TV? Check. Microwave? Check. Laundry Basket? Uh oh. When packing for college,
make sure the following must-have laundry essentials aren't overlooked. They
will make your transition to doing laundry on campus virtually wrinkle free.
| |
|
|
Hamper Basket/Bag
In a cramped dorm, a hamper is your first line of defense
against an embarrassing overflow of dirty clothes. And with cramped
spaces in mind, the most effective hamper is one that doesn't just sit
there. Laundry baskets and bags are useful for lugging clothes to faraway
campus laundry rooms, but pop-and-fold hampers and hampers on wheels do
double-duty by providing storage and portability.
|
| |
|
|
Laundry Detergent
With dozens of detergents to choose from, picking one is almost
as difficult as navigating your new campus. Consider a detergent with color
safe bleach. It can be used for both whites and darks.
|
| |
|
|
Dryer Sheets
Keep your clothing static-free with dryer sheets. In the dorm room, get creative and keep things fresh by using dryer sheets to
line garbage pails and sneakers too.
|
| |
|
|
Iron & Board
Getting dressed for a presentation or interview? An iron and board are "need-to-haves" for days when a t-shirt and
pajama bottoms just won't do. An ironing board is also a great alternative to folding at the laundry room table.
|
| |
|
|
Drying Rack
No idea what to do with those clothes that read "line dry only"? Protect your delicates with a drying rack. Not only
will you save money, but you'll also be doing your part to save the environment.
|
| |
|
|
Stain Remover
Don't procrastinate getting that pizza sauce stain out of your new shirt. With a stain remover stick on hand, you can treat
stains as they happen, instead of waiting for the next trip to the laundry room.
|
| |
|
|
Money
Will you need quarters to use your laundry room or will the cost be deducted
from your student ID card? Prepare yourself by checking with the campus housing
department beforehand.
|
| |
Between going to class, getting used to college life and making new friends,
laundry is likely to be low on your priority list. With these step-by-step
instructions, laundry room visits can easily (and quickly) be crossed off the
to-do list.
Step 1 - Prepping:
- Treat stains by blotting, not rubbing, from the back of the fabric to the front.
- Divide loads into lights and darks.
- Check that zippers are closed, hooks clasped and pockets emptied.
Step 1 - Washing:
-
Use only enough detergent as specified for your load size (check the bottle).
Extra suds hold and re-deposit dirt on your laundry.
- Use hot water to keep white loads bright.
- Use cold water to prevent darks from fading.
Step 1 - Drying:
-
Select items from the wash load to place in dryer.
Delicate items can go on a drying rack.
- Add a dryer sheet to keep clothes static-free.
- Empty the lint trap to dry faster and increase energy efficiency.
- To avoid extra wrinkles, fold immediately.
Ready to take your laundry room savvy to the next level? Study up on these tough
laundry topics and you'll be sure to ace any clothing quandary that comes your way.
With your roommate leaving the light on and the communal garbage cans filled
with recyclables, it may seem like the green movement skipped over your campus.
But regardless of your floormates' dirty habits, every little bit you can do
to conserve helps the environment.
The tips below will help you make your laundry activities on campus as
green as possible.
Wash only full loads.
Washing full loads instead of multiple small ones can
save up to 3,400 gallons of water a year.
When possible, use cold water for rinsing. Warm and hot water
require more energy for heating.
Sort by fabric types.
Drying similar fabrics together reduces drying times and ensures even drying.
Dry faster with leftover heat.
Pick the dryer that still feels warm to the touch to shorten your drying time.
Don't overfill the dryer. Air circulation
is important to ensure proper drying. Overloaded dryers may have to be
run more than once - wasting energy, time and money.
Clean the lint filter before each dryer cycle
to maintain proper air circulation and speed up the drying process.
