Hopefully you have found yourself at a school that offers free laundry facilities. If so, do laundry all the time and be proud that you are saving hundreds of dollars annually in washing and drying costs. If you live off campus, bus the laundry in and do it for free.
If you end up at a school that charges for laundry, check the local laundromats to compare prices and go with the cheapest option. Or, befriend someone with their own washer and dryer and do all of your laundry there. If all else fails, try to never do laundry at school. Save it up, for months at a time (washing only those things that absolutely must be clean) and take everything else home to wash.
Be aware that at many schools that charge for laundry, there is a coveted free laundry day - generally coinciding with a day where parents are invited to come to campus. Get in line early on free laundry day. Once you lay claim to a washer, do not give it up until all of your loads are done. Same with the dryer, otherwise you'll be at the end of the line again. I once did 20 loads of laundry for free on one of these days, just remember to always be present when the washer or dryer goes off or you will lose it to the crowd.
"free laundry facilities" do not exist. If your school's washer/dryers are not coin or debit-operated, this means a $100+ laundry fee is included in each semester's on-campus living costs.
I don't know how you could stand the smell or wear anything if you save up your dirty laundry....most things can be worn more than once without washing, like dressy clothes and jeans, if you are not harsh with them. I would go to work/school and then come back to my dorm and change. That saved alot, except for one or two days were I was in the clothes all day. But I planned my schedule to allow for minimal hour blocks, so I could go back to eat and change, saving lots of money. My dorm was apartment style (had full kitchen) and a coin laundry mat. I would get my quarters, run full loads (smell your washer for bleach residue, knew lots of kids that ruined clothes that way!) and dry full loads, watching the heat of course. Most dryers have were you can put at least 50 cents, then have the choice to put more money in for longer times. I'd do the minimum, then hang the damp items at the dorm to finish. I also did a lot of sink washing for delicates. The key is to budget for this, and you shouldn't get into too much trouble if you get your rolls as soon as you get your aid (financial or parents) or paycheck. Having a work study program fit into my aid helped me to pay for this, along with other little expenses. Believe me, if my kids came home for a week with piles of clothes, that is their job to do....serves them right for letting it pile up!
I really don't think advising people to mooch off others is good advice, nor do I think saving up 20 load of laundry and coming home with it is a good idea either....what....and expect dear old Mom to do for you?
Hey, you can always wash things out in the sink and line dry.
Definitely don't leave your clothes unattended....our niece did and all her really nice, name brand items were stolen!
I guess I didn't see the logic in this post and I wouldn't give some lazy college kids any ideas!
I am not familiar with any schools that have free laundry facilities; that sure would be nice. But in most cases, 2 loads of laundry per week are adequate for most students...and if they gave up one double-mocha, extra grande latte each week, the expense would be balanced out!!!!
I think the main way to save money on laundry at college are to: 1. bring your detergent and fabric softener sheets from home; 2. always, always check the lint traps on the dryers--if they're cleaned off before you use them, your clothes will dry much faster; 3. try to do only full loads; and 4. don't leave your laundry unattended, or some of your fav. things may disappear, which is expensive!
I think the spare change saved taking it off campus to wash at a lower-priced laundromat is not worth the price of gas or a bus pass. Taking it home to mom is just plain mean--even if you do it yourself. (The only exception being if she lives in the same town you go to school in, and you can make casual trips.) I guess mooching from a friend would be OK if utilities are included in their rent.
Not doing it for months at a time? Aside from sounding a bit gross....your clothes will last longer if you keep them reasonably clean. Sheets, too. You can buy a folding drying rack for some items; although the dryers are usually big enough to hold 2 loads of wash at once--but your underthings will last longer air-dried.
What I want to know, is how can you afford to own 20 loads' worth of clothes...and where on earth do you store all that in a dorm? :)
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