If you get rid of the laundry tub you'll need a drain hook-up installed in the wall. If you do that you might want to keep the option for reinstalling the laundry sink drain again down the road.

Here's what it might look like (the washer hose goes into the tall drain pipe).

http://www.terrylove.com/images/washer_rough_b.jpg

We still use the laundry sink for dirty cleaning jobs like paint brushes, drywall tools, muddy boots, etc.

I prefer the sink for the washer since it is easier to install and monitor the lint filter on the hose end.

Thanks for the info and the picture, homebound. It all makes sense now!

But you mentioned leaving the door open to reinstalling the tub (which means it might actually be useful).

That, coupled with what brickeye said about the lint filter (which we do monitor and clean regularly) brings up a good point. It might be better to keep the tub *just in case* rather than need it one day and not have it...

The tub we've got now is thick, heavy metal from way, way back in the day: 4 feet long and 2 feet wide on a stand. I still want to do the laundry-in-a-closet idea. Do they make laundry sinks that are tiny (like less than than 2 feet)? And how easy would it be to downsize something like that?

Thanks again for the help...

If it looks like this, it can be broken apart into chunks and hauled out (use a small sledgehammer) - (don't do this in flip flops after a fresh pedicure).

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/antiques/msg1222104920011.html

You can leave open the possibility of reinstalling a tub easily by leaving a drain stub and valves for the sink. The first pic has that, too. And, yes, you can get 24" wide tubs, they sell them at any box store, some even with a cabinet look (not that there would be much room in the cabinet under the basin).

The first thing to consider is the drain line size.

A laundry sink may be connected to a 1-1/2" line, but if you pull the sink out and install a laundry standpipe the drain line must then be a 2" line.

Lazypup, I hadn't even thought about the drain line! Thanks. That's something important that I definitely need to look into. Would it be easy/not too expensive to convert one size to the other?

And Homebound, it just had to be an antique. Our house is from 1929, and I've tried to preserve most of the things in it, because they just can't be found in that many places anymore. I can't destroy the sink, but I would like to repurpose it if it can ever figure out how to get it out of the basement.

Besides destruction, does anyone know how this is done or have any ideas for doing it?

Thanks again. I really appreciate the help.