Dorm Laundry Etiquette

<p>I live in a college dorm, and we have 2 washers and 2 dryers on our floor. Last time I did laundry on a tuesday morning before my afternoon classes. I used both washers (one for lights and one for darks) so that I could put all of my laundry in one dryer for 1 cycle. However, there are 44 other girls on my floor and they might have wanted to do laundry at the same time... Is it more correct to use both at the same time and one cycle in the dryer, or to use one for 2 cycles and then one dryer for 2 cycles as well?</p>

<p>An empty washer (or dryer) is there for the taking. Feel free to use both of them; etiquette does not require that you leave an unused machine unused, just in case someone else who wants it may (or may not) show up.</p>

<p>Do you have floor meetings? That would be a good place to ask that question.</p>

<p>I think it is better to use both washers at the same time if no one else arrives at the same time you do.</p>

<p>Think of it this way: If you use only one washer even though nobody else is there from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., then the girl who arrives at 10:30 can only use one washer (because you will be using the second one for your second load). She will have therefore have to wait longer to finish her wash–and when the third girl arrives at 11 a.m., she will also have to wait longer to finish her wash, because girl 2 is doing her second load. By leaving a washer empty from 10 to 10:30, you’ve tried to be nice, but really have delayed everyone all day long.</p>

<p>This is one case where the principle of first come, first served really works better for everyone.</p>

<p>Unless you are there to swap out your laundry from the washers to the dryer quickly after the wash finishes, then you are better off using only one machine at a time. How would you feel waiting for a washer when one person held up two machines? As you said, there are 44 girls.</p>

<p>I live in a dorm, and if it were me I would just use both washers and probably both dryers! If someone shows up in the laundry room five minutes after you do you could each take a washer, but otherwise I really wouldn’t worry about it. A cycle lasts maybe 30 minutes, so it’s not like you’re taking up the washers for hours on end.</p>

<p>Its free for all, don’t feel bad. They’d probably do the same.</p>

<p>Blueiguana raised a good point (once again)–I was assuming that you’d be there to swap your laundry from the washer to the dryer quickly. I always stayed with my wash for the six years that I used public washing machines; clothing has been known to disappear when unguarded.</p>

<p>I think it’s helpful to others that you are doing laundry at an off-peak time.
It seems in most dorms like Sunday afternoons are when everyone remembers that they need to get some laundry done.</p>

<p>You’re fine. With only two washers, there isn’t a whole lot you can do. Just put in both loads at once. Using just one drier is nice of you, since driers tend to take longer than washers.</p>

<p>The only time I’ve ever gotten angry at someone for using multiple washers is when I saw a girl in our dorm laundry room use FIVE to do her laundry – light t-shirts, dark t-shirts, jeans, socks, and underwear. I was putting in laundry at the same time – darks and lights – and ended up with only one washer because she had taken all the other available machines. I ended up having to do darks a few hours later. I wanted to personally call whoever taught that girl to sort laundry and give them a piece of my mind.</p>

<p>Also fair game to empty machines when the cycle is finished- you do not have to wait for someone to remember their laundry. Never try to dry someone else’s clothes- you don’t want to ruin any.</p>

<p>All good points for the OP to consider. I think the best option when living with other people would be to ask for a general rule be agreed to.
If no one is there grab both and you will be in the dorm to swap out, grab both. If you’re headed to class use both and leave your hamper for wet clothes to be moved to if someone else needs the machine. During certain hours, one machine only. Whatever the majority agrees to is what should be followed. mafool suggested bringing it up at a dorm meeting. Perfect!</p>

<p>I’m going to give you an operations geek answer to your question. The washer-dryer time is limited given the number of students in the dorm and is perishable (meaning if no one uses an open slot there is no way to get the time back) … therefore … the “best thing” for everyone in the dorm is to use an open machine when you can; this minimizes the amount of unused washer-dryer time and ultimately will lead to less conflicts over washer-dryer time since the usage will be spread over more hours.</p>

<p>I’d use both machines. In fact, sometimes when I’m overwhelmed with laundry, I’ll pack it up and take it to the laundromat so I can use multiple machines and get it done.</p>

<p>Use both washers, and then use both dryers, which allows you to minimize the amount of time that you are using any of the equipment.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the responses! </p>

<p>I use a timer on my phone so I can switch everything when its done so I’m done faster, and I’ve only seen other people doing laundry on Saturdays and Sundays, so maybe Im fine the way I’m doing it.</p>

<p>You are sweet to be concerned. Yes, your method seems to be fine!</p>

<p>It is thoughtful of you to ask…</p>

<p>Use both washers AND be sure to get your laundrey into the dryers ASAP.
Nothing worse than going into a laundrey room to find wet laundery–and the girl has gone to class etc for hours and doesn’t come back in a timely manner. </p>

<p>In college laundrey rooms kids often take wet clothes out and dump them on a counter etc so they can use the washers/dryers…they often do not put a kids stuff in the dryer (if its a pay machine) …sadly I have seen ADULTS do this on a cruise ship in those laundrey rooms! (so the bad behavior doesn’t always stop with the teen/college years.)</p>

<p>fogfog, I would rather that people not put laundry in the dryer for me if I were a few minutes late! I don’t put everything in the dryer, and some other things can’t handle high heat.</p>

<p>I agree, mafool. I’m particular about my laundry (and was, even in college). Some things I dry, some I just partially dry and then hang, etc. I also don’t like others handling my laundry. So I made it a point always to be there a bit before my loads needed transferring. That way nobody was tempted to “help” me, and I wasn’t tying up machines others wanted to use.</p>