Community washer/dryer etiquette

[Klutch9]

Our apartment building has one washer and dryer in the basement storage room. One of the only things I don't like about this place. We rarely use them, since we see our parents often enough that we usually wash our clothes there. When we do our laundry here though, we normally do multiple loads in a row. Sometimes I'll pop a load in, come back down when it's finished, and see that someone else has put their basket of clothes 'in line', claiming next machine use. This is perfectly acceptable and I have done this before too. But here's the issue... I've had it happen several times before where the other person's clothes will sit there for a long time, up to several hours. What would you do? Obviously everyone's time is precious, including the person who was waiting for their turn, but where do you draw the line?

Our old machines had no indication of time remaining, so it was more understandable if the person plopped their clothes down and didn't come back for awhile, since how would they know... yet, our new machines have time remaining indicators, so you know exactly when you need to be back to transfer from machine to dryer, or put your load in. Now I wait about 30-45 minutes. If the person in line neglects to come back, they lose their place. I feel bad but what else can you do? I guess if I knew who was waiting I'd gladly give them a knock and let them know it was their turn. But after having seen clothes sitting there for a LONG time before, 30-45 minutes is it. The same goes for people who leave their clothes in the dryer long after they have finished... those go on top of the machine

 

[old1]

sounds fair to me!

 

[andrewg]

Not much else you can do. People can and will often be....inconsiderate. Even if the apartment manager decides to install two sets of laundry machines, you will still have the same issue with inconsiderate people.
Can you buy your own small washer/dryer units for your apartment? Does it not have a hookup?
I've lived in apartments that had twenty washer/dryers....same issues. People will leave the wet laundry (or dry) in a machine for a very long time before they return. If you remove them, you risk serious confrontation.
Yep...people are great, ain't they?!

 

[john_pifer]

Before I got my washer and dryer, I forgot my clothes in the dryer, and someone had folded them neatly and left them on top of the dryer.

 

[dparm]

I got tired of dealing with that kind of issue (90% of apartment dwellers don't give a [censored] about their fellow residents), so I just started doing laundry in off-hours. That means either very late at night (after 10pm) or in the middle of the day when people are at work. Doing it in the late afternoon or after dinner is guaranteed to frustrate you with people monopolizing stuff.

 

[The_Jeff]

It's the same thing with waiting in line for the airplane toilet. Some people just have to go after eating and they take 15 minutes to relax, in complete inconsideration. You don't want to loiter in the aisle to claim your spot as the stewardess will yell at you. When someone exits you'll see three or four passengers twist in their seats to try to be next.

Off hours is the best trick for this. Same with grocery shopping, eating out, etc.

I fail to see how going to Applebees at 6:30 on a Friday is "relaxing" to anyone.

 

[99Saturn]

Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Before I got my washer and dryer, I forgot my clothes in the dryer, and someone had folded them neatly and left them on top of the dryer.

I've seen that before, might have happened to me once when we lived in an apartment.
What's the etiquette there, you walk in on someone folding up your underwear...

...or you girlfriend/wife's underwear?

 

[Donald]

Throw a raw onion into the dryer load of anyone who [censored] you off.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: dparm
I got tired of dealing with that kind of issue (90% of apartment dwellers don't give a [censored] about their fellow residents), so I just started doing laundry in off-hours. That means either very late at night (after 10pm) or in the middle of the day when people are at work. Doing it in the late afternoon or after dinner is guaranteed to frustrate you with people monopolizing stuff.


When I rented, the place I lived at had a policy that disallowed doing laundry after 2200, because the laundry room adjoined one of the units. The unit would complain when other tenants broke this rule and we would all receieve a warni g letter from the management association. The worst part is, when I was workimg swing shift I'd see THAT UNIT doing laundry at close to midnight on a regular basis!
Originally Posted By: eljefino
It's the same thing with waiting in line for the airplane toilet. Some people just have to go after eating and they take 15 minutes to relax, in complete inconsideration. You don't want to loiter in the aisle to claim your spot as the stewardess will yell at you. When someone exits you'll see three or four passengers twist in their seats to try to be next.

Off hours is the best trick for this. Same with grocery shopping, eating out, etc.

I fail to see how going to Applebees at 6:30 on a Friday is "relaxing" to anyone.

I rushed to the back to use the plane's bathroom while laying over on a flight last month. When I came back, some lady was sitting in my seat, asking who's bag was there. I politely informed her that it was my bag, holding my seat while I used the bathroom. She raised her voice at me and refused to get up. I don't often fly SW, but a figured having my bag there would be sufficient to hold my seat. Another seat was open five back, so I used my "Big Boy' voice and politely asked her to immediately hand me my bag.

//

For the OP, what you're doing is fine. I found the following acceptable:

1. No matter how long it has been, it was acceptable to place done laundry atop the unit or on the big folding table there.

2. We too had digital indication of time, so you have 30 minutes from the time the previous cycle ends to put your laundry in before you lose your spot.

3. If you habitually fail to leave the washer lid open after you're finished and/or clean the lint trap, you lose all of the aforementioned courtesies.

 

[rjundi]

I remember this very thing driving to buy my first home at age 22(could not stand apartment neighbors). Not a great reason but sure worked out for the best.

Of course I was stuck using the laundrymat shortly thereafter since the supplied washer broke shortly after closing and big surprise I was too.

 

[Nick1994]

Maybe get a cheap laundry basket, either those cloth ones or a plastic one, probably could get it at a dollar store and pick up a couple and if there's someone's clothes in the dryer you could put them in there so they aren't sitting out all over. Plus you're out a dollar.

 

[01rangerxl]

One washer/dryer seems like a pretty bad situation. The utmost courtesy would be required there. I would have no problem "cutting" in line if someone forgets their clothes. You "forget," you lose.

My building has four washers and four dryers with time indicators. I do laundry during down times, which is usually works out. Saturday morning is my favorite time.

During the times when everyone wants to do laundry though, the inconsiderate people come out. I am willing to wait on someone to get their clothes out, but after 45 minutes, your stuff goes on top of the machine. This is the general consensus in the building it seems - I have seen other people do it, and have discussed the issue with other residents. Some only give 15 minutes, and I don't really blame them. Laundry room status can be seen online, and the machines have a set time, so there isn't much of an excuse for not knowing when your clothes are done.

The maintenance guy put up a sign warning that clothes left in the room over 48 hours will be thrown out.

 

[TWG1572]

We had the same issue at one of the apartment buildings I lived in. It was a fourplex, one washer and dryer. Two of my three neighbors were considerate, but the third would literally leave their wash in the machines for days. This was both the washer and the dryer. I got to the point where I would just remove their laundry and pile on top.

I think giving people a grace period of say an hour is considerate. Things happen and you sometimes forget about your laundry. Anything after that, I'd do the same as you. Pull it and pile it on top of the machine.

 

[Vikas]

Many of the fancier apartments these days have built-in washer dryer. I believe this is more common now than it was in the past but could be location specific.

 

[simple_gifts]

The local mat has 24 hour availability and has all the rules posted in English and in Spanish. Every contingency has been covered including photos of how to put the money in the slots.

There is no one around but it is pretty clear what the pecking order and resposibilities of the people with stuff in the drums are.

If the wash owners are not there, the next person in line can remove their stuff.

 

[sciphi]

Back in school when I shared laundry facilities, we had similar rules. If the clothes were left in there for a while, they were indeed placed on top of the machine.

Just like everywhere else, it's those few yahoos who muck it up for everybody else...