6 Common Laundry Mistakes College Students Make at the Laundromat

College is a time for learning new ideas and expanding your mind. For some, it’s also the first time you’re flying solo in the laundry department.

Don’t fear! Just avoid these common mistakes we see all the time, and you’ll be fine.

If you visit us to do your laundry, you can rely on our helpful staff for advice if you’re unsure of what to do.

Mistake #1: Scrubbing a Stain.

Scrubbing hard is ok for shower soap scum, but not for your clothes. Gentle and methodical work best here. Treat the stain as soon as possible. Mama’s Laundry Talk recommends using a pre-treatment spray on the outside and inside of the garment, and rubbing in the pre-treatment spray gently with your finger or a soft toothbrush for harsher stains.

Mistake #2: Too Much Detergent.

More isn’t always better. Using too much soap can trap dirt in your clothes, which you obviously don’t want. If you’re unsure of how much detergent to use or want to avoid handling messy liquids, try detergent pods instead. They’re pre-measured so you’ll use the proper amount for each load and guarantee clean clothes.

Mistake #3: Unzipped Zippers.

Zip up those zippers! While metal zippers won’t shred your clothes in a single wash cycle, over time, zippers cause wear and tear because they’re abrasive. Velcro can damage clothing too. We recommend closing Velcro pockets, straps, etc. before washing.

Mistake #4: Overloading the Washer.

Your clothes need room to move freely so that everything gets evenly clean. But what is the ideal load size? It depends on the washer size, but you want to keep clothes loosely packed in the machine. A certain amount of abrasion among items is needed to help along the cleaning process, so not filling it enough is a problem too.

If you find yourself pushing clothes into the washer to make more room, then you’re over-loading and need to do more than one load.

Washing Machine Load Size Guidelines
Small Load: 1/3 full
Medium Load. 1/2 full
Large Load: 3/4 full

Mistake #5: Ignoring “Dry-Clean Only” Tags.

Always check clothing tags before washing! If you’re not sure of what a clothing care symbol means of how to interpret care instructions, please ask a Festiva Laundry staff member for help. If the tag indicates “Dry Clean” that means dry cleaning is recommended. If the tag says “Dry Clean Only” explicitly, do not attempt any method other than dry cleaning.

Mistake #6: Using the Wrong Water Temperature.

You can simplify your laundry routine and use cold water for everything. Cold water is easier on your clothes and detergents work just fine getting your clothes clean in cold water.

Student Laundry Services

Remember, if you don’t have time to do your laundry, we can do it for you! Check out our student laundry services.