Communal Laundry Etiquette

Shared laundry rooms are a valuable amenity, but they require cooperation. In apartment buildings and strata communities, understanding and respecting communal laundry etiquette ensures everyone enjoys clean clothes without conflict. If you’re not across communal laundry etiquette, here are some simple principles you can follow to keep your shared laundry tidy, and your laundry equipment is available for everyone to use.

Prepare Before You Go

• Pre-sort and pre-treat your laundry – Organise loads (separating whites and colours) and pre-treat stains to save time and space in the laundry room.
  
• Have you brought everything you will need? – Make sure you have a laundry basket, detergent, and any other soaps you will need (eg, fabric softener or dryer sheets and stain remover). You may even consider pre-measuring liquid products or using travel‑sized containers to avoid spills.
  
• Check and empty pockets – Remove any rubbish from your pockets and dispose of it before you head toward the communal laundry.
  

Be Timely and Respectful

• Set a timer – Washing takes about 27-30 minutes and drying takes 45–60 minutes. Set an alarmor reminder to make sure that you can remove your laundry as soon as the cycle ends.
  
• Wait before moving others’ laundry – If someone hasn’t collected their clothes, wait 10–15 minutes before respectfully moving them. Place items neatly on top of the machine or in their basket – never on the floor.
  
• Stay nearby – If possible, remain close to the laundry room or return promptly.
  

Clean Up After Yourself

• Wipe down machines – Clean any detergent spills and remove lint from the dryer filter once your cycle has finished.
  
• Dispose of rubbish – If you communal laundry has a bin, make sure you dispose of your rubbish appropriately. If not, make sure you take any rubbish with you back to your apartment; don’t leave rubbish behind.
  
• Avoid overloading the laundry equipment – Avoid putting too many clothes in your laundry equipment. There are two reasons why you should avoid overloading machines: 1) Your clothes will not get cleaned property if they don’t have room to agitate or move in the dryer. 2) It can damage the laundry equipment.
  

Respect Others’ Property & Space

• Don’t touch someone else’s laundry – Avoid handling others’ laundry. Only move items if the machine has finished and the owner hasn’t returned after a reasonable time.
  
• Give people space – Laundry rooms are often small; be mindful of personal space and avoid blocking pathways.
  
• Communicate politely – If you need to move someone’s clothes to use a machine, be courteous. Leaving a note can prevent misunderstandings.
  

Step‑by‑Step: Communal Laundry Etiquette Checklist

1. Sort laundry and pre‑treat stains at home.
   
2. Gather supplies: basket, detergent, softener, stain remover and payment method.
   
3. Check pockets and zippers.
   
4. Load laundry equipment properly: do not overload.
   
5. Set a timer or reminder.
   
6. Return promptly when your cycle finishes to remove your laundry.
   
7. Clean the lint filter after using the dryer and wipe spills.
   
8. Dispose of trash in the bin or take it back to your apartment.
   
9. If necessary, wait 10–15 minutes before moving someone’s laundry and place it neatly.
   
10. Respect others’ space and communicate politely.

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