Making a washing machine with a washing drum for children

The ultimate addition to the ‘ play kitchen’? It’s definitely the laundry room. Children simply love imitating us adults – even when it comes to household chores that we often find rather tedious. That’s why we’ve got another brilliant IKEA hack for you: we’re making a washing machine for children! As always, it’s really simple, and at the end the kids will be rewarded with loads of fun. Plus, we’ve got another highlight: the free craft template for washing powder in the ‘ play kitchen’. Our children’s washing machine is yet another clever IKEA hack. The special touch is the washing drum – it makes your DIY washing machine look just like the real thing. Your children will be amazed!

Montessori Waschmaschine mit Wäscheständer

Shopping list for the children’s washing machine

IKEA KALLAX shelving unit with two compartments
two inserts for the KALLAX
furniture feet, e.g. IKEA STUBBARP
SAUBAFIX sticker set from Limmaland

The children’s washing machine is put together in no time at all. Fit the KALLAX shelving unit with furniture feet and inserts. Then stick the SAUBAFIX stickers onto the shelving unit. And there you have it – the washing machine is ready!

Montessori Waschmaschine Waschtrommel Zubehör

The highlight: the DIY laundry drum

. A washing machine with nothing in it is a bit of a bore. To make it look just like the grown-ups’ laundry room, you’ll obviously need a laundry drum as well.

Here’s what you’ll need for the washing drum

an IKEA VISPAD kitchen sieve/colander for just 1.99 euros
a cardboard box
Decorative foil, e.g. Yard goods from Limmaland
a pencil
a pair of scissors or, better still, a craft knife
hot glue

This completes the laundry room!

To go with our Montessori washing machine, you’ll find the perfect DIY clothes horse for children here. In no time at all, you can create a complete laundry room for little everyday heroes.

See the instructions

Montessori Waschmaschine Waschtrommel DIY

Step-by-step guide

Grab a pencil, and let’s get started. First, place the kitchen sieve on top of the cardboard box and trace around the edge. Next, get your craft knife or scissors out: cut into the cardboard box from the centre of the circle you’ve drawn, stopping about 1 cm short of the outline. Make sure you leave that one centimetre of space between the cut and the drawn circle, as the sieve will then be inserted into the cardboard and needs to stay firmly in place – it mustn’t slip through ;)
Now for the finishing touches: to make the whole thing look nicer, it’s time to use the decorative film. Cover the cardboard with ‘ decal’. Make sure to leave out the cut-out hole. Done? You can now slot the sieve into the cardboard box and secure it around the edge with hot glue.
Now simply place the cardboard box with the kitchen sieve into the washing machine compartment of the KALLAX shelving unit. It’s best to secure the box through the opening from inside the KALLAX shelving unit. This makes it more stable and prevents everything from falling apart whilst playing.
Now it’s time for the stickers! Grab our SAUBAFIX sticker set and get sticking. The little details make for extra fun for your little ones. NEW: The Saubafix ‘ decal’ are now also available individually, e.g. for the ‘ play kitchen’.

IKEA hacks for the KALLAX shelving unit

Discover even more ideas on how to transform and upgrade your IKEA KALLAX shelving unit in no time at all.

KALLAX hacks