So, I'm going through an issue right now with my floor's laundry room. The room only has 2 washers and 2 dryers, so timing is very important. I've never really had an issue, until today.

I went to put one load of laundry into the washer around 8:00, for it to be done washing around 8:30; at 8:00. the two dryers were filled with items that were already done with their cycle, just needed to be picked up. At 8:30 when my items were ready to be put in the dryer, the dryers were still full...I went back at 9, dryers were still full....and this continued until now that it's around 10:30. After losing my patience, I emptied one of the dryers, put the clothes/items in a bag, and left a note that after waiting around 2 hours, I decided to put their stuff into a bag.

I can't be waiting forever for a dryer. I think it should be common courtesy to remove your items as soon as they are done.

Did I do an absolutely horrible thing? I'm afraid of retaliation :(

Seriously, I never even had problems when I was in college using the dorm hall laundry rooms!

Seems perfectly reasonable to me! When I was in college, the general rule was that you had 5-10m
after your laundry cycle ended to empty out the machine... Otherwise, it was perfectly fair game for the next person to take your stuff out (we'd usually leave it piled on top of the same machine so it was still easy to find) and load up their laundry.

And if people knew they couldnt be there for the end of a cycle, they'd leave a note on the machine along the lines of "sry won't be back til six, pls put my stuff in this blue basket if you need the machine."

So honestly, I'm really impressed you waited so long before moving their stuff out of the dryer... Seems more than fair to me! :)

Well, lol, most of the people on my floor are older...so I usually try to give a good bit of space in situations like these. Two hours is just taking advantage though. They did wind up picking up their clothes (including the ones I bagged), but they left my note, haha.

I think you waiting more than long enough. A half hour would have been generous IMO.

Hated when I lived in apartments/condos and had to share laundry rooms. I think 10 minutes is long enough to wait for a dryer.

Once when I was doing laundry (clothes in the machine) someone stole them out of the machine. They were really nice clothes too. At another place someone put their clothes in the machine with mine (while it was washing clothes). It was not like the cycle stopped and they were sitting there. It was guy clothes-so I took my stuff out and took them to another floor to wash. Then I added soem perfume to his clothes in the washing machine so they could smell nice. The laundry facilities were only 2-3 doors down so it was easy to time and get your stuff right away. I really don't ever remember anyone leaving stuff in the dryer or hogging machines.

Nothing wrong at all. I wouldn't have waited 2 hours, especially if the clothes were sitting there when I put my load in the wash. I would've just taken the clothes out of the dryer and put them in the basket or on top of the dryer if the person didn't leave one.

You didn't do anything wrong.

I wouldn't wait two hours, nor would I expect anyone to wait for me. If someone doesn't want anyone else touching their clothes, they should make a point of being there when the cycle ends. Otherwise, the assumption is that it's a communal laundry room and other people may need the machine.

Originally Posted by dorcast

You didn't do anything wrong. I wouldn't wait two hours, nor would I expect anyone to wait for me. If someone doesn't want anyone else touching their clothes, they should make a point of being there when the cycle ends. Otherwise, the assumption is that it's a communal laundry room and other people may need the machine.

I agree. I don't think you did anything wrong OP and I wouldn't mind if someone took out my clothes. Though when I lived in an apt with communal laundry, I would try to be there as fast as I can when the cycle ended.

There was one girl that flipped out at me for taking out her clothes and then hid my laundry basket (found it in a corner). I told her I waited for her for an hour already on a SUNDAY when everyone was washing their clothes and she didn't think that was an issue at all... She just expected everyone to wait. Sigh.

I had it worse... The second day the new tenant moved here, she took out my wet laundry while it was still in the wash and threw it in her basket so she could do hers. I was pissed because I was gonna leave for a trip the next day.

LOLL at least you put the clothes in a bag and left a nice note!! Most people would have just dumped them on the floor and gone on their way. And I can't believe you waited 2 hours!!! Next time it happens its perfectly okay to grab the machine sooner. I would give it like 5-10 minutes and thats all.

This happens ALL the time, don't worry you didnt do anything wrong. I always set my cell phone as a timer so I know to get my laundry the moment it's done. But yeah you were very courteous about it! I'm sure the person doesnt care. Infact they should be grateful that their clothes weren't stolen or worse!