Essential Laundry Equipment for College

College is a massive transition in virtually all areas of your life even in the more mundane and everyday responsibilities. For many college students, undergraduate life is the first time they handle laundry all on their own. As you start making a list of all the items you’ll need to succeed in college, make some room for this essential laundry equipment. These handy, convenient, and low-cost items will make your routine visits to the campus laundry room or local laundromat that much quicker and seamless.

Laundry basket.

The corner of the dorm room might seem like the perfect place to throw your laundry for the first few weeks of college, but you’ll quickly be looking for an alternative solution. That’s where laundry baskets come into play. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials, but their basic function is identical: to keep your dirty clothes in one convenient place until laundry day comes around. The best laundry baskets for college students are compact, lightweight, and foldable in some way. This way, you can easily store it away when you’re not using it to maximize the limited amount of living space you’re dealing with in college.

Laundry bag.

While your laundry basket is perfect for stowing away dirty clothes, it’s probably not designed to take on the road. As a result, you’ll need a laundry bag to haul everything from your dorm to the laundry room. A large bag of any size will do just fine, just make sure it’s lightweight, comfortable, and spacious. You’ll have to fit days worth of clothing in there and might even have to carry it a decent way if you’re going to a local laundromat. If you can find a hybrid laundry basket-carrying bag that gets the job done, you’re killing two laundry birds with one stone.

Detergent.

Detergent is critical when it comes to keeping your clothes clean and smelling fresh. There are plenty of high-quality detergents that get the job done, but the variety gives you room to choose what fits your needs best. The best detergent will depend on a few factors including your budget, the strength of cleaning your clothes demand, your scent preferences, and any sensitivities or allergies you might have. Some laundromats sell detergent which is convenient in a pinch. However, bringing your own detergent is going to save you a lot of money in the long run while giving you the ability to find a product that works perfectly for you.

Clothes hangers.

One of the most painful laundromat experiences is pulling out your favorite shirt or pair of pants from the dryer only to see them completely ruined. Sensitive materials such as faux leather, silk, wool, and suede aren’t designed to get tumble dried at high temperatures. This is where clothes hangers are essential. Read the tags on your clothes to figure out which items need to get hung up to dry instead of thrown in the dryer. You might find enough space to air dry your clothes in the laundry facility, but you can always move them to your dorm room with hangers.

Mesh bags.

Mesh bags are an effective way to protect more sensitive materials from becoming damaged during the washing and drying cycles. Undergarments, wool fabric, and other sensitive items can get snagged on zippers which can cause irreparable tears and holes. Instead of having to pay extra by separating loads, you can simply invest in a handful of mesh bags that protect your more at-risk clothing. These bags are incredibly affordable, easy to use, and highly effective. No more spin cycles of death! You can rest assured your clothes will remain intact.

Interested in getting more actionable advice for improving your routine trip to the laundromat? Check out CoinMeter’s insider tips and tricks so you can keep your clothes in tip-top shape and smelling great no matter what life throws your way.

College Laundry Room Etiquette: The Dos & Don’ts

College is an entirely new world of social norms and expectations that newcomers have to learn to navigate. The campus laundry room is no exception to this rule. There are some unspoken rules that govern how you do laundry in college. Catching up on these conventions and expectations can make it easier to transition to the collegiate laundry room.

The dos of the college laundry room.

Do come prepared.
Campus laundry rooms can get pretty cramped when there are too many people in a relatively tight space. A great way to avoid being in the way is to come with your laundry locked and loaded. Prepare beforehand by sorting by colors, removing tags, and getting the right detergent so you can simply load up, start the cycle, and leave. Even if you’re staying around, it’s better to stick to designated waiting areas than hanging out in the aisles.

Do take everything out.
Nobody wants to open up a washer or dryer only to be greeted by a mystery sock or undergarment, a leftover dryer sheet, or a random piece of trash. Make sure you remove everything from the load when removing your clothes. If you’re dealing with front-facing equipment, simply turning the drum is an easy way to ensure nothing is left over. Top-loading equipment might require a bit more effort, but the next user will be thankful.

Do clear the lint trap.
Dryers collect dust, dirt, and debris from clothing which gets deposited in the lint trap. While these traps are critical for keeping your clothes clean, they can hinder the performance of dryers when not cleaned out after every use. You should always clear out the lint trap and toss the remnants in the trash to keep the next person from having to mess with it. It’s a small gesture that only takes a few minutes but can have a huge impact.

The don’ts of the college laundry.

Don’t let your clothes sit.
College laundry facilities see a lot of use given the sheer number of people relying on the same equipment. It’s not uncommon to have fellow students waiting to swoop in and claim your washer or dryer after you’re done. One of the biggest laundry room blunders you can commit is leaving your clothes in the machine far past when the cycle is complete. If you decide to leave the facility during the cycle, make sure to set a timer so you don’t hold anyone up.

Don’t touch somebody else’s clothes.
There are times when you’ll be tempted to move another person’s clothes either because they’re sitting on a chair, taking up the whole table, resting on top of a machine, or sitting inside of the machine you want to use. Regardless of where the clothes might be, it’s a major breach of college laundry room etiquette to touch another person’s laundry. Instead, you can politely address the issue with the individual if you know to whom the clothes belong.

Don’t leave a mess.
Nobody wants to clean up after somebody else when doing laundry in college. As a shared space, it’s common etiquette to clean up after yourself when you’re done. Imagine showing up after a long day at school or fighting to wake up early only to see the laundry room messy, dirty, and cluttered. Don’t contribute to the chaos. Make sure to take all your clothes with you, throw away any trash, remove everything from the machines, and clean out the traps.

Looking for more practical laundry tips to keep your clothes spotless, clean, and smelling fresh? You’re in the right place! Check out all the handy info and insider tricks at Coin Meter today. You’ll find everything you need to master this weekly chore and make your transition to college as smooth as possible.

The Ultimate Guide to Doing Laundry in College

You learn a lot when you’re in college, and the majority of that learning takes place outside of the classroom. You learn how to make new friends, how to deal with difficult breakups, how to navigate disagreements, how to budget, how to cook, and…how to do laundry.

Before moving out, you might’ve done a few loads of laundry on your own, but – let’s face it – you really have no idea what you’re doing. And that’s okay! Everyone starts somewhere. Here’s a little cheat sheet to get you ahead of the game so you can look like a seasoned pro in the laundry room.

The Basics

Read the washing labels.
What if we told you there were clear-cut instructions for washing every piece of clothing you own? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not! Every t-shirt, sweater, pair of shorts, pair of jeans, and, yes, even underwear has a washing label that outlines exactly how to properly clean that particular article of clothing. Understanding how to read washing labels can save you from permanently staining or shrinking your clothes.

Suggested Reading: Follow These 4 Steps for Unshrinking Your Clothes

Separate clothes by color or type.
One of the commandments of college laundry is to wash clothes according to their color or type. For example, all your jeans and jean-material clothes should get washed together and all your white clothes should be put in the same load. This matching and organizing help to prevent colors from bleeding and textures from losing their distinct feel. Ignore this one at your own risk.

Washing

Don’t overload the washing machine.
As a college student, you have a lot of responsibilities on your plate with a limited amount of time during the week. Naturally, when laundry day rolls around, you might feel tempted to stuff as many clothes in the washing machine as possible. You might be able to fit in every piece of laundry you have, but that doesn’t mean they’ll all turn out clean…which is the whole point after all. It’s advisable to leave about 25% of space in a laundry load for the clothes to toss and turn since that’s how they actually get clean.

Choose the right detergent.
While using a less-than-ideal detergent won’t harm your clothing, it can certainly keep them from looking, feeling, and smelling their freshest. Whether you want to get out stubborn stains, refreshen white clothing, or keep your favorite sweater looking vibrant, there’s a specific laundry to help you reach those goals. You’ll want to find the best detergent based on what you want to accomplish for the most successful laundry experience possible.

Set a fitting temperature.
There are a seemingly endless number of washing settings, especially on commercial equipment at the local laundromat or campus laundry room. A lot of these options are pretty straightforward, but the most important setting is the temperature. Washing something too cold might not get it clean enough while washing too hot can shrink sensitive clothing. Nearly all clothing has this info on its washing labels so check those diligently before choosing the best temperature.

Drying

Take out anything that can’t be dried.

There are several items that do perfectly fine in the washing machine that can get destroyed in the dryer. Cashmere, silk, rayon, and wool are just a few examples. Consult your clothing’s washing labels before tossing them in the washer and opt for air-drying or sun-drying for clothes that can’t handle the heat of the dryer.

Clear out the filter every time.
All kinds of debris, dust, and lint get picked up and filtered by dryers so your clothes come out looking fresh and clean. However, these filters can end up limiting the drying impact of a machine when they become too clogged with debris and air can’t escape. Before (and after) using the dryer, clean out the filter for an optimized drying experience.

Interested in learning more about how to master laundry days? Check out the Coin Meter site for more insider tips and tricks for making the most of this weekly chore.

Can You Get White Clothes White Again? Yes! Here’s How

White clothes are notoriously difficult to keep…well, white. Whether it was a dress shirt, t-shirt, blouse, sweater, or even a pair of white jeans, we’ve all had the unpleasant experience of watching a favorite piece of clothing slowly (or quickly) fade away from its original color.

Unlike other colors that can hide some discoloration, white clothing wears stains, blemishes, and other imperfections like a neon sign. They’re bright, in your face, and hard to ignore. Unfortunately, there’s a popular misconception that discolored white clothes are a lost cause. We’re here to set the record straight. You can get white clothes white again! Here’s how.

Harness the power of the sun.
The washing cycle isn’t the only opportunity you have to restore white clothes to their original shine. Instead of tossing whites into the dryer, put them through a natural drying process by unlocking the power of the sun. When you hang clothing up outside to dry, they benefit from the bleaching effects of the sun without the harmful side effects of liquid bleach. This is a powerful stain-removing method when used in tandem with other strategies mentioned here.

Use the biting effect of citrus.
Lemons have the ability to zap away stains with their citrus-rich juice. There are a few ways to take advantage of this natural feature. You can simply cut a lemon in half and rub it on the stain to pretreat it before the wash cycle. However, you can also boil your clothes along with lemons. Simply bring a large pot to a boil with the citrusy fruit inside and let your whites soak for around an hour. It’s unconventional, but it’s effective!

Break out the aspirin.
It turns out aspirin isn’t just good for relieving standard headaches. This common medicine can also alleviate headaches of the laundry variety. Aspirin can help break down stains on white clothes to increase the likelihood they’ll get removed entirely during a wash cycle. Dissolve a handful of aspirin in a bowl or small pot and soak the stained clothing. After an hour or so, it should be ready to wash.

How to avoid discolored white clothes.
The aforementioned steps should help you restore white clothes to their former glory. Of course, it’s not possible in all cases. There are some stains that are simply too stubborn to get all the way out. That’s why it’s better to keep white clothes from becoming discolored in the first place. Good news: It’s possible too! Follow these tips to protect your favorite white clothes from getting stained to the point of being unwearable:

Separate whites and colors.
One of the most common laundry mistakes is mixing whites and colors. Dyes have a tendency to run, especially during hot washing cycles. If white clothes are in the same load as other colors, they could come out of the laundry with a hint of pink, blue, red, or whatever color bled during the cycle. Washing whites alone prevents this potential issue and keep whites pristine.

Don’t overload the washing machine.
We’ve all been guilty of stuffing a laundry machine to the brim to save a dime or a few minutes of time. This “hack” can backfire since clothes don’t have the room necessary for a thorough clean. It’s advisable to never fill a machine with more than 75%.

Pay attention to detergent instructions.
Detergents come with clear dosage instructions which have a direct impact on how clean (or dirty) your clothes look after a cycle. You don’t want to use too much or too little, so pay attention to the recommended amount, especially as it pertains to white clothes.

Suggested Reading: How to Choose the Best Detergents

Interested in learning more handy laundry tips and tricks to keep your clothes looking great and smelling fresh? Check out the Coin Meter site for more helpful and effective laundry advice. You’ll never look at this weekly chore the same again!

What College Students Want to See in a Laundry Facility

Whether you’re running an apartment complex specifically for college students or want them to comprise a good portion of your Residents, there are some important things to keep in mind regarding laundry your facilities. Although all of your resident’s main goal is to get their laundry clean, each demographic has unique expectations.

College students are no exception to this rule. When set up correctly, your laundry facility can become the go-to place for students to get their laundry done which can translate into amenity to attract students years after year! Here, we’ll take a look at some things college students want to see in a laundry facility.

Security features
Unless your laundry facility is on-campus or in an apartment building, it’s advisable to implement some safety features. These protective measures can give college students extra peace of mind making them feel more at ease when using your facility. In addition to keeping your patrons safe, these safety measures also work to protect your laundry facility from vandalism.

Door and window locks are the most basic yet effective forms of security. If you really want to take things to the next level, you could install an around-the-clock surveillance system. Adding a list of relevant emergency contacts including yourself, other owners of the facility, campus police, and emergency responders is also a great safety measure.

WiFi Connection
In the 21st century, people have come to expect every public place to offer a WiFi connection. This is especially true of college students who are used to always being connected on campus. Whether they need to get some homework done or want to catch up on their favorite show, college students will appreciate having a reliable and strong connection.

It’s an excellent way to set yourself apart from the competition. Just make sure to advertise it! If you’re worried about having an open network, you could set up a password and post it throughout the laundromat so only patrons can access the WiFi.

Laundry Tips
College students are often given a hard time for not knowing how to do their own laundry, but there’s some truth to it. College marks the first time that many students will be doing laundry on their own. A great way to establish your laundry facility as the ideal spot for college students is to cater to this need by offering residents some helpful laundry tips.

You could post a cheat sheet of college student laundry tips throughout your facility and on your website to guide these customers through the basics of laundry. If you want to take things a step further, you could even create a grid of different loads with corresponding washer settings so college students know exactly what to do. It’s a small gesture that can go a long way!

Dynamic Payment Options
College students are used to convenience and have come to expect it everywhere, even at laundry facilities. A great way to make your facilities more accessible is by offering multiple payment options. Not only is there a national coin shortage, but college students aren’t always going to have a bunch of spare change on hand to do laundry.

Luckily, it’s not difficult to get your hands on capable commercial equipment that accepts multiple payment options. For example, Coin Meter Company offers industry-leading washers and dryers that accept coins, credit cards, debit cards, and even specialized laundry cards. These dynamic payment options also increase your potential revenue.

If you’re looking to upgrade one your laundry rooms at an apartment or dormitory, you’re in the right place! Coin Meter Company is a leading local provider of commercial laundry equipment. We’ve helped countless housing owners and managers optimize their laundry facilities to increase resident’s retention and boost satisfaction.

Do Quick Loads Really Clean Your Laundry?

Have you ever wondered if quick wash settings on a washing machine really clean your clothes? Everyone has used these rapid cycles at least once at a laundromat to save time or to reduce energy usage. Regardless of the reason, it’s common for people to wonder whether or not these settings actually have an impact. Here, we’ll take a closer look at quick wash cycles and whether or not these settings really clean your laundry.

What’s a quick wash setting?

The vast majority of washing machines – both residential and commercial – have a rapid wash setting. This option is called by a variety of names including “speed wash”, “light wash”, and “eco wash”. These cycles typically last anywhere between 15 and 20 minutes which is significantly quicker than the standard cycles or deep-clean settings that can easily last a half hour or more. The time advantage of this option is clear, but can you trust these cycles to really clean your clothes, or are you just paying to get them wet?

Do quick wash laundry cycles really clean my clothes?

Yes! Believe it or not, rapid wash settings actually clean your clothes. Of course, these cycles aren’t as thorough as standard options. You will need to use a smaller load size and less detergent, but they still get the job done. This is especially true when using high-grade commercial equipment at a laundry facility. These professional-quality washers have the power and efficiency to provide a deep clean even within 30 minutes or less. So, next time you choose a quick wash cycle, you don’t have to worry about whether or not your clothes will actually get clean.

When should you use a quick wash cycle?

Now that you’re clear on a quick wash cycle’s ability, let’s take a look at some times you should consider using this option.

Time pressure

The most common reason people opt for the quick wash setting is when they’re in a rush. With work, school, and other responsibilities dominating your schedule, sometimes all you have is 30 to 45 minutes to get your laundry done. Using rapid wash settings is one of the most effective ways to save time in the laundromat.

Washing everyday clothes

Some items of clothing you’ll need to wash on a daily basis or at least after each use. Instead of using a full cycle each time, you can go with a quick wash option to limit the amount of time you have to wait at the laundromat.

Removing simple stains

There are times when you need to clean simple stains out of an item of clothing that doesn’t need a thorough wash. Whether you fell in some dirt, dropped some food, or split a drink on your clothes, a quick rinse might be the perfect laundry setting. It’s quick yet effective at treating surface-level stains. If you need to remove stubborn stains, you should stick with standard or longer washing settings.

Refreshing clothes

Sometimes, your clothes just need a quick refreshing rather than a whole wash. Maybe an article of clothing picked up a faint yet unpleasant odor after a single use or you bought something new and want to wash it real quick before wearing it. Either way, a fast wash cycle is a great way to quickly and effectively freshen up clothing.

Protecting sensitive materials

Some materials such as wool are safe to use in the washing machine but should only get washed on a light setting. Quick rinses are perfect for these sensitive materials since these cycles provide a good clean without being too harsh on the clothing. When in doubt, make sure to read the laundry tag of each article of clothing to know what it can handle.

Interested in learning more about how to keep your clothes clean and smelling fresh? Visit the Coin Meter site today to get access to insider tips and tricks to help you optimize this weekly chore.