Guidelines for Stacking Washing Machine and Dryer

Purchase a washer and dryer made for stacking, and ask for an accompanying stacking kit. This will make it much easier to stack them together, and it will ensure a proper fit.

Ask a friend to help you stack your washer and dryer. You will need to maneuver the washer into position, then lift and turn the dryer.

Move the washer close -- but not all the way -- to its final location and check it with a level. If it is not level, adjust the legs according to manufacturer's instructions until it is.

Hook up the washer to the hoses. There is a hose that goes to your hot water faucet, one that goes to your cold water faucet, and the drain hose, which is the largest hose and goes to the drain in the wall or floor. Specific instructions will vary depending on the type of washer, but in general, each hose is color-coded and easy to recognize. Plug in the washer.

Check the kit to see if it requires removing the legs of the dryer. Some do not require this step. If so, lay the dryer on its side on top of a blanket and remove the legs with a screwdriver.

Install the stacking kit. Most contain felt or paper that you use to cover the surface of the washer, pads that cover where the dryer's legs were, and brackets that are installed on the two back corners of the washer. Others may require that the brackets be installed on the two back bottom corners of the dryer. The installation instructions will vary depending on your specific kit.

Lift the dryer onto the top of the washer. Use your knees, not your back, and have a friend lift one side while you lift the other. Set it gently on top of the washer, with the back two corners nestled into the brackets, or with the bottom of the dryer brackets overlapping the back of the washer's top corners. Thread the dryer vent into the venting hole. Make sure it is as straight as possible, and use a corrugated metal vent hose. Plug the dryer in at this time as well.

Screw the dryer to the brackets, if the brackets were installed on the washer. Or, secure the washer to the dryer's brackets, if they were installed on the dryer. Some stacking kits also come with another bracket that is installed in the front center, between the washer and dryer.

Gently slide the washer and dryer fully into position. You and your friend should each push on one side of the stacked unit at the same time.