Laundry Best Practices

Housing and Residential Life provides laundry facilities in all residence halls and washers and dryers in undergraduate apartments. 

 

Laundries are free of charge and are provided for residents only. Report machine issues to the HRL Facilities and Maintenance Office or Desk Services. OSU is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

• Best Practices 
  • Always empty your pockets before placing closes in the machines.
  • Don’t overload the washers:
    • Top-load washers. Place the laundry in the basket loosely and not above the top row of holes.
    • Front-load washers. Place the laundry in loosely until the drum is about three-fourths full. Use HE laundry detergent.
  • The dryers in the residence halls and apartments are single-load dryers; they are designed for one washer-load and the lint filters in those dryers need to be cleaned before each load.
  • Pro Tip #1: You can use high-efficiency laundry detergent ( marked with a small "HE" symbol) in both HE and non-HE machines.
  • Pro Tip #2: Measure your detergent. Using more than the recommended amount will not necessarily get your laundry cleaner.
  • Pro Tip #3: If you don’t want to carry a large jug of detergent to the laundry room, consider getting something like a one-liter water bottle that has a good cap. It's easier to handle and should reduce spilling and wasting your detergent.
  • Pro Tip #4: If you use a fabric softener in the washer, don't use dryer sheets. If you are use dryer sheets, don't use fabric softener. Using both can leave what feels like a waxy residue on your laundry.
• Laundry Etiquette: Washer Rules
  • Your hall may have more rules and guidelines to follow.
  • Place laundry pods (such as Tide Pods) on top of your clothes in the washing machine. Laundry pods don't go in the soap tray.
  • If you spill laundry detergent, you must wipe it up.
  • If you want to open the washer lid after it has started, PRESS and HOLD the PAUSE button for 5 seconds. Otherwise, you will break the latch and be charged a fine.
  • Set a timer. Be prompt and remove your clothes from the washer.
• Laundry Etiquette: Dryer Rules
  • Your hall may have more rules and guidelines to follow.
  • FIRE HAZARD:  Clean the lint filter before and after each load of laundry. Look for lint filters on top or inside the dryer.
  •  Lint must be thrown in the trash can by the door.
  •  Set a timer. Be prompt and remove your clothes from the dryer. 
• FGSH Laundries
  Visit FGSH Common Areas, Meeting Spaces and Laundries for details.