On-Campus Living: Laundry Room Etiquette Oct 07 '00    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Everyone has to wash clothes. Not everyone DOES, but everyone SHOULD. Maybe it's your first time doing laundry by yourself, or maybe you're an old pro. Just a warning: a college laundry room can be brutal, cutthroat, and downright dangerous. But it doesn't have to be. Here are a few tips to help you out. Don't wait until the weekend. This can be a crucial point. Washing machines and dryers are in high demand on the weekend, because that's when most people have the time to start thinking about that huge pile of dirty clothes that's been growing for the past week or two. Try to schedule your clothes-washing hours during the week, preferably Monday through Thursday, during daylight hours. Most people will be at class, studying, or participating in one of the many activities that might interest you, if you weren't so determined to wash those clothes. So anyway, that's the first step -- securing an open machine. Keep a watchful eye on your detergent. Once you've started the washing machine, don't leave your detergent unattended. People WILL use it, if they so desire. For that matter, don't leave *anything* unattended, if you can help it. But if you must leave the machine running, and come back later... Watch your time. Most washing machines and dryers have a timer on them that shows how many minutes are left in the cycle. Know when your machine is going to stop, and come back to retrieve your clothes before that time. This is a courtesy to others who are waiting for the machines. It's also to be sure that you get there before somebody else decides that they want your machine, and takes your clothes out themselves. You probably don't want just anybody touching your clothes and frilly under-things, if you do indeed possess frilly under-things. Trust me, it's not a good thing to come back and find your clothes in a heap. You then have to wonder if anything's missing, and it'll probably cross your mind that you want to run it through another washer cycle just to make sure it really is CLEAN. Occasionally, somebody will overlook this rule, and you'll be the one waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for a machine to open up. If this happens... How to deal with a washer/dryer Hog. Wait about ten minutes after the machine has stopped to remove the clothes inside. If you're taking them out of a washer, pile the clothes on top of an open dryer. If you're taking the clothes out of a dryer, fold them nicely and put them on top of the same dryer, or on a nearby *clean* surface. If the owner of the clothes comes back while you're in the middle of doing this, be nice and apologize, then explain that you really needed a washer/dryer and that you waited before taking the clothes out. If the person becomes decidedly agitated or angry, you can look to a higher authority for help. Don't start a laundry room brawl. They're not fun. OH, and don't ever take someone else's clothes out of a machine before the machine has stopped, even if it looks like the clothes are already done. They put it through the cycle for a reason, and you know that you wouldn't appreciate it if someone did that to you. Be courteous, helpful, and understanding. :::cringe::: I know, I know. But the fact remains that everyone DOES have to do laundry, and this is probably the only really convenient place to do it. Don't make enemies. It's as simple as that. I wish you luck. May your quarters be plentiful and your fabric softener be...soft.

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