Mudroom Definition

History

• In the 1800s, many farm and manor houses had mudrooms where farmers entered the house after a long day's work to remove their work clothes and shoes and wash up before entering the main home. The rooms were small, simply constructed and furnished with a bench for the men to sit to remove their footwear and dowels on which to hang their overalls. The households had no indoor plumbing, so the water was pumped outside and toted into the mudroom in basins for the cleanup procedure. At the turn of the century, many mudrooms were eliminated to make room for indoor plumbing, wiring for electricity and heating equipment. Mudrooms largely disappeared in the mid-20th century as homeowners opted for other extras such as attached garages, expansive porches and recreation rooms. In the 1970s, they started to make a comeback.

Mudroom Basics

• Modern mudrooms have chairs and benches, closets and cubbyholes to hang clothing, shelves to hold shoes and boots, and showers and sinks. They are used not only for cleaning up before going into the house but also serve as handy storage areas for purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc. that would otherwise clutter the kitchen or dining room. Mudrooms frequently include chests and vertical lockers to house sports equipment and lockers to store winter coats, gloves and boots during warmer months. The logical location of mudrooms next to the most used entrance to the home is still common.

Amenities

• Mudrooms frequently have water-resistant concrete or commercially tiled floors and a drain in the center of the room so the floor can be hosed down instead of mopped. Key racks, mirrors, umbrella stands and clothes hampers are useful mudroom amenities. If small children are part of the family, a drinking fountain in the mudroom deters them running in and out of the house during outdoor play. An extra refrigerator or freezer is often part of the mudroom setup.

Mudroom/Laundry Room

• Washers and dryers are frequently located in large mudrooms to eliminate having to lug dirty clothes removed in the room to the laundry room located elsewhere. However, in multi-level homes, this dual purpose configuration is discouraged, as it requires hauling the bulk of the family laundry up and down stairs. In lieu of a washer and dryer, utility sinks are installed to provide easy rinsing of excessive mud from clothes and shoes.