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.

Dispelling 5 Myths About Adding a Laundry Facility to Your Property

Running a multi-unit property is a tough job. You have to maintain upkeep for entire apartment complexes or campuses and keep residents happy while maintaining a positive budget. Naturally, property owners are cautious about how and where they invest.

Laundry facilities are a popular point of contention within this line of work with some property owners swearing by them and others avoiding them at all costs. Here, we’re going to uncover some of the popular myths regarding shared laundry rooms to help property owners gain a better understanding of their value.

Myth #1: It’s too expensive to run.

As a property owner, you’re only going to make investments that make fiscal sense. And given the perceived cost of running a laundry facility, most people assume it simply isn’t worthwhile. The cost of purchasing the equipment, paying for repairs, and covering utility expenses seems too high for it to be worthwhile.

The Reality: A laundry facility is a significant investment for property owners. There’s no doubt about that. However, many people fail to see the ROI this investment can provide. Not only are properly-run laundry rooms highly profitable, but they also can increase resident retention. It’s an investment that can pay for itself multiple times over the years.

Myth #2: Tenants aren’t going to use it.

Understandably, owners are hesitant about putting money into anything that their tenants won’t use. After all, if renters don’t take advantage of what you provide, it’s essentially a waste of money. Unfortunately, it’s a common myth among property owners that residents will opt for laundromats instead of on-site laundry facilities.

The Reality: Laundry facilities are some of the most commonly used shared spaces in rental properties. The majority of people report doing laundry twice each week with nearly a third doing laundry every single day! Even tenants who currently do their laundry elsewhere will gladly settle for going down the hall instead of down the road. On-premise laundry facilities are incredibly convenient as they help tenants save time and money.

Myth #3: Laundry facilities require a ton of oversight.

Another common misconception about laundry facilities is the amount of time they require from property owners. You already have enough on your plate managing a multi-tenant property, so the idea of bringing on anything that demands more of your attention seems foolish.

The Reality: Modern laundry facilities with state-of-the-art equipment are almost entirely automated, requiring zero daily oversight from owners. You’ll only need to show up to collect cash and coins from the machines, clean up every once in a while, and manage the occasional equipment issue – which leads us to another common myth about laundromats.

Myth #4: Equipment upkeep is expensive and time-consuming.

There are two commodities property owners can never get enough of: time and money. That’s why so many believe a shared laundry facility is a net loss. Horror stories of busted and malfunctioning equipment fuel the myth that commercial laundry equipment requires constant maintenance, resulting in wasted time and investments.

The Reality: Modern, capable, and premium-quality commercial laundry equipment requires minimal upkeep. Property owners can avoid the time and money drains they fear by resisting the temptation to purchase low-quality, used machines. Plus, you can even find providers who offer same-day, affordable maintenance so you never have to worry about repairs.

Myth #5: Commercial equipment costs a fortune.

One of the strongest falsehoods surrounding shared laundry facilities is the cost of adding new commercial equipment. Property owners only have to take a gander at the price tag of a brand-new washer or dryer to get instantly turned off by the idea.

The Reality: It’s true that new commercial equipment is expensive. However, there’s another way for property managers to get the washers and dryers they need to open a shared laundry facility. There are commercial providers that will install equipment completely free while only requiring a fraction of your earnings. That’s free equipment for no extra work on your part!

Wondering where you can find a reliable commercial laundry provider? Look no further! The Coin Meter Company has been supplying local property owners throughout the northwest with state-of-the-art laundry equipment at no cost. We even offer routine servicing to keep things running smoothly. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer.