A shared laundry room and planning your washing
Short answer: If you only have access to laundry once a week, the number of underwear and socks needs to go up. That is the one variable you control yourself when wash time is fixed for everyone.
The maths changes
If you can only wash once a week at a fixed time, you need clothing for the whole week plus a little reserve in case the timing does not work out after all. That means fourteen sets of underwear and socks instead of the twelve you might have had before.
Sort at home before you go down
Sort your laundry at home before heading to the laundry room, so you are not sorting on the floor while others wait. Three bags for whites, lights and darks make every trip shorter and more efficient.
Protect the delicate pieces
In a shared laundry room you do not know the condition of the machine from the last user. A wash bag protects underwear and bras from residue and wear left by previous washes in that same machine. See bamboo underwear for men and bamboo underwear for women.
Fixed times rather than random ones
Pick the same day and time each week, so it becomes a routine instead of something you have to remember to plan. Fixed times also make it easier to book the machine, if the laundry room requires that.
Number of sets depends on the wash rhythm
If you only wash every other week, the number of underwear, socks and bras needs to be increased further to match. Plan for two weeks plus a buffer, so you never end up without clean clothes mid period.
Protecting the bra without underwire
A bra without underwire often survives shared laundry rooms better than one with underwire, which can bend or shift in a large machine. See bamboo bras without underwire.
Storage between washes
With a fixed routine you can store clean laundry in clear categories, so it is easy to see when you are nearing the bottom of the stock and should plan the next wash in good time.
Backup plans for delays
If the laundry room is occupied or broken on your fixed day, it is handy to have a couple of extra sets of underwear as a buffer. That stops a single delay from upending the whole week's plan.
Drying in shared spaces
Drying rooms and tumble dryers are often shared resources with limited space and time available to all residents. Bamboo fabric dries fairly quickly, which makes it easier to plan around a shared dryer.
Frequently asked questions
Should you run an empty wash first
If the machine looks visibly dirty from the last user, it is a good idea to rinse the drum first with no clothes in it. It only takes a couple of minutes but protects your own clothing better.
How much can you wash at once
Filling to two thirds of the machine's capacity is a good rule of thumb. An overloaded machine does not wash clean, no matter how busy you are or how many days until the next wash.
What about drying
Drying rooms and tumble dryers are often shared resources with limited time available to all residents. Bamboo fabric dries quickly compared with heavier materials, which makes it easier to plan around a shared dryer.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
