Asked on Apr 27, 2017

How can I protect my washer & dryer doors from hitting the wall

Sheri Gomez
by Sheri Gomez
I have a very tight space for my washer and dryer. When we first moved in I taped a towel on each side where the doors would hit the walls and never replaced them! I don't like the idea of adding something to the front of the doors but I haven't come up with anything really unique either. Now I want to take down the towels and do something to protect the walls and the doors...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Both doors open towards the walls and both walls are cement block.
  15 answers
  • Ginger the farm gal Ginger the farm gal on Apr 27, 2017

    I would hang a long matching frame on each side with styrofoam backing and soft fabric print picture. Could be put on with glue, double sided tape or velcro strips

  • Kay McKean Kay McKean on Apr 27, 2017

    if you sew you can make a pretty rag doll with a long dress with foam under the dress. Hang her on a hook. Guess you can make a boy doll in dungarees for the other side.

  • Gladys Gladys on Apr 28, 2017

    I think the very easiest and cheapist thing is to get something like this:


    http://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-Line-5-in-White-Adhesive-Backed-Textured-Wall-Protector-U-9244/100344682


    Cost is $2.97 each at Home Depot or you can find the same type of thing at Walmart or Menards or probably any hardware store. On your Hometalk page, type "Laundry Room Decor" or something like that, and you'll see all sorts of ways you could dress up the walls so your white protectors aren't the only things on the wall. Be sure to post a picture after you decide.


    • Tonia Tonia on Apr 28, 2017

      I think these could be sprayed with adhesive and covered with any fabric you like or contact paper.

  • Julies1949 Julies1949 on Apr 28, 2017

    I would glue a rubber door stopper on the doors of the washing machine and dryer. They come in white, clear, silver, black etc

  • Judy Ferrell Judy Ferrell on Apr 28, 2017

    Have you checked to see if the door can be moved to open the other way?

    • Emt9031931 Emt9031931 on May 25, 2017

      Please don't! Mine were that way and I had to pull out clothes from washer, back around the doors with arms full, and try to get the dryer loaded without shutting its door. Pain in the neck!!!

  • G G on Apr 28, 2017

    I have the same problem with my doors marking my bi-fold doors when open the washer and dryer. I used oversized bandaids on each of the door handles.

  • Charly Charly on Apr 28, 2017

    I taped thin styrofoam onto my back door to prevent the door from hitting my dryer. I put wedge shaped door stops in front of both the appliances to stop the doors from hitting my appliances.

  • Anne J Grimes Anne J Grimes on Apr 28, 2017

    I use the flat textured wall protectors. They can be painted with your wall paint and become just about invisible.

  • CecileH CecileH on Apr 28, 2017

    Why not use peg board or something light weight like that cover it with a thin layer of foam then fabric and velcro it to the wall with sticky back velcro. You could do it half way up and use wood trim to mimic a chair rail to make it look more like wallpaper. I'd actually take it up to the shelf and carry the trim all the way around under the shelf. Hopefully you can jimmy the one on the right over a couple inches to get it to fit in. You could always use a 6" pine board painted or stained around the bottom to keep the fabric foam board off the floor, as a baseboard.

  • Cynthia Isslieb Cynthia Isslieb on Apr 28, 2017

    i had the same problem. I used those round protectors from Lowes or Home Depot. I found them in the area by the door knobs. They stick on. They are normally used to cover a hole created by a door knob. That are flat and sturdy. Come in white and beige colors. Small and large round. Good luck

    • Helen Helen on Apr 28, 2017

      Exactly what I was going to say. That would be perfect. I use the small ones for door areas if the little springy door things don't work. Perfect and cheap.

  • Michael Martyna Michael Martyna on Apr 28, 2017

    Most of these have hard objects and are subject to having pinched fingers at times. Cut a pool noodle like they do for car doors and garage walls, not only in half but quarter. You can spray glue a cover over the noodle with cloth for a better design fit. Saves the wall, door, and fingers.

  • Cynthia Isslieb Cynthia Isslieb on Apr 28, 2017

    Great minds think alike!

  • Sheri Gomez Sheri Gomez on Apr 28, 2017

    Wow, thanks everyone, there are some great ideas here! I had thought about using a picture frame covered in fabric but I never thought of using a pool noodle! I will re-read all the suggestions and will post a picture when I am finished. Thanks again!!

  • Sheri Gomez Sheri Gomez on May 07, 2017

    Well, I really liked the pool noodle idea so I went with that...sort of. My husband's a plumbing contractor and he has a bunch of short pieces of black insulation for hot water pipes that look just like pool noodles. I took one of those and cut it the length I needed, then cut it in half lengthwise. I used some E-6000 glue to attach them and taped them up overnight so the glue would set.


    The next day I removed the tape and I am so happy with how it turned out. I wanted something simple and I got it.

  • Emt9031931 Emt9031931 on May 25, 2017

    I would put a bulletin board on one side for putting up pocket forgets and on the other side a cloth shoe pocket organizer for socks that had arguments with their spouse and the spouse left temporarily!