Most buyers only truly need water hoses for the washer, venting for the dryer, and a stacking kit if the machines will sit one on top of the other; everything else is optional or model-specific.
A new laundry pair rarely arrives ready to run. The hoses, the venting, and the stacking hardware get left off the truck because they depend on your exact setup — fuel type, floor space, and model number. Buy the wrong kit and you’re making a second trip or waiting a week for a return. The short version: essentials track your installation, not a shopping list.
Which Accessories Are Actually Required By Your Installation?
Washers need hot-and-cold water supply hoses, dryers need venting ductwork, and stacked units need a stacking kit — nothing else is a hard requirement for most households.
The specifics depend on what you already own and how the machines will sit:
- Water hoses: required for the washer, though many units ship with a set included — check the box before buying another pair.
- Venting ductwork: not provided with the dryer and must be purchased separately. It has to match the exhaust direction you’ve chosen.
- Stacking kit: mandatory if the dryer goes on top of the washer. It’s what locks the two units together safely.
- Pedestals: optional for side-by-side setups. They raise the machines for easier loading and add storage underneath.
- Gas dryers: must vent to the outside and need a rigid gas supply line in the laundry room — flexible connectors aren’t a substitute here.
If you’re stacking, the kit is non-negotiable. If the units sit side by side, pedestals are a comfort choice, not a requirement.
How Do You Match Accessories To Your Exact Model?
Start with the model number, because hoses, vent kits, stacking kits, and pedestals are not universal — they’re built for specific machines.
Pull the model and serial plate from inside the door or on the back panel of each unit, then enter that number on the brand’s own US accessory page: the laundry accessories we’ve tested and recommend covers popular picks, but the model lookup confirms fit. Bosch US, LG US, and Samsung US each run their own catalogs, and a part that fits one model often won’t fit the next.
Two gotchas that catch people:
- Some official accessory pages are region-specific. A listing from a non-US catalog isn’t valid buying guidance for a US install.
- Parts get revised. LG’s own pedestal bracket adjustment assembly exists specifically to convert pre-2007 washer and dryer models for mounting on newer pedestals — older machines sometimes need an adapter rather than the current part.
As Bosch US puts it on its accessories page, you enter your model number to see the cleaners and parts that match. Take that step before you add anything to a cart. LG’s laundry accessories page lists pedestals, dryer racks, lint filters, and inlet hoses as its core lineup.
Which Dryer Accessories Are Worth Adding?
Drying racks, side-vent conversion kits, and replacement lint filters are the additions most people actually use — each solves a specific problem the stock machine doesn’t.
| Accessory | What It Solves | When You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Drying rack | Gently dries shoes, delicate sweaters, and items that shouldn’t tumble | You wash things that can’t take heat or rotation |
| Side/bottom vent kit | Redirects exhaust from the back to the side or bottom | Your wall outlet sits low or to the side of the dryer |
| Stacking kit | Secures the dryer on top of the washer | You’re stacking to save floor space |
| Pedestal + bracket | Raises units and converts older models for new pedestals | Side-by-side setup and you want the height |
| Water supply hoses | Feeds hot and cold water to the washer | Always required, sometimes already included |
| Lint filter | Replaces a worn or damaged filter | Airflow drops or the filter tears |
| Touch-up paint | Covers chips and scratches on the finish | Cosmetic only |
That side-vent kit matters more than people expect. Every dryer ships set up for rear venting, so if your exhaust has to exit the bottom or the side, you need a conversion kit. On LG’s page, the rack dry option is the setting that pairs with a drying rack on compatible dryers — pick it, and the drum holds still while air moves through.
Match the ducting to the port you’re using, keep the run as short and straight as you can, and check the filter every few loads. Samsung US sells washer and dryer accessories through its own US page if you’d rather buy direct from the brand.
FAQs
Do new washers come with water hoses?
Often, yes. Many units ship with a hot-and-cold hose set in the box, so check the contents before ordering a pair. If yours didn’t include them, or the included set is too short for your hookups, buy a matching set for the model.
Can I stack any washer and dryer?
No. Stacking depends on the specific machines and requires a stacking kit made for that pairing. Confirm both model numbers, then order the kit for your washer as the base unit. Stacking without the proper kit is a safety risk.
Why does my dryer need a vent kit if it already has a vent?
Because every dryer ships set up for rear exhaust only. If your wall outlet sits low or off to the side, a side or bottom vent kit redirects the airflow so the duct can reach it without a long, kinked run.
References & Sources
- Bosch Home US. “Washers and Dryers Accessories” Model-number lookup for matching parts and cleaners.
- LG US. “Laundry Accessories” Core accessory lineup and rack dry guidance.
- Samsung US. “Washers and Dryers Accessories” Official US accessory catalog.