Good Neighbor Tips: Laundry Room Etiquette

Sharing a laundry room with other people requires that everyone cooperate and act courteously towards one another in making sure that everyone has a chance to get their laundry done.

Here are some tips on how to be a good laundry neighbor:

• Know your laundry facilities –  Learn the time each machine takes to avoid leaving clothes abandoned for long periods of time. A typical washer operates for about 30 minutes on average, while a dryer can take between 45 to 60 minutes.
• Never stop another resident’s laundry in mid-wash or dry to use it. It’s not only rude, but you never know what is inside the machine, whether it’s regular clothes or a heavy duty blanket.
• Never insert another resident’s wet clothes into a dryer. Every person has their own specific way of drying clothes and their are some items that shouldn’t ever be placed in the dryer.
• Avoid using heavily scented washer detergent. It can leave a residue and smell behind for other users of the same machine.
• If there’s a limited amount of washers and dryers available and another person’s clothes have been in there for a long time, please be considerate.  Place their clothes on a clean plastic or garbage bag on a counter. Each resident is responsible for their own laundry, but it is also a two-way street way of using shared laundry facilities.
• Always clean out lint trays and any spills you may have made before leaving the area.
• If you have time available during off peak hours (after work or weekends), it can be a good time to get your laundry done quickly and without waiting!

These few little things can make sharing a laundry facility with others a much easier thing and keep the building nice and clean!