Main-level laundry rooms are an easy sell (no one enjoys hauling clothes hampers up and down several flights of stairs). Sadly, few homeowners realize how noisy a washer and dryer can be until these machines are just feet away from the bedroom, living room, or home office.
Use a motion-arresting pad under your washer and dryer. This will prevent the machines from rocking back and forth during heavy cycles.
Add sound-dampening material to the inside of your laundry closet walls. You can also insulate around the closet door (or add a door if one doesn’t already exist).
Of course, investing in high-quality appliances is the most important step. If your washing machine or dryer is in desperate need of repair, no amount of soundproofing will solve the problem.