How to do Laundry-College Style: Stacey A. Steinkopf

engl 3930 > staging server > how to > laundry

How to do laundry

(college style)

By: Stacey A. Steinkopf

Being college students, we all know the feeling of opening your underwear or sock drawer one day, only to find it completely empty of anything clean. Your only option: dig through your dirty clothes, to find your cleanest dirty pair to get you through the day.

Nobody told me that once I became I college student it meant I would become "short".

I'm short on time. I'm short on money. I'm short on soap. I'm short on the know-how to do many daily tasks that go along with independent living.

In my years of college living, I have come up with several ways to do laundry. Results vary depending on which method is chosen, but it's still doing laundry just the same. The degree of technicality varies from method to method. The three methods I cover here are listed in order from method one being the easiest and method three being the most involved.

Method One:

Go home and let mom do it.

(This method is cost effective, time effective, and is guaranteed to produce the results you need.)

Method Two:

Purchase a bottle of Febreeze and spray each article of clothing until it smells clean.

(This is cost effective, somewhat time effective, however, not very sanitary. I recommend this only in an emergency situation.)

Method Three:

Take clothes to the Laundromat.

(This can be spendy and time consuming, but is generally worth the effort once the task is complete.)

Step 1: Locate business in your area where you can wash clothes. If you live in the dorm, there are most likely laundry facilities in your building. Going on the assumption that you don't, check the yellow pages under "Laundry Services".

Step 2: Gather clothes together and put in basket or laundry bag.

Step 3: Soap. If you plan to make a habit of washing your own clothes, it is a wise investment to purchase a bottle of laundry detergent. Basically, they are all the same, just get one with a pretty bottle. For the time being, don't worry about fabric softener, bleach, or dryer sheets.

Step 4: Dump clothes and soap in washer, double checking temperature setting and that the load size is on "super duper huge".

Step 5: Insert the designated amount of quarters and close the lid. (This is where it gets boring. The 'down time' of laundry will test your time-management skills. I'd like to say it's a good time to do some studying, but I find myself easily distracted by the people that frequent Laundromats.)

Step 6: Dry clothes. Most dryers cost $.25 for each 15 minutes. As an estimate, you can depend on spending at least $.75 per load in the dryer.

Step 7: Fold clothes. (Self-explanatory)

Did you know?

Trash bags, suitcases and duffel bags work great as laundry carriers.

If you don't want to purchase a bottle of laundry detergent, laundromats sell packets of soap.

If you choose COLD as your water temperature setting, there is no need to sort your laundry by whites and colors.

If you push the clothes down into the washer as you pile them in, you'll be surprised at just how much you can fit into one load.

Clothes will dry faster if you divide them into smaller loads when putting them in the dryer.

Folding clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer eliminates wrinkles.

For more hints and ideas relating to laundry, check out these sites:

Learn 2Wash, Dry and Fold Your Laundry

The Soap And Detergent Association

engl 3930 > staging server > how to > laundry

Copyright © 2001 Stacey A. Steinkopf
Questions or comments to: stein@paulbunyan.net
Last modified January 29, 2001

engl 3930 > staging server > how to > laundry
How to do laundry (college style) By: Stacey A. Steinkopf Being college students, we all know the feeling of opening your underwear or sock drawer one day, only to find it completely empty of anything clean. Your only option: dig through your dirty clothes, to find your cleanest dirty pair to get you through the day. Nobody told me that once I became I college student it meant I would become "short". I'm short on time. I'm short on money. I'm short on soap. I'm short on the know-how to do many daily tasks that go along with independent living. In my years of college living, I have come up with several ways to do laundry. Results vary depending on which method is chosen, but it's still doing laundry just the same. The degree of technicality varies from method to method. The three methods I cover here are listed in order from method one being the easiest and method three being the most involved. Method One: Go home and let mom do it. (This method is cost effective, time effective, and is guaranteed to produce the results you need.) Method Two: Purchase a bottle of Febreeze and spray each article of clothing until it smells clean. (This is cost effective, somewhat time effective, however, not very sanitary. I recommend this only in an emergency situation.) Method Three: Take clothes to the Laundromat. (This can be spendy and time consuming, but is generally worth the effort once the task is complete.) Step 1: Locate business in your area where you can wash clothes. If you live in the dorm, there are most likely laundry facilities in your building. Going on the assumption that you don't, check the yellow pages under "Laundry Services". Step 2: Gather clothes together and put in basket or laundry bag. Step 3: Soap. If you plan to make a habit of washing your own clothes, it is a wise investment to purchase a bottle of laundry detergent. Basically, they are all the same, just get one with a pretty bottle. For the time being, don't worry about fabric softener, bleach, or dryer sheets. Step 4: Dump clothes and soap in washer, double checking temperature setting and that the load size is on "super duper huge". Step 5: Insert the designated amount of quarters and close the lid. (This is where it gets boring. The 'down time' of laundry will test your time-management skills. I'd like to say it's a good time to do some studying, but I find myself easily distracted by the people that frequent Laundromats.) Step 6: Dry clothes. Most dryers cost $.25 for each 15 minutes. As an estimate, you can depend on spending at least $.75 per load in the dryer. Step 7: Fold clothes. (Self-explanatory)	Did you know? Trash bags, suitcases and duffel bags work great as laundry carriers. If you don't want to purchase a bottle of laundry detergent, laundromats sell packets of soap. If you choose COLD as your water temperature setting, there is no need to sort your laundry by whites and colors. If you push the clothes down into the washer as you pile them in, you'll be surprised at just how much you can fit into one load. Clothes will dry faster if you divide them into smaller loads when putting them in the dryer. Folding clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer eliminates wrinkles. For more hints and ideas relating to laundry, check out these sites: Learn 2Wash, Dry and Fold Your Laundry The Soap And Detergent Association
engl 3930 > staging server > how to > laundry
Copyright © 2001 Stacey A. Steinkopf Questions or comments to: stein@paulbunyan.net Last modified January 29, 2001