Laundry. It’s inevitable, and it may not be your favorite chore, but it’s a necessary one, so we put together a few helpful tips to make it a little easier. First things first: laundry facilities at Marshall are available in every residence hall, and they’re completely free for students to use!
- Know your basics: Start by figuring out where your laundry room is, when it’s busiest and what your machines can (and can’t) handle. Helpful hint: Sundays tend to be the most popular laundry day, so try going early in the morning or late on a weeknight if you want to avoid the rush.
- Gather your essentials: You should have a laundry basket, detergent, dryer sheets and a stain remover. Helpful tip: Make sure you measure your detergent carefully. Using too much can leave a residue, while too little may not clean your clothes properly.
- Make a laundry schedule: Once you settle into your semester routine, figure out the best days and times to do laundry. Decide whether you want to tackle it all in one big weekly session or break it up into smaller loads throughout the week. Sticking to a schedule can help you avoid last-minute laundry emergencies!
- Sort smart: We’ve all heard laundry horror stories about colors running, and it’s not fun when it happens to your favorite shirt. To avoid disaster, make sure to sort your laundry into lights, darks, delicates, towels, bedding and so on. Most washers have specific settings for delicates and bedding, so use those when needed. If you’re afraid that colors might run, toss in a color catcher or two. These little sheets trap loose dye in the water, keeping your whites bright and your colors looking fresh, even if a little color escapes.
- Be a good laundry room citizen: Laundry rooms can get crowded, so it’s important to keep things running smoothly for everyone. Don’t leave your clothes in the washer or dryer too long, wipe up any spills and always clean out the lint trap. Setting a timer on your phone is a lifesaver so you don’t forget your laundry. Just remember — you’re not the only one using the machines, so clean up after yourself and respect other people’s stuff, too.
- Protect your belongings: Make sure you label everything, and use mesh bags for socks and other small items to keep them from disappearing in the wash.
Questions about doing laundry on campus? Reach out to Marshall University Housing for more information.