Laundry room etiquette

[disprincess2213]

I am wondering about laundry room use and etiquette. Our last trip to the world was in January at VGF. I was in the laundry room folding my dried clothes when I saw a woman walk in with a load of laundry. All of the washers were full but not running (meaning all loads were complete but sitting). She asked if any were mine and I said no and she seemed confused on what to do next. She then took out a load of laundry and placed it on top of the machine and began to put her clothes in the washer when another woman walked in and seemed appalled that the first woman was touching her laundry. She immediately apologized and said she wasn't sure how long they have been in and she really needed this time during her kids nap to do laundry and kept apologizing. The second woman just threw her own laundry into the dryer, started it, and walked out. The first woman kept telling me how embarrassed she was and how she was on a strict time schedule for naps to do laundry and I didn't know what to say! I told her to forget about it and to not let it ruin her trip (she was mortified!). I have been thinking about it and wondering what everyone's thoughts are on laundry room etiquette on taking out clothes that are in washers/dryers. Thoughts??

 

[Halle]

My rule of thumb is be sure to be there before it is done. I think all washing machines and dryers have clocks on them.

 

[JPDtheJD]

With the app and the timer you know when you should be back. I think you leave your clothes in the machines at your own risk (if you leave them too long) to have someone do what she did and it is expected. She shouldn't have been embarrassed.

 

[disprincess2213]

To add...I was there 10 minutes prior to my dryer being done (I have and use the app on every trip), and every washer was "done" when I arrived. I didn't tell her how long ive been there or that they have been "inactive" but it was at least 10 minutes before she arrived. The second woman was almost angry that the woman touched her things which was why the first woman was mortified.

 

[disprincess2213]

I guess Im asking if this is "OK" to do. I have (somehow) never had to do a load of laundry while every one was full, but if I did, should I do the same? I think I would feel uncomfortable touching someone elses laundry, even if I had to do one! On the other hand, If I had a full load to do and I took time to go to the laundry room to wash, if one was "taken", yet available, would I take theirs out and replace? I don't know? Do I carry the load back to the room or do I switch mine with theirs?

 

[disprincess2213]

One more thing. People DO leave their laundry to sit for over the time it needs! I have seen washers and dryers sit for cycles while I do mine with no one in sight! I always dedicate time to do laundry and am on top of it before it is even complete. I do this to make it fair to other DVC guests who need to use the facility so that I don't "waste" a machine by leaving my clothes in there!

 

[JPDtheJD]

If I remember correctly in college the unwritten rule was you put the other person's clothes in a side basket if they leave them too long. (Or stay at the laundromat with your dang clothes)

 

[JPDtheJD]

I think it's okay. They have those big metal baskets on wheels. Just leave the clothes in one of those baskets if the owner doesn't return in time

 

[delilah]

When I use the laundry room, I usually bring something with me to read and stay until my clothes are done. If I have three loads of wash, and there are three machines open, I use them. The cycles are usually about 30 minutes long and there is a timer on the machine. So, somebody might have to wait. Usually, nobody does. I have had situations when clothes have been in a washer for the entire time that I have washed and dried my clothes, and nobody has come for their wash. I agree it is pretty rude to leave clothes in a washer or dryer for a prolonged time without showing up. I usually remove clothes from a machine if needed and put them on the sorting table.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Etiquette afaik is to stay with your laundry while using a public laundry room. If you don't follow that then at least to be back prior to it finishing. If you do neither of these then having it removed from the machine and set aside should not be unexpected.

 

[CMNJ]

I never wait with my stuff but I always set the timer on my phone to make sure I am back before they finish (or check the website). That being said I would not expect someone to wait a prolonged amount of time for me to empty my washer or dryer nor would I wait a prolonged time for someone else to take their wash out of a finished washer/dryer. If I arrived and no washers/dryers were avail I would wait maybe 5 min-if nobody showed I would have done the same thing that lady did (or preferably used a metal cart if avail). I always check the website before heading down so it would have been idle for at least 10 min at that point and that if certainly enough of a courtesy to wait. When my washer or dryer has broken in the past and I needed to go to a local laundromat I've seen the employees there will actually empty machines if they sit too long with laundry in them and leave them on the folding table or in one of those metal baskets on wheels.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If you leave your clothes in a machine that's not running they are subject to being taken out. This is the real world of laundry (Coming from a person whose dad owned a coin laundry I have moved out a lot of clothing over the years LOL!)

If you don't want strangers touching your clothes pay attention and be there when the cycle ends. If you aren't then you can act out if you want, but you were the rude person IMHO

 

[cvjw]

I have moved other people's laundry out of washers/dryers multiple times. If you don't want someone touching your laundry, then you need to be considerate to others and be there when your own laundry is finished.

My vacation time is precious. I am not going to waste my Disney time waiting for an inconsiderate laundry owner to finally show up and free up a machine for me to use!

 

[Baklava]

I agree with the other posters. If people touching your wet socks offends you, don't leave them sitting. The machine is "yours" to use for washing, not for storage, even short term. I feel bad for that poor woman. She did the right thing and got treated badly for it.

 

[bumbershoot]

To add...I was there 10 minutes prior to my dryer being done (I have and use the app on every trip), and every washer was "done" when I arrived. I didn't tell her how long ive been there or that they have been "inactive" but it was at least 10 minutes before she arrived. The second woman was almost angry that the woman touched her things which was why the first woman was mortified.

The woman whose clothes were moved was totally in the wrong, and no doubt the anger was actually at her own darn self. I'm sad that the other woman was embarrassed when it should have been ALL of the people whose laundry was in the machines.

If you leave your clothes in a machine that's not running they are subject to being taken out. This is the real world of laundry (Coming from a person whose dad owned a coin laundry I have moved out a lot of clothing over the years LOL!)

If you don't want strangers touching your clothes pay attention and be there when the cycle ends. If you aren't then you can act out if you want, but you were the rude person IMHO

Exactly.


I stay with my laundry or I sit very closeby. At an apartment complex I lived at I once lost most of my clothing when I left it overnight. Someone stole it and I never got it back (nor did I see my clothes being worn by anyone there). I have no interest in that ever happening again, so I stay with my laundry.


I hate hate HATE taking out other peoples' clothes, even though I know I'm in the right. Hate it! Be back when your wash is done, people! Don't put us in that rotten position!

 

[Sammie]

Thank goodness for one and two bedroom villas. One day while at OKW at the pool an unattended child, appeared to be about 8 was taking buckets of sand from the playground and dumping it in the dryers on people's laundry. Yes we called security.

I would be the person who took a book and waited on mine.

 

[GotLabradors]

Thank goodness for one and two bedroom villas. One day while at OKW at the pool an unattended child, appeared to be about 8 was taking buckets of sand from the playground and dumping it in the dryers on people's laundry. Yes we called security.

I would be the person who took a book and waited on mine.

 

[jeepnjudy]

If I remember correctly in college the unwritten rule was you put the other person's clothes in a side basket if they leave them too long. (Or stay at the laundromat with your dang clothes)

Ditto...when I was in college the rule was if the machine was done and you were not there to retrieve your clothes, they ended up on the top of the machine or in the basket. Same thing when I was apartment living as well. And if anyone has issues with that, then remove your laundry promptly!

 

[Dreamin192]

If I were the person who had their clothes moved I would be the one who was mortified and apologizing. It's up to the owner of the clothes to be there to take care of them. It's for public use and people can't be expected to sit and wait for an unknown period of time for someone to show up for their clothes.

 

[paults]

take the clothes out, put yours in. If anyone is embarrassed to touch and removed others clothes just put those white doctors gloves in your luggage for this reason. I don't want to touch other peoples clothes as much as they don't want me too.
But remember the people who leave their clothes in there over time ARE privileged people and think they it's all about them.