The Ultimate Dorm Laundry Guide: Everything You Actually Need in College
Nobody Talks About Dorm Laundry, But We will!
Somewhere between the trendy lights and the matching pillows something critical gets a a shrug: laundry.
And yet, laundry is the thing you will do every single week of your college life. It will require your quarters, your time, alot of your mental energy, and occasionally your dignity when someone pulls your wet clothes out of the machine without you knowing. (but hopefully not!)
Laundry isn't fun. It's not cool. It's not part of the aesthetic. But IT IS a necessity and if you set yourself up right before you move in, it becomes a lot less painful....trust us we know :)
This is THE LIST: a practical, no-fluff breakdown of everything you actually need to do laundry in college & some tips to help along the way!
1. The Laundry Bag
We find there are two kinds that are helpful!
- One with straps, something durable to actually help you transport clothing (double strap or backpack style)
- A XL drawstring laundry bag is great for transporting just sheets, comforters & blankets, because it actually FITS bulky items in there better than a backpack bag. **This can also double up as an easy way to move clothes home after the semester... no heavy bins!
If the laundry bags are machine washable, that's a plus too :)
2. The Laundry Lab Bottle
If you're doing laundry in a shared dorm room or laundromat, you already know the problem: hauling a full jug of detergent is a nightmare. It's heavy, inconvenient & may actually make you MAD.
The Laundry Lab Bottle is designed specifically for this. It is refillable, compact, stores 3 laundry essentials & made for the person who doesn't have in-unit laundry. Just pre-fill the compartments, stack, pour and reuse for next time.
3. Detergent in Bulk
While we are on the topic of Detergent & convenience... Here's the tip that actually saves you money: buy your laundry essentials in bulk before you move in.
Bulk size detergents will cost roughly the same as three small sizes. It might seem bulky, but just buy it once. Better for your pockets.
4. Mesh Laundry Bags
Buy a few of these... for TWO reasons.
- Mesh bags protect delicates, thin tops, and anything with straps from getting tangled or stretched.
- Our favorite hack is to use these bags for socks, so nothing is lost in the shared laundry room. Keep the mesh bag near your laundry bag and just fill with your socks as you wear.
They're inexpensive and they will save you from the heartbreak of a ruined favorite shirt or a lost SOLEMATE.
5. Stain Remover Sticks/Wipes
A stain remover stick or wipe is the item you will be most grateful for at the most inconvenient moment.
The name of our game is always compact! Stain remover sticks are great, but stain remover wipes are next level for throwing in your bag or pocket while on-the-go.
We have personally used these & love them! Work so well and leave no residue!
We know this is a 200 pack, but split it amongst friends/family.
6. A Collapsible Drying Rack or Clothespins
Not everything should go in the dryer as sometimes things need to be airdried. A small over-door drying rack is so useful or if you want to get even more nifty and cost effective, use a few hangers with clothespins to hang some delicates too.
7. Quarters (or a Payment App)
Know before you go! Many schools have moved to app-based payments, so check which app your campus uses and load it before your first laundry day. We never want to see you scramble!
8. A Travel steamer + Lint Roller
An iron requires an ironing board, space, nd patience you may or may not have. A travel steamer works on most clothing types and it is pretty fool proof... meaning you can't burn a hole in your shirt! Many steamers are travel-friendly and compact in size as well, so it is easy to store under a bed or in a closet.
Never know when you need a lint roller for your clothes. They make mini ones so they are easy to keep in a desk drawer too.
9. Find a safe spot
Keep coins or laundry card in a safe spot ALWAYS. It is really easy for things to get lost in the shuffle, so by keeping it in a designated place, you will never been searching far for it on laundry day.
Same applies to your laundry essentials, keep all bags and detergent items in one spot :)
10. The Grand Finale: A Simple Schedule
The most underrated laundry upgrade: pick a day and stick to it.
It doesn't matter when, what matters is that it works for you & your class schedule... and that you are also not scrambling for clean clothes in the morning.
Make sure you bookmark or save this post before move-in day!
Have some tips you want to share, send us an email at: contact@shoplaundrylab.com