Hellobee Boards

I'm not sure what management can do except for put up a sign. And even then, rude people are going to continue to be rude. DH and I used to have to use a laundry mat and we'd just set our alarm and get back exactly when the laundry finishes it's cycle and not have it sitting there for any amount of time.

Sorry, but after living in the dorms, it doesn't sound unreasonable for people to do this if its been sitting there for 30+ minutes. As long as they're putting it somewhere clean...

That used to happen to me all the time. It's definitely one of the annoyances of apartment living. Thing is, all that talking to management will do is that they'll put up a sign but it won't stop people from doing it.

I would be bothered too but I understand that people don't really have a clue how long the clothes have been there or how long until you will be back.

Can you leave a note on the machines with your phone number and a kind note saying "I will try my best to be back as soon as my clothes are finished but feel free to send me a text if you need me to move them so you can use the washer." You could even set up a google voice account if you don't want to use your real phone number.

In college our laundry room had enough room that you could leave a basket in front of the machine you were using so people would do that and at least you knew your clothes would wind up somewhere clean.

To be honest, in our condo building, the policy is that if your clothes are done and somebody needs the machine, they can put your clothes on the table. I've done it to wet clothes and dry on different occassions. For us, DH sets the timer on his watch. If we aren't back, our clothes may be out of the machines. That's just how shared laundry works.

I have to admit, in a communal laundry situation, I would wait 5 min if the machine had stopped running, then take them out.
This as just always been my shared laundry experience.
I always would try to get back before my cycle finished, otherwise I expected mine to be removed too.

I have been on the giving and receiving end of this. If I have one day off to do my laundry, I need to get it done. I can't wait an hour for someone to get their laundry out (there were 2 washers and 2 dryers for 40 apts). I would set an alarm on my phone with a few minutes less than the machine ran so I would be down there when it was done because if you didn't, some days it may just sit there but some days someone would move it.

Sorry, but I really doubt management will care. If anything, they may say it's your fault for not watching your laundry. Really, I feel it is a communal laundry expectation that you sit there while you do your laundry, so I was taking a risk by leaving it. I was not really mad if someone moved it, just annoyed and tried to be better with my timing.

I would leave my empty laundry basket on top of the washer or dryer so at least the clothes would go in there if someone had to take them out. Good luck! I hope it gets better!

When we lived in our apartment we had the same laundry set up as you, and once I went down FOUR minutes after it should have been done and someone moved all my wet clothes. I was frustrated because they literally just got done. Now had my clothes been sitting there 30+ minutes I wouldn't be able to get upset because I know the feeling of not being able to get laundry done. Maybe just set a timer so you can go right back to get your laundry.

welcome to communal laundry! it's pretty standard and management will likely tell you to just take your laundry out when it's ready.

you didn't mention if your machines are coin-operated. but basically, you pay for the time on the machines, and when time is up, it's free for others to use.

i'm sure your neighbors aren't trying to be rude. they probably feel bad when they move your clothes. it's just that they have no idea when you'll be back and they have to get their laundry done too.

If it was just a few minutes after the machine stopped, I would say something to management. Since it's sometimes 30-60 minutes after it stops, there really isn't anything you can do other than making sure you get your clothes as soon as they are done.

Ugh that sucks! Talk to the landlord.

This has happened to me many times in college and apartment living. I never liked taking other people's things out of a washer/dryer, but after going back repeatedly and finding that they were just neglecting their things it just got to be necessary. One building I lived in had a sign up saying that it was everyone's responsibility to retrieve their things promptly or risk having someone else deal with it.

I can definitely see it being difficult to be there on time even with a timer to remind you when you have a baby--- there is always something going on! And with a household and baby there is of course more than one or two loads a week to do.

When I lived on my own I had shared laundry too (in dorm and other student housing) -- as others have mentioned it was pretty much expected that your clothes would be moved if the machine had stopped running. It didn't bother me cause everyone else was just students like me too, but I tried not to think of who must have been grabbing my underwear and jammies by the armful:) to be fair I've moved plenty an armful of boxers and the like, too:) hehe

Hope it doesn't happen too often to you guys in the future!

The policy at our building is five minutes, but people have transferred our clothes in shorter time than that because they wanted to use the ONE machine! (13 units, 1 washer, 2 dryers.) I can't say I blame them.

It's annoying but the only thing I can suggest is our policy which is that you can transfer others' clothes into the dryer after 5 minutes, and from the dryer into a CLEAN bag after 5 minutes. Everyone seems to be doing fine with that policy!

I have moved stuff and had my stuff moved. I feel bad if someone has to move mine because I was too slow actually. I always give it half an hour from when I know that load was done though- if they haven't moved it by then, then I'll take it out. We had people who would leave it for days! I felt bad bc I knew they had a kid but days?

So yeah, joys of communal laundry. Also out washer had really unpredictable timing do you would end up going back to check like five times before it was finished sometimes. now we have our own washer dryer which is great but it's the smaller washer I've ever seen!

Sorry but that's just what happens with communal laundry spaces It is annoying but I think the only thing you can do is to set a timer to go get your stuff as soon as it's done.