1. Have your laundry carrying device, laundry soap, stain remover and softener sheets handy. Double check that you've taken all your soiled clothes from your workout or sports bag

2. Have your quarters or pre-paid student card ready. It usually takes $1-1.50 per load per wash. Typically, you will likely need two washers, but this will depend on your own needs.

3. Bring your dorm key, even if your roommate says he or she isn't leaving - you do NOT want to be stuck with a pile of clean laundry but no way to get into your dorm room.

4.Pre-Treat Laundry Stains. If you haven't already, do it now. If you don't have a stain remover, use a dollop of laundry soap on the stain and rub in. Only use a bleach pen on white clothing!

     5.Empty all of your pockets in your clothes.A pen or lipstick tube can easily ruin all of your clothes. You also don't want your cell phone to go through the wash.

6.If possible, select washers next to each other. If you can't, that's OK, but it's harder to keep track of which machines are "yours". It may help to put a laundry basket, magnet or some other locator on your machine.

7. Remember to check the washer's soap and bleach dispensers. If someone else put bleach in the machine and didn't wash anything, your clothes could be ruined. If someone left soap in the dispenser--bonus!--unless you are sensitive to certain detergents.

8.Separate your "Whites" from your "Darks" and "Fine Washables“.                     

                                                                                                                                                  9. Turn tops --especially delicate clothing, screen printed tops, and sweatshirts inside out and secure the drawstrings on items like hoodies, track pants or ties.

10. Choose your settings on your washer (warm or cold water), (size of load), etc.

11. Start the machine as directed. Put a capful of detergent in the machine for a large load, or as directed by the detergent instructions.

12. Put clothes in machine.• Usually you should only fill the machine about 3/4 to the top. Allow room for

clothes to agitate during the wash cycle.• Distribute laundry weight evenly (if a top loading washer).

                                                                                                                                                 

13. Wait. You will have between 35-45 minutes to just hang out and make sure no one takes your laundry out of the machine. Don't leave your laundry defenseless--thieves steal from laundry rooms routinely.Do your homework.

14.Find dryers when your clothes are completely done that will fit all of your laundry. One load will usually equal one dryer load. Do not overfill, or the drying will take forever, or you may even break the dryer.

15. Check the lint trap if your dryer has one (many commercial ones do not), scoop out any lint present, and put the lint trap back in place.

16. Throw a drying sheet in the dryer before starting. If you so choose.

17. Choose your settings for the dryer (heavy, normal, light)

18.Wait Again. You may have between 30-60 minutes to chill and wait for your clothes. Do more homework.

19. When Dryer cycle is complete, Don't Wrinkle. Deal with wrinkle-prone articles immediately, so they don't get wrinkled.

20. Double-Check the Dryer.

Make sure you didn't forget any socks, loose change, or other small items in the machine.

21. Deliver your items back up to your dorm and bask in the glory of fresh clean laundry.