Beginners Guide to Laundry in Halls

So now that you have moved and settled in your University Accommodation, there are a few things you should keep in mind when doing your laundry:

Doing Laundry Costs Money.

Using the washing machine will cost you money, as well as using the dryers. The different Futurelets Accommodations use the Washstation App to pay each time you use one of the machines. There you can select any of the available stations, check the time left of the cycle and also see when it's finished. For doing laundry you will have to buy detergent and fabric softener (if you want). Don't worry about this investment because one bottle usually last the whole academic year, just make sure you choose a nice cozy scent because your clothes, your sheets and your towels will have that smell for the next semesters.

Tip: Instead of using the dryers, you can also buy a drying rack from any of the stores in the city centre and have it in your room. On the one hand it will be cheaper (you can get one from £15), but on the other hand your clothes will take longer to dry.

Think the Best Time to Do Laundry.

Each accommodation has a limited number of machines but don't worry, they have lots of them. This is relevant because most people do laundry on Sunday (mainly afternoon), right at the end of the week. If you also decide this is the time that best suits your schedule, keep in mind that a lot of your neighbours/flatmates will also be using the machines at that time so maybe there will not be many available.

Tip: If this could be a problem for you, we suggest you to check your University timetable (and your work shifts) and select any free hour that you could have during the week to do your laundry (few people do it at the beginning of the week).

Don't Forget Your Clothes.

In the text above we talked about how the accommodations have a limited number of machines. It is important that you pay attention to the timing while you are using the machines so that once they are finished, you can just go and get your clothes. This makes it easier and faster for whoever comes to do the laundry after you, because they will have more machines available.

Tip: Use the timer on your phone so you don't miss the end of the cycle.

Do laundry with friends.

The process of doing laundry could feel boring and like a burden but it's essential and shouldn't be missed. You can do little things to make this a more enjoyable experience, such as doing laundry with your friends or watch an episode of a TV show while the cycle is running (they tend to last from 35 to 50 minutes).

The experience of living in halls is about getting to know yourself better, figuring out your life path (of course this could change a million times, so no pressure) and gaining independence. Doing laundry fits into "gaining independence" as an adult, so it's a task that shouldn't be missed!