Managing laundry as a college student has got to be one of the toughest chores, especially if you live in the dorms. While you already deal with the stress of academics and being away from home, the added responsibility of laundry just makes things worse. However, there are multiple ways that can help you manage your laundry as a college student without making it something to dread. Or if it gets too much, there is always the option of getting professional laundry services.
H1: Here’s How To Manage Laundry As A College Student
If you want to make doing your laundry as hassle-free as possible, here are some steps you can take.
- Create a Laundry Schedule
It is common knowledge that college students workload hardly allows them to spend time doing laundry. This is why you need to make the process as simple, straightforward, and quick as possible. To do so, you can begin by making a laundry schedule. Decide whether you want to wash your clothes daily, weekly, or monthly. This will help put things in perspective and know exactly how much time it will require. Make sure to pick off-peak times, so you can get the job done fast. For instance, weekends are more likely to be busier than weekdays, so you can pick a time slot within the working days between or after classes.
- Treat Stains in Advance
Living on campus, your clothes can come across different stains. From spilling coffee to unfortunate bird droppings, there are various types of stains you may have to deal with. And so, it is better not to leave the stains till the laundry day to remove, as the excess time can make the stain set in the fabric and become harder to get rid of. All you need to do is keep a stain remover spray or pen and use it to treat any spills or ink stains on your clothes.
- Sort Your LaundryÂ
Sorting your laundry before it piles up is a quick and easy way to prevent having to dedicate time to separating the dirty clothes at the laundromat. You may use different colored bins to store laundry categorically. For example, if you sort your laundry by color, darks and lights, you will need two laundry baskets. Or you can also keep the clothing items that have special washing instructions separate from the others.
- Use Detergent Pods
While detergent pods may cost more per load than liquid detergent, they’re a convenient option for students who want to avoid spills and carrying bulky bottles. This not only saves you money, but also now you no longer have to carry the heavy bottles with you every time you go for laundry. It will also prevent any accidental spills and mess. On top of it, detergent pods come pre-measured, so now you don’t need to guess how much to use, which will reduce wastage. All you need to do is toss a pod with your clothes in the washer, and you are good to go.
- Do Not Overload The Machine
It can be tempting to overload the washing machine or dryer with clothes so you can wash them all at once. However, this can do more harm than good. An overloaded washer may not be able to spin the clothes properly which will result in clothes coming out not fully cleaned. Aside from this, overloading puts excessive strain on the machine which can cause it to break down prematurely and reduce its lifespan.
- Use Campus Laundry Apps
It is not news that the college workload changes throughout the semester. So, while usually you find it easy to take out time for laundry, in the mid-week or finals week, it may become hard for you to keep up with the laundry schedule. This is when you can see if your college has an on-campus laundry facility and avail yourself of it. It allows you to check machine availability, reserve washers, or get alerts when your laundry is done. If you’ve got exams going on, this comes in handy.
- Try Wash and Fold
If you simply do not have the time to do laundry or do not want to take on the task, you can always outsource. Wash and fold services will allow you to get your clothes professionally cleaned, dried, and folded. This will make your college life easier, leaving more time for balancing academics and your social life.
Conclusion
College students already have so much on their hands. From written assignments and quizzes to research projects and final presentations, the semester is packed with deliverables. In the middle of the academic chaos, finding time for chores as seemingly time-taking as laundry can be challenging. This is where the simple ways to manage laundry discussed above can come in handy. You can make the process simpler, more efficient, and manageable by sticking to a laundry schedule, pretreating stains, sorting the laundry, and using detergent pods. If this still sounds like way too much effort, you can always reach out to a laundry services provider!
