Welcome To Soak School
Dorm Room Laundry Woes
An easy lesson on laundry
Doing laundry in a dorm or residence isn't quite the same as doing it at home. With laundry room schedules that don't mesh with yours, machines that always seem to have other people's stuff in them, running out of change for the dryer, and hauling your stuff to another part of the building (or to another building entirely…), it can seem a little daunting. But with these tips from Soak, you'll be a laundry pro in no time.
Here are 9 laundry day tips for students.
Create a portable laundry kit.
→ Stock up on everything you need, including laundry soap (like Soak), Eco Wash Bags to protect delicates, dryer sheets or dryer balls, and change for the machines or a
refillable cash card.
→ You can keep it all in a basin that you can use for hand-washing, or stow it all in an easy-to-carry backpack that won't get in your way when you're hauling all your laundry.
Check the labels!
→ Always look at the laundry instructions on your clothes. Following these recommendations helps your clothing look better longer.
Pre-treat stains.
→ Got some pasta sauce on your white shirt or olive oil on your favourite skirt? For an on-the-moment spot treat. Dab some undiluted Soak directly onto the spot, let it sit for a bit, then wash it like you usually would. No more stains!
→ For tougher stains, keep a pre-treatment stain remover beside your hamper or basin or in your washroom and pre-treat problem areas as soon as you take off your clothes, such as the underarms, the neck area, and any food stains. This gives the treatment time to work and helps prevent stubborn stains.
Learn to love hand-washing.
→ Don't want to schlep all your stuff to the laundry room? If you need clean undies or a fresh shirt for the next day, Soak them in a sink or basin for 15 minutes. Then squeeze (no rinsing required) and hang to dry on an inexpensive retractable clothesline.
→ Learning to hand-wash is key to keeping your delicate items looking their best; think of a silk pillowcase or a beautiful wool sweater you thrifted. These are the last items you should machine-wash, as the washing machine can cause permanent damage to these garments, leaving them unwearable.
Use mesh laundry bags to protect your delicates in the machine.
→ Want to keep your delicates in good shape? If you don't want to hand-wash them, an Eco Wash Bag can be your best friend. It will keep zippers and other things from snagging lace, and help your items last longer.
Don't overload the machine.
→ We get it – you're a student on a budget and would rather pay for one load instead of two. But that can backfire: putting too much stuff in the machine can mean clothes don't move around properly so they won't get clean in the washer or completely dry in the dryer.
Stock up on wrinkle releaser.
→ Don't love ironing? If you've got something that's wrinkled, just hang it up, give it a few spritzes with Flatter Smoothing Spray. Once it's dry…no more wrinkles! And if you do prefer to iron, Flatter works as an ironing spray, too, so you'll get smoother fabrics and crisper creases. Flatter also helps reduce static during the winter or in dry climates.
Get to know the laundry facilities.
→ Every laundry room is different, whether it's a laundromat, an in-suite laundry room or a shared laundry space; it is important to learn the lay of the laundry room, as no two machines are the same. Understanding the machine settings can help achieve the desired laundering results.
Practice Good laundry room etiquette.
Nobody likes a set-it-and-forget-it at the laundromat, especially when it's busy. Practising good laundry room etiquette is key to making sure you don't make enemies while doing laundry.
→ Set a timer for your loads if you are planning to leave, and set it 5 minutes less so you make it back right when the laundry is finished.
→ Don't leave any trash behind — don't leave your empty laundry detergent containers everywhere. The same goes for tissues, hair, or dryer sheets.
→ Be mindful of the number of machines you are using.
Whether you're a laundry newbie or a seasoned pro, there's always more to learn, and at Soak School, everyone gets an A+ for learning about laundry.