https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:40:25 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688709 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 06:18:02 +0000 Charmian 688709@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My husband needs an obvious and visual cue to know when something is not dryer-safe ("but honey, check the care tags!" didn't work so well), so our solution has been to buy those mesh laundry bags in a variety of sizes and institute a rule that anything in a mesh bag -- be it sweater, jeans, or bra -- stays out of the dryer.</p> <p>Good luck with the move! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688679 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 04:32:52 +0000 velvetychocolate 688679@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a washer and dryer right here in my own basement, but I *still* do that silly thing where I put a heavy load in first, get it drying and THEN do the lighter/hang to dry stuff. Old habits tend to stick with me, I think. It is true that you can usually get two lighter loads of "hang to dry" stuff done while waiting for a bulky load to finish up in the dryer. </p> <p>Another suggstion - get yourself one of those shopping carts - the kind that your Grandma might use to go grocery shopping with. You can roll a lot more laundry down the hall or stairs in one of these than you can trying to haul around stuff in a typical laundry basket. </p> <p>Something like this:</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whitmor-6342-2779-BLUE-Rolling-Utility-Cart/dp/B001UE8ILS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1344486476&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=shopping+cart" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Whitmor-.....pping+cart</a></p> <p>or this </p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whitmor-6023-149-Rolling-Utility-White/dp/B000LRBKVA/ref=pd_bxgy_hg_img_y" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Whitmor-.....y_hg_img_y</a></p> <p>here is the liner that works with the above wire basket (liner is inexpensive):</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cart-Liner-Hood-Laundry-Shopping/dp/B000QWE8I2/ref=pd_bxgy_hg_img_y" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Cart-Lin.....y_hg_img_y</a></p> <p>You can lug these things down stairs without too much trouble. I'd say it was worth it ....hauling a standard laundry basket is kind of a drag when you're using a shared laundry facility. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688678 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 04:30:43 +0000 Scarlet 688678@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Try to find a time when you can use both washers at once. Often you can combine the contents of two washers into one dryer, especially if you pull some things out to air dry. Sort ahead of time--like Diana said, it often doesn't feel like the cleanest place. Also check Ikea for a laundry rack you can hang from the ceiling and raise and lower with a pulley system. I love that thing--really saves space if you have an out of sight place for it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688676 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 04:25:49 +0000 christieanne 688676@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Diana - find the non-peak times. Also, check Yelp for a local laundromat to use as backup. I use a pretty nice one here for blankets and big comforters - worth it to use a big washer/dryer and save time. Plus mine is by a coffee house, bookstore, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688663 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:56:22 +0000 Diana 688663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been using shared (in building) laundry facilities for years. It's not that bad, although I do miss having my own machine! I'm super sensitive to weird smells (including detergent) and I've never had an issue with odd smells in the washer/dryer, so I don't think it will be an issue for you. </p> <p>My most important tip would be to suss out when the facility is not too busy! It's really annoying to have to wait to put your wet laundry into the dryer (because dryer time is usually about 2X washer time, and in my building we have equal numbers of both). For example, in my building I try to avoid doing laundry on Sunday afternoon, when it's always super busy. However, Sunday morning is fine. I think people tend to wait until the last minute. Oddly enough even though we have only 4 washers/4 dryers for 50 apartments, it never seems to be busy except on sunday afternoon.</p> <p>Some other random tips:<br /> If it takes quarters (like mine does) don't try to collect them, just go to the bank and withdraw rolls of quarters. </p> <p>I use liquid detergent. Yes, it's a bit of a hassle, but especially with larger loads as you are likely to do to save money and time and cold water it dissolves better.</p> <p>I don't know how far you'll have to carry the laundry. Is there an elevator? I live in a fifth floor walkup with no elevator. I learned the hard way that I can NOT carry two full loads of laundry up all the stairs without much distress, so now I only do one load at a time. I don't make too much laundry and I have a lot of clothes so I just do one load a week (either darks or lights) and am OK with that. </p> <p>I never fold in the laundry room. Personally I think the laundry room is not particularly clean so I just toss everything back in the basket and fold at home. </p> <p>Always check the lint trap in the dryer before using it! I always clean it out when I am done but a lot of people do not. </p> <p>You mentioned checking the machine before you use it, but make sure you check it afterwards too! You never know when a sock is going to try to make a break for it, and if someone else uses it after you, you'll probably never get that sock back. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688653 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:28:04 +0000 Kari 688653@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>VC, thank you! So smart. See, these are the things I have forgotten about - thank you so much for sharing your strategies for making laundry day as painless as possible! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688648 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:19:58 +0000 velvetychocolate 688648@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know if this'll help, but it's something that I still do to this day (since living in a rented apartment with shared laundry)...</p> <p>Put the heaviest load in first (ie. towels, comforters, blankets etc.) - and because those things take a lot longer to dry, the next step is to put super light loads into the washing machine - things you'll want to line dry or hang up to dry. While you're waiting *forever* for the towels and comforters etc. to dry, you can get *two* loads of "hand wash" type items washed and hung up to dry. </p> <p>First load - really heavy towels, jeans that you'll be drying in the dryer, sweatshirts, comforters, blankets etc. </p> <p>Sort out the "handwash" or "hang to dry" items. </p> <p>Second load - all dark wash, cold water hand washables that you're going to hang up on hangers to dry anway. Third load - same thing, but brights/lights/colours. </p> <p>What I'm saying is that you can get two loads of "wash and hang to dry only" items done in the time it takes that first bulky load to dry in the dryer. </p> <p>Go to the laundry room with a bunch of hangers - hopefully there's a place to hang things...pull wet items out of the wash, hang up, and put the next load of "wash and hang to dry items" in immediately while waiting for the dryer-ful of towels to dry. You will get two washes of "hang to dry" items washed and hung up while waiting for that first dryer load. Saves a bit of time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688632 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:00:21 +0000 Kari 688632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gaylene, great ideas! Thank you. I especially like the idea of hanging shirts right away.</p> <p>When I was in college, I liked to use clean pillowcases to tote my clean laundry back in, and as we have several spares I think I'll do that again. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688631 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:58:29 +0000 Kari 688631@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Mo! I do know that, but boy did it take me a long time to figure it out! I always thought my mom sorted heavy items separately from delicate knits just because we had so many laundry items to wash - until I started doing laundry own my own and realized that there was more of a method to her madness than I'd previously realized. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688628 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:56:29 +0000 Gaylene 688628@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, that is a comprehensive list.</p> <p>My experience with using shared laundry comes when we stay in my son's apartment for 2-3 weeks when he is away on business. Since I'm used to having my laundry area on the same floor as the bedrooms in our house, it took a bit of an adjustment to having to walk down two flights to the laundry area in his apartment building. </p> <p>One tip that works for me is to bring down a couple of hangers when I'm going to take shirts out of the dryer. I find it easier to hang shirts right away, placing multiple shirts on one hanger, than to try to fold them in the laundry room. The only folding surface is quite small and is not always as clean as I'd like it to be. I also have several extra-large, foldable, nylon shopping bags (which can be easily washed) that I can use to stuff in items like socks, towels, sheets, T's, PJ's-- anything that can be folded more easily in the apartment. I dislike putting clean clothes back in the dirty clothes bags-- just seems wrong to me LOL.</p> <p>I use a product called SOAK for hand laundry both at home and traveling. I received a sample bottle when I purchased my expensive Prima Donna bras a few years ago and I love the stuff. I just fill the sink, or tub, with cool water, squirt in a drop or two, toss in my undies, and let them sit for 10 minutes while I go do something else. When I come back, I give them a swish and a quick rinse (which is optional) and then towel dry. So easy that I do it every night while getting ready for bed. I use the Aquae, because it is practically scentless.</p> <p><a href="http://www.soakwash.com/soak.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.soakwash.com/soak.html</a></p> <p>Hope the move goes well and enjoy your new place. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688626 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:55:20 +0000 Mo 688626@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm using a shared (but free) room here in FL for an 8 unit complex. I leave my basket behind, both when I wash and when I dry, in case I don't get to the load right as it finishes. This way, another tenant can put my clothes into the basket (either out of the washer or the dryer) if they need the machine and I'm not there. I also only fill up enough detergent in the cup for the loads I'm doing and tuck it into the basket, not bringing the whole bottle of detergent unnecessarily. (I tear dryer sheets in half because I never wash huge loads so I'll bring one sheet for a 2 load trip)<br /> One last thing that you all may know but it took me until joining here to figure out - towels and jeans will pill your knit tops if you wash them together. I'd rather do smaller loads more often that mix things that don't belong anymore! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688612 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:49:04 +0000 Isabel 688612@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You're welcome, Kari. When I lived in the city, I tripped over many a threshold because I couldn't get through the door with my laundry basket or I couldn't see where I was going. LOL ! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688604 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:38:37 +0000 Kari 688604@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Isabel, that sounds like a GREAT idea - especially if it turns out that I have go go downstairs in the elevator to use the laundry room. </p> <p>Zapotee, I know - I've been very spoiled by having an in-unit washer/dryer for most of my life. That's a good point to pay attention to the efficiency/power of the dryer and launder with caution at first. I remember having a washing machine at a shared house in college where someone had switched the hot/cold labels on the machine without telling me - so while I thought I had set my clothes to wash on cold, it ended up washing them on hot instead and shrunk a few items. I was very unhappy that my roommates hadn't bothered to tell me about this little quirk beforehand! I'm hoping that weekdays after coming home from work will be an okay time to do laundry, but... we'll see. One way or another, it will get done.</p> <p>Thank you both for chiming in. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688597 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:33:33 +0000 Anonymous 688597@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How organized!</p> <p>Sharing laundry facilities is quite common for NYC apartment dwellers like myself. My only advice is regarding dryers. The communal ones seem to be much stronger than the residential ones so you must be really careful not to overheat your clothes. I do have a series of clothing racks since I prefer to air dry everything. I'm petrified of the dryers. The only items that go in the dryer are my stay home clothes, some pj's, linens and towels. I also avoid doing laundry on weekends. It is a madhouse in there. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688593 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:30:05 +0000 Isabel 688593@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, this is pretty concise. The only thing that I can suggest is to get a luggage rolling carrier to help you with the bulky laundry baskets. They can be difficult to carry and maneuver. You could use a laundry bag that slings over your shoulder. I also really like those beach carts. The main compartment could be for clothes and the other spots for your caddy.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Brands-Wonder-Wheeler-Beach/dp/B006NZ6BJA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1344479377&#038;sr=8-2&#038;keywords=beach+cart" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Bran.....beach+cart</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-tips-for-laundering-without-your-own-personal-washerdryer#post-688589 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:23:39 +0000 Kari 688589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As I mentioned in some of my recent threads, my big news is that I'm moving in just a couple weeks - and while I LOVE most of the benefits that our new apartment will bring, I'm not as thrilled to have a community laundry room.</p> <p>I haven't had shared laundry facilities since EARLY college, and while I realize that having an in-building facility is much better than a laundromat, I'm trying to prepare myself with coping strategies.</p> <p>According to the map of our facility, there are actually multiple laundry rooms scattered throughout the multi-story, U shaped building - it looks like there should be a laundry room just around the corner from our unit, though I'm not sure if it's actually on our floor or not - and I believe there are 2 washers and dryers per room. We'll be paying by loading cash onto a card key (no need to hoard quarters.)</p> <p>Here are some of my ideas so far based on some articles I've read and my current practices, but I'd love it if some of you could chime in with tips and helpful experiences:</p> <p>Cutting down on the laundry load:<br /> * I already wear my clothes multiple times between washes, with the exception of workout gear that gets sweaty and, of course, undies. I wear bras several times between washes too.<br /> * Many of my dresses are poly/spandex blends that can be hand washed and that dry fairly quickly when they are hung up over the shower curtain rod.<br /> * Ditto undies, bras, and hosiery: Hand wash and hang to dry. (Currently, I wash them on delicate cycle.)<br /> * Double up laundry with B. and take turns doing loads - but make sure B. knows which items shouldn't go in the dryer (like my jeans!)<br /> * We have PLENTY of towels and sheets to get us by, so we shouldn't ever be in a crunch without an item that we need.<br /> * I already have stopped using hand towels to wash my face as the terrycloth was too rough on my skin; I use cotton balls or my bare hands instead.<br /> * Get a collapsible drying rack that will fit in the tub, but can be folded up in the closet when not in use</p> <p>Doing laundry in the laundry room:<br /> * Bring laundry supplies in a small caddy<br /> * Use powder laundry detergent, and rather than bringing the whole carton down to the laundry room, keep small, re-usable Tupperware containers filled with the correct proportion of detergent and bring that instead. (Same thing with Oxy-clean, etc.)<br /> * Bring some antibacterial wipes to laundry room to clean up spills and lint (mine, or spills other people left behind)<br /> * Use a touch of white vinegar to eliminate smells<br /> * Check the machines before putting in clothing to ensure that there isn't animal hair, tissue lint, etc. that will get on my clothes<br /> * If leaving the laundry room:<br /> - Set a timer on my iPhone to go off 5-10 minutes before my load is due to be done so that I head over in time (to avoid annoying my neighbors who could be waiting to use the machine)<br /> - Don't leave for a long length of time<br /> - Make sure all supplies/baskets left behind are labeled<br /> - Leave a note on the machine with my name/phone number in case I space out and forget to pick it up</p> <p>Articles that I found very helpful:<br /> <a href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/03/06/ask-unclutterer-laundry-tips-for-apartment-dwellers/" rel="nofollow">http://unclutterer.com/2009/03.....-dwellers/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/tips-for-doing-using-communal-75641" rel="nofollow">http://www.apartmenttherapy.co.....unal-75641</a></p> <p>Anything to add that I'm overlooking? Thanks! </p>