Keep it clean: what a load this laundry business is! Here's advice for the neatness-challenged on how to wash their own clothes and keep things fresh

Careers and Colleges, March-April, 2005 by Don Rauf, Janet Farrar Worthington

After cleaning the bathroom, washing clothes may fall at the bottom of a college student's "to-do" list. Many young people prefer to cram the backseat of their car full of soiled garments and then drive them home for a still-loving parent to wash. But take it from Guianna Henriquez, a freshman at Stanford University: "Laundry is not as bad as you think."

When Henriquez lived at home, she primarily relied on her mother to wash all her things.

"I had a handle on it," she says, "but I didn't know if some things could be washed with certain colors. I wasn't sure if I should wash something alone because it would bleed onto something else."

Now, having gained some experience and having learned to carefully read the labels, Henriquez is a pro and she offers this tip: "Be sure to time when your laundry will be done or else it may get moved by others. The laundry rooms are communal spaces!" Sometimes, people not only move your clothes, they help themselves to garments they like. So don't let them sit unattended for too long.

When Malik Husser started out at the University of South Carolina, he had relatively few problems adjusting to the 26,000-student campus, but one thing really ticked him off his freshman year--rudeness in the laundry room.

"When I first got to college, I hated the laundry room," he says. "People would leave their clothes in there forever when I really needed the dryer or washer, so I'd be sitting around waiting."

Because he wanted to be nice, Husser says he didn't feel right taking other people's clothes out of the washer or dryer. On the other hand, when it was his clothes in there, his fellow launderers weren't always so tactful. Eventually, Husser developed a strategy of precision timing--knowing exactly how long he could stay away for the washer and dryer cycles and returning the instant his clothes were done.

Husser and Henriquez learned that laundry doesn't have to be too much of a hassle, and if you review the tips on these pages, you should be on your way to a brighter, cleaner future.

LESSONS IN LAUNDRY

* AVOID MARATHON LAUNDRY SESSIONS. Yes, it takes only one night to wash and dry six loads at once--but that's one long, tedious night. If you do quick loads throughout the week, you'll save time in the long run.

* INVEST IN A FOLDING CLOTHES RACK. Some students save lots of money and time by never paying to dry their clothes. They just wash them and bring them back wet to hang up in their rooms.

* WASH CLOTHES ON WEEKDAYS. Avoid the Sunday-night crowd.

* WASH LIKE COLORS TOGETHER. It is the sadder but wiser student who washes a red shirt with white socks in hot water.

* TEMPERATURE MATTERS. Institutional hot water is really hot. The general rule is use hot or warm water for whites or lights, and use cold for colors. If you're washing everything in one load and you know nothing is going to "bleed," it's probably safe to use warm. If you're not sure, go for cold.

* CHECK OUT LOCAL LAUNDROMATS. Some places offer "laundry by the pound" service. If you're totally stressed by exams and schoolwork, you might want to splurge and have someone else do your laundry for you.

Washin' Wares

* A STURDY PLASTIC LAUNDRY BASKET. You'll probably keep it forever. You can use it to stow loose clothes or loose gear, particularly when you're moving in or out.

* A LAUNDRY BAG. If your room is too cramped, this may be the way to go. It probably holds just as much as a basket, and it can be stored much more easily.

* POWDER OR LIQUID DETERGENT. Whichever you choose, go to a low-priced store like Wal-Mart and buy a big box or bottle. You can transfer the detergent to a smaller container to bring to the laundry room.

* STAIN REMOVER, ODOR REMOVER, AND BLEACH. These "three horsemen" of the laundry apocalypse can make a huge difference in your appearance. Remove any stains before you wash clothes. Don't count on the detergent alone to do the job. Spray odor remover, such as Febreze, on anything that stinks. And finally, when it comes to bleach: Don't fear it, embrace it. Use it whenever you wash whites, and they'll come out looking more like new. Hint: Add the bleach to your regular detergent when the water is first running, BEFORE you put in the clothes. Undiluted bleach can "spot" and ruin clothes. There is also color-safe bleach and some detergents incorporate it, so read the label carefully.

Also, check out the new Clorox Bleach Pen for stain removal. Ideal for most white fabrics (even on the white portion of garments with colored trim or designs), the pen can wipe out marks from grass, red wine, tea, and even berry juice.

* OPTIONAL: A mesh bag for delicate items such as hosiery and lingerie that you should wash by hand.