Almost nothing irks me more than when a stranger touches my underwear.
As a result of the new and improved laundry services offered at Blackburn, some students feel compelled to do three loads of their laundry at one time, regardless of other residents’ needs.
While I am not a perfect laundress, I always try do my laundry one load at a time as courtesy to other dorm residents. I set my phone’s alarm clock for 29 minutes for my clothes to wash, immediately switch my clothes to the dryer then set my alarm for 45 minutes for my clothes to dry. Then I put another load in the same washer I just used, that is, IF I have multiple loads that need laundered. On multiple occasions, however, I have trekked down to the basement of my dormitory only to find that my wet clothes had been placed on top of a washer, on a table or even on the floor so that the person who moved them could have dibs for the next “available” washer. Why, yes, I would love for my clothes to sit wet and exposed on the dirty floor for passersby to see.
Even if one actually thought it acceptable to move somebody else’s wet laundry, perhaps he or she should consider putting it in the dryer, since, you know, we have “free” laundry and all. Oftentimes, however, the same culprit who took it upon him or herself to move my clothes has miraculously managed to fill up all three dryers at one time. How does that even happen?
I know I can’t be the only one who experiences frustration while doing laundry on campus. “I personally hate it when people mess with my laundry,” said Stoddard resident Ashley Spears. “Sometimes if you don’t get there the minute your laundry gets done, people will have already moved it to the top of the washers or the table. Then there are other times when you’re waiting for a washer or dryer to open up, and somebody doesn’t come to get their clothes for an hour or more. I don’t like to move their stuff because it bugs me when people do that to me, but it’s not like they left it sitting for just 10 or 20 minutes, they forget about it for hours.”
It is my understanding that some dorms have provided solutions so that this issue is kept at bay. Graham Hall, for example, uses magnetic whiteboards for their washers and dryers, on which residents can write their name and phone number in case contact with that person needs to be made. In Challacombe “North” Hall, residents leave their room numbers on the whiteboards to contact each other in regards to laundry.
Another complaint I have about our communal laundry system is that I often see guests of current students using the facilities. While I do appreciate good hygiene, I think it is unfair that commuters, graduates, siblings and boyfriends/girlfriends of current students enjoy the privileges that I, a very broke college student, pay for each semester.
All that I ask of you, fellow Blackburn students (and your significant others), is to have some laundry etiquette, wait your turn and do not touch other people’s underwear.