  • 2 – 1×3 at 1-1/2”– Filter and Soap Drawer Bottoms
  • 2 – 1×3 at 2” diameter circles – Washer and Dryer Dials

Before beginning to build, always check in on my site to make sure you have the most up to date set of plans, I occasionally update and change the plans to make the building process easier or to allow for less expensive purchasing of materials! Read through the entire set of instructions and all comments before beginning this project. If you print out or save plans, be sure to check in on my site to be sure you have the most up to date set of plans, as I occasionally update things for ease of building or buying. If you are new to building, read through the GETTING STARTED section and other articles found under the BUILD tab in the menu on my site, it has valuable information about how to get started, tools and techniques. If you are unfamiliar with the finishing process, visit my Finishing school for some tips and tricks for painting like a pro and for special finishing practices. Use glue to secure your joints and Consider Painting or Staining individual sections prior to assembling. This makes the paint application virtually flawless. Coat with a spray on Poly or Wipe on Poly to protect your finish and your piece and it will last for ages. Adhere to all safety standards and guidelines, and be sure you follow safety protocol throughout your build. If you are unsure about whether you are building safely, run a quick online search for the tool or technique you are using, or contact me via email or post to the forum before you move ahead. My contact info can be found in the menu of my site.

Cut the pieces for the Sides, Top, Shelf, and Bottom. Set your Kreg jig for 3/4” material and drill pocket holes in each side of the Top, Bottom, and Shelf. Assemble as shown with glue and 1-1/4” pocket screws. Make sure that all pocket screws face the inside of the Washer/Dryer or toward the ground so that they are less visible when the entire piece is assembled.

Cut the Back piece. With the Kreg jig set for 3/4” material, drill pocket holes, facing the inside of the Washer/Dryer, in each side of the Back. Assemble as shown with glue and 1-1/4” pocket screws.

Cut the piece for the Front with the Door Openings and Drawer Openings. Remember to drill pilot holes slightly larger than your jigsaw blade for these inside cuts. With the Kreg jig set for 3/4” material, drill pocket holes, facing the inside of the Washer/Dryer, in each side of the Front. Assemble with glue and 1-1/4” pocket screws.

Cut the piece for the Front Bottom Apron. With the Kreg jig set for 3/4” material, drill pocket holes, facing the inside of the Washer/Dryer, in each side of the Front Bottom Apron. Assemble with glue and 1-1/4” pocket screws.

Cut the rough pieces for the Washer and Dryer Door. Mark the shape of each door, and cut them out with your jigsaw. Remember to drill pilot holes slightly larger than your jigsaw blade for the inside cuts.

Attach the hinge on the straight side of the Door and position the Washer and Dryer Doors as shown. If desired, attach a knob for easy opening of each Door. Also, positioning a small magnet on the back of each Door and the Front can help keep the Doors closed.

Next, cut your Plexiglas Door Window pieces. These pieces will cover the Washer and Dryer Door openings on the back, and overlap the Door openings by 1/2”. Use your Mirror Screws to secure the Windows into place. Be aware that you are screwing into 3/4” material and that you may have to use a shorter screw size in order to not entirely screw through the wood.

Cut the pieces for the Drawer Stops. Assemble with glue and 1-1/4” brad nails or 1-1/4” wood screws (through the underside of the Shelf or Bottom and through the Side).

Cut the pieces for the Filter and Soap Drawers. Cut a 1/2” diameter circle in the top center of the Drawer Fronts as shown. Since these pieces are so small, you will need to assemble with glue and 1-1/4” brad nails. Place Drawers into Drawer Openings.

For the Washer and Dryer Dials you could easily glue on retro styled kitchen timers. Another option would be to cut out a 2” circle from your 1/2” thick wood. Place the 2” circle as shown on the Front, and drill a hole in the center of this circle. Loosely secure the circle to the Front with a 2” long bolt and appropriately sized nut. This way, those little hands can still turn the dial.

Label the Dryer, Washer, Filter Drawer, and Soap Drawer. Next, paint pieces of the Washer and Dryer with accent colors and put those kids to work doing some laundry!

Fill any Screw, Nail or Pocket Holes, Sand and Finish as Desired. For Finishing Tips and Tricks visit my Finishing School

// Disclaimer: Some rights reserved. Private use only. Feel Free to link to any of my plans so long as you ONLY use 1 image and provide an ADEQUATE link back to the original source and appropriate plan! Plans from this page are not to be used for commercial purposes or republished without the express written consent of Rayan Turner, The Design Confidential. By accessing or using any part of the web site, you agree to become bound by the terms and conditions of this website as outlined under Terms of Use. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the Website or use any services. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by The Design Confidential.com and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, personal injury or death, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of information or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website. I hope to provide accurate plans, however, I cannot guarantee each plan for accuracy. Not every plan that I post has been built and tested, so you are building at your own risk. It is recommended that you have a clear understanding of how the project works before beginning any project. Please contact me if you find an error or inaccuracy so that I might fix it. The Design Confidential.com is inspired by but does not replicate exact designs, any similarities between these plans and items sold at specialty retailers is coincidental and not endorsed by or related to any said retailers. // Affiliate links are used for tools and materials. The Design Confidential will earn a small commission for any items purchased using these links. Thank you for your support – every little bit counts!

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