I’ll admit that I was a bit pampered while growing up since I didn’t do my own laundry until I left for college. Unlike some of my classmates, at least I knew how to do my own laundry. Yes, there are some boys and girls who have no idea how to even start doing laundry, and seem to be too lazy to read the directions on the detergent label.
Yet, I still wish there were classes on laundry etiquette. Many clothes of mine have been ruined due to the fact that I had to learn from mistakes. Like, mixing jeans with white towels is a bad thing? I never knew! It’s more complicated than I originally thought. And then there are other things…
I use a laundry room shared with my entire apartment complex, and I also used a laundry room while in the dorms… but I am still confused on a few things.
1. Is it acceptable to take out someone else’s clothes out of the washer or dryer if they’re done and no one has arrived to take the clothes out? Honestly, it’s really inconvenient to wait for an hour just for someone to empty out a washer or dryer, but it’s also really odd to touch someone else’s clothes (especially when they’re wet).In the dorms, I would usually put someone’s clothes from the washer to the dryer, because it was such a dog eat dog situation. Also, usually the person wouldn’t come for their clothes until the next day, and I figured if they were already dry it’d be that much better. Yet, getting caught by the person whose clothes you moved could have disastrous consequences. Like… yelling. :-/
2. What do you do if your underwear falls on the floor when you’re taking them from the washer and trying to put them in dryer? Are they dirty again at that point? I’ve always stuck it in the dryer, hoping the heat would kill some of the germs, but now I’m wondering if I am wrong.
3. How often am I supposed to wash blankets, sheets, pillow cases, towels, etc.? I obviously wash my clothes after wearing them once, but the other things… I have no idea. Wash when it starts to stink? Is that sanitary?
4. Cleaning the lint catcher when a load is done should also be common practice, right?
Now, a different set of questions for when your apartment (or house) has its own washer and dryer, but you have roommates.
1. Is it okay for your friends to come over and do laundry? I’ve been on both ends of this situation. If it’s your friends, of course you want them to benefit from your washer and dryer. But if it’s not your friends, you’re paying for them to use up your water and electricity. Also, it ties up the washer when others who live in the house may need it.
2. I had a roommate that used to wash one or two things at a time. What a waste! She would also put her towel in the dryer every morning. So it would be warm? So it would be dry? I have no idea, but what a waste! Crazy, wasteful Jenny who would leave her fan on in her room all summer long, even when she was not home.
3. Once again, cleaning the lint catcher when a load is done should also be common practice. Yet, no one seems to like doing this… Not even me! hehe!
Well, it looks like it’s time for me to get my clothes out of the dryer. Better hurry before they’re thrown on the community table. (Gross.)
COMMENTS
I’ve only had to share a washer/dryer with one roomie, so my rules probably don’t carry much weight.
1. Acceptable if you know the person well enough. Unacceptable, inconsiderate, and unresposible of them to leave their clothes in there for an extended period of time.
2. 5 second rule applies here.
3. I’ve always thought it depended on whether or not you take a shower before you go to bed or not. Pillow cases more often than sheets.
4. Nobody remembers to clean the lint trap until they pull the clothes out of the dryer and they’re still wet.
Of course, I’m biased – when looking for apartments/condos an in-house washer/dryer is a MUST and I won’t even consider it without. Same goes for the bathroom. 
Posted by: Ian Ashley at November 10, 2005 11:35 PM
With laundry, it all depends. I wouldn’t mind a friend coming by to use it once in awhile… If the laundry has just finished washing, I’ll move it to the dryer for someone, but I usually leave dried laundry in the dryer… No matter how much of a rush I’m in, it’s never enough to have me throw someone’s clothes all over because I personally wouldn’t want that done to me. But yea, I just throw everything in at once – always have, always will.
Posted by: suki at November 12, 2005 12:19 AM
For bedding I do it every Sunday, if wishes were fishes I’d have clean soft sheets every day though.
Towels don’t last long in Oregon, they start smelling funky after 2 or 3 goes… Into the hamper flyboy!
Posted by: Jonathan at November 14, 2005 10:39 PM
Tags: laundry
