Laundry Etiquette

Background: I live in a co-op that has washing machines and dryers in the building.

Tonight I brought down two loads of laundry and noted that there were two loads in the dryers with 22 minutes left. Each wash load takes 28 minutes. When the wash was done (I set my timer), I went back downstairs to switch my clothes from washing machine to dryer. The other person's stuff was still in the dryer, and obviously had been there for at least 6 minutes. I slooowly took my stuff out of the machines and hung around for a couple of minutes, but the person did not show. I finally decided to remove this person's clothing from the dryer and place it in a basket so that I could put my stuff in. As I was about done, the person walked in and was clearly perturbed that I had removed her stuff. I told her I just took her stuff out and she didn't respond. As I was walking out of the room, she asked if I checked that everything was out. I said yes and told her I waited 5 minutes but she never came and gave her a "I apologize, but what was I supposed to do" look. She didn't seem pleased.

My question: Was I wrong?

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NOPE not wrong at all.

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I think you did the right thing. When I was living in my apartment I had to do that many times. I gave people 10 minutes past when the buzzer went off. After that I pulled out their clothes.

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Not wrong at all. She should have been thankful that you took her stuff out and put it in a basket. Less for her to do!!!

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While I don't blame her for being weird about you touching her clothes, you did the right thing! What if she hadn't come down to take her clothes out for a few hours?

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Nope you are not wrong at all.
Don't feel bad for one second.

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Not wrong at all!

I did this when I lived in the dorm all the time - at least you didn't throw the stuff across the room, like some people did there.

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we move stuff too.

Although, I do HATE when people do it to our clothes.

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Well i think i would have waited a little longer for the person to come down.
But there is no reason for the person to act like a sour pickle...There was nothing that you could have done.

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You did the right thing. She should have apologized for being tardy.

Message edited 6/9/2005 9:42:01 AM.

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NO not wrong at all. I used to have the same problem at a place my ex lived. There were community washers/ dryers and when we did laundry we watched the clock and always got our stuff out of there on time. But someone always left their wet stuff in the wash or their dry stuff in the dryer. I would have done the same as you. She should pay attention to how long the wash has been going...and not leave her stuff around.

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Sorry, I guess I am in the minority here but, I live in a rental in NYC and if someone took my laundry out of the dryer just 6 minutes after, I would be so annoyed! I don't want some stranger touching my clothes besides the fact that i would be wondering if anything was missing. Sometimes, if you don't set your "timer" or depending on your schedule - its not so easy to time it just right.

it seems others disagree with me but, its jmo.

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you were nice enough to put them in a basket

i would have dumped them on the floor

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You were 100% right!!!!!!!!!!!!! I lived in an apartment complex for 4 years and we had 8 apartments in every building and every building had 1 washer and dryer for 8 apartments. We NEVER left our clothes in the washer and dryer we always timed it and were down there before they were even done. It is just common courtesy when other people have to use the same machine that you take them out as soon as they are done

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i'm glad most people agree with me. i always wondered what the accepted practice was.

i felt bad doing it, but i also know i treated her stuff as "nicely" as possible. i just didn't feel like waiting for what could have been an hour or more! (obviously, had i known she would be down in another 5 min i would have waited, but obviously i couldnt predict the future!)

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Sounds like college all over again .....you were right to take her stuff out and put it aside.

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I dont think you were wrong, if it were me, I may have waited another five mins. or so.
Happened to DH and I last weekend @ the laundromat, we left for a bit and came back to find our sheets in a basket. Nothing I can do about it, signs all over the place saying they have the right to remove "left clothes".

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Nope, she should have been thee to watch her own stuffa nd realize there are other people who live in the complex