You’ve finally moved out of your childhood bedroom and into your college dorm. And with that comes all the new responsibilities: cooking for yourself, doing your laundry, and managing your finances. For many students, laundry is one of the most daunting tasks. But have no fear! We’re here to help you with a guide on how to do laundry in college.
Table of Contents
Steps on How to Do Laundry In College
01 Locate Laundry Room
The first thing you need to do when doing laundry in college is finding your laundry room. This may be in your dorm building, or it may be in a separate building on campus. To locate your laundry room, you can ask another student or dorm mate. You could also locate it on a campus map. Once you’ve found it, take a look around and familiarize yourself with the space.
Be sure to find out the payment method to use the laundry room in your college because it differs by college some you may need to pay a quarter or use your student ID. If you have any questions, there will usually be a sign with the contact information for the person in charge of that laundry room.
02 Read The Signs
After you’ve located your laundry room and familiarized yourself with the space, take a look at the signs that are posted. These signs will have important information such as the hours of operation, how to use the machines, and any rules that are specific to that laundry room.
It is important to read and follow the signs because if you don’t you could end up damaging the machines or getting your clothes ruined. Plus, it’s just common courtesy to follow the rules that are in place for everyone’s benefit.
03 Prepare For Laundry
Now that you know where your laundry room is and how to use the machines, it’s time to prepare for laundry day. First, you’ll need to gather all of your dirty clothes. You can either keep them in a hamper or bag until you’re ready to wash them.
Also, gather your laundry supplies. You can have a small basket to put all your necessary laundry materials in. You will need supplies like;
- Laundry detergent
- Fabric softener,
- Dryer sheets
- Stain removal
- Laundry bag or hamper.
Don’t forget to bring your change if paying in quarters or your student ID. You don’t want to be running back to your dorm room after you’ve planned on doing laundry.
04 Sort Your Clothes
Once you have all your dirty clothes gathered, it’s time to sort them. You should sort your clothes by color and fabric type. This will help prevent your clothes from getting ruined in the wash.
It’s also a good idea to check your pockets before you put your clothes in the wash. You don’t want to end up with a pocket full of gum or a pen that has bled through your shirt.
You can sort clothes by:
- Colour: Separate the dark-colored clothes from the light-colored ones
- Fabric type: Sort delicate items from sturdy items. So beddings and towels go in a different load of laundry.
- Soiled clothing: Put heavily soiled clothing in a separate pile from lightly soiled clothing.
Tips For Sorting
- Sort cloth in your room before leaving for the laundry room
- Separate new clothes from loads of clothes as they are more vibrant and can bleed out.
- Stick to the basic sorting technique as you don’t have enough resources to go all out.
- Zip all zippers and button all buttons to prevent them from snagging other clothes.
05 Wash Your Clothes
Now that your clothes are sorted, it’s time to start washing them. If you’re using a washing machine, be sure to follow the instructions on how to use it. Usually, you’ll need to add laundry detergent and fabric softener before adding your clothes. Ensure to put the detergent or softer in the right compartment.
Load the machine with the right amount of clothes. You don’t want to overload the machine because it won’t clean your clothes as well and could damage the machine.
Once your clothes are in the washing machine, select the correct cycle. Again, this will depend on the type of fabric of your clothing. Be sure to read the care labels on your clothing so that you know how to properly care for them. Most laundry machines will have a standard cycle that will work for most types of clothing.
There are also different water temperatures for different types of fabric. The most common are;
- Hot- For heavily soiled and white clothes.
- Warm- For most types of clothing.
- Cold- To protect delicate fabrics or to brighten colors.
P.S: There is a setting on most machines labeled permanent press. This is for synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon. Clothes labeled permanent pressed should always be washed in this setting.
06 Dry Your Clothes
After the cycle is done, your clothes will need to go into the dryer. Be sure to remove them from the washing machine promptly so that they don’t start to mildew and other students from tossing out your cloth from the washer. There are two main ways to dry your clothes; in a dryer or on a clothesline. Most laundry rooms will have both options available.
If you are using the dryer, transfer your clothes from the washer into the dryer. Be sure to clean out the lint trap before you start the dryer. Add a dryer sheet to your load of laundry. This will help reduce static and make your clothes smell nice. Select the correct cycle for your clothes. Once again, refer to the care labels on your clothing.
If you are air-drying your clothes, you’ll need to transfer them to a clothesline or drying rack. Be sure to read the care labels on your clothing so that you know how best to air-dry them.
Some items should never be put in the dryer as they will shrink or become damaged. These items include; Wool, Silk, Spandex, and any other delicate items.
07 Fold or Hang Your Clothes
Once your clothes are dry, it’s time to fold or hang them. Be sure to fold your clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer so that they don’t become wrinkled. Start with your larger items and then move on to your smaller items.
If you are hanging your clothes, be sure to use hangers that won’t damage your clothing. Wire hangers can leave rust marks on delicate fabrics. Plastic or wooden hangers are a better option.
General Tips For Carrying Out Laundry In College
- Create a laundry chart to help strategize and plan your time.
- Do your laundry at a strategic time: Doing your laundry at certain times can help you avoid crowds and have a better chance of getting a washer or dryer. Early in the morning or late at night. The laundry room will be less crowded and you’ll have a better chance of getting a washer and dryer. Avoid doing your laundry on weekends, as they will be more people attempting to do the same.
- Invest in a small laundry basket or bag to carry your clothes in. This will make it easier to transport your clothes back and forth from your room to the laundry room.
- Check the washer before dumping your clothes in it: To avoid surprises check to see if the washer is clean before putting in your clothes. There might be a residue of detergent or bleach from the last cycle.
- Set timer on your phone: to avoid overdrying your clothes which could lead to shrinkage, set a timer on your phone for the estimated time it will take for your load to dry. This also goes for washing.
- Don’t leave your clothes in the washer: Once your cycle is done, remove your clothes from the washer so that other students can use them.
- Read the label of clothes: to make sure you are using the right cycle and temperature.
- Pre-treat stains: to avoid set-in stains, pre-treat your clothes before washing them.