One of the biggest tests of adulting is being able to do your own laundry right. If you cannot pass this test, I’m sorry, you’re just simply not an adult yet.
I’m kidding (somewhat). I still wear pineapple printed socks and think that this one sweater with cats on it that I got for $10 at H&M is my “lucky” sweater, so who am I to judge adulthood? But in all seriousness, if you haven’t learned how to do your own laundry yet, college is the perfect time to start. I can almost guarantee that your first attempt at doing your own laundry wasn’t (or will not be) without a few bumps in the road. So to help you out, here are my tips for getting your laundry done:
1. If you pay for laundry at your school, make sure you have enough money on your account beforehand.
At my school, students pay to use a washer and dryer using what’s basically a campus debit card. I have had the issue where I’m getting ready to do laundry and then realize that I didn’t add more money to my campus debit card, and then I go bonkers looking for the nearest machine so I can add funds to my card. Learn from my mistake (so you don’t have to learn from your own!) and always pay attention to all funds on your campus accounts.
2. Keep all your dirty clothes in one place.
Don’t toss your dirty t-shirts under your bed, or leave your pants lying around random places. When you’re ready to wash them you won’t be able to find them. Then you’ll be super annoyed with yourself when you want to wear them again but, oh wait, it’s dirty because you couldn’t find it to wash the first time. Use a clothes hamper or a laundry basket, or other laundry holding item to store dirty clothes.
3. Pencil in time in your schedule to do your laundry.
Unfortunately, laundry is not a college activity that can be half-assed. It takes time to separate your clothes (which I’ll talk about later), transfer them from washer to dryer (or hang them out to be air-dried), and fold them and put them away when they’re dry. You can definitely do other tasks while you wait for your clothes to wash and dry, but don’t venture too far because in the laundry room, you can pay the consequences for forgetfulness. Which brings me to my next tip…
4. Always set a timer.
If you don’t plan to camp out next to your washer or dryer so that you can remove your clothes the second they’re done, set a timer for yourself. People can be savage AF and will not hesitate to take your clothes and dump them somewhere when the machine stops. They won’t care that you just wanted to finish one more problem on the math homework before you tend to your clothes. To avoid conflicts, just use the timer on your phone so it alarms when it’s time for you to head back to the laundry room to remove your clothes.
5. Invest: detergent pods and dryer sheets.
Instead of lugging a heavy bottle of laundry detergent with you, buy a bag of detergent pods that dissolve in the water and have just the right amount of detergent to clean your clothes. Plus, they’re fun to toss into the washing machine! Just don’t do what I did once and toss in too many — some of the pods ended up not dissolving enough and some of my socks and shirts were left with sticky residue. Dryer sheets are great for making your clothes smell great as they tumble, so don’t forget those.
6. Don’t leave your laundry supplies in the laundry room.
People have no chill and will probably use your stuff. Unless you want to share your dryer sheets with the whole building, always keep an eye on your supplies.
7. Separate your clothes.
This sounds super annoying and like a lot of work, but if you don’t do this you might end up with pastel shirts that should be white. A couple of my items should be hand-washed, so I usually save those for when I go home so that they can be washed there. Additionally…
8. Don’t assume that everything can go in the dryer.
This is how I end up shrinking so many of my favorite sweaters! I love a nice, loosely fitted sweater (especially during the fall!) so it hurts when I accidentally shrink them a bit because I didn’t read the label to know that they must be air-dried. Did you know that you can ask Siri how to wash or dry a piece of clothing???? When in doubt, ask Siri!
9. Consider investing in a fold-up clothing rack.
If Siri tells you that you cannot toss your favorite dress into the dryer, hanging it out on a clothing rack is probably your best solution. This is a great investment if a large number of your clothes must be air-dried. And because it’s a fold-up rack, it can be stored very easily when not in use.
10. Don’t be rude.
Your laundry experience can be so much more pleasant if you bite back belligerence, even if the person you’re confronting totally deserves a slap across the face. Unfortunately, not everything can be solved with a smile, and sometimes you will need to be firm but if you can avoid yelling, be the bigger person and do so.
Bonus Tips:
11. Empty your pockets.
Mom isn’t here to save that $5 bill that you left in your back pocket from drowning in the washer. Make sure you remove anything — papers, money, coins, pencils, pens, food(?) — that you wouldn’t want to become a washed up mess!
12. Don’t use any laundry products that don’t agree with your skin.
If your laundry detergent is giving you a rash, you probably shouldn’t use it anymore. Remember that you’re likely many miles away from home and your parents might not be able to rush to your side if you need them, so you need to take care of yourself. Avoid detergents with ingredients that your skin deems too harsh.
What are your tips for doing laundry in college?
