So, we have 3 washing machine rooms, and 3 "sechoirs" - these weird drying rooms that I've never seen before, but have some sort of fan contraption that dries the clothes. Out of the 3 rooms, only one other was being used when I went down earlier. I started mine off, just went to check, and the person who'd been doing their washing has monopolised both their sechoir and mine (I say monopolised, I mean hung their washing right in front of the fan, so their clothes dry quicker, rather than just using one sechoir meaning some of their clothes will dry slower). And yes, instead of using the sechoir next to the washing machine room that wasn't being used, this person has selected mine. Now, do I hang my washing in front of the fan in the other one, running the risk of having someone put in my position and throwing my washing on the floor, or do I have to wait up until late to make sure my clothes are dry? Stupid arse. I would have just hung all my washing up in the room that was allocated to me, then swapped them round later on.
I'm actually really really annoyed about something else and this is the icing on the cake. It's just a bit bloody rich when my boyfriend got lectured for hanging up ONE t-shirt in the drying room on a day that wasn't his wash day. Grrrrrrr.
These machines are very effective and also help dehumidify the room. We have one in our house and I use it all the time. I have clothesline but to make the most of the space t I use hangers as you can hang more items than using the lines with clothespins.
My advice is for you to go out and buy some standing laundry racks and use them for your clothes. Ikea has a great rack that is inexpensive. The floor space should be free if you have clotheslines in there so why not use it? Putting the clothes in front of the dryer is actually not such a great idea as they can pick up the dust that the filter on the machine sucks in. The clothes dry not so much from the blowing but because of the dehumidifying effect.
Thanks very much for the advice! We do actually have a clothes horse, I just never thought about using it in the drying room before. May well give it a go next week!
Yes we have those too, and they do seem to dry the whole room not just the clothes in front of the fan. Actually the ones on the floor usually end up on the floor because I never use pegs! But in our flats the schedule only specifically mentions the machines not the drying rooms, so I think nothing of leaving my laundry in there to dry after my washing session is over, and other people do too. Does your schedule definitely allocate you the drying room? If so I would neatly move all the other stuff into a corner, overlapping it if necessary, so there is room for yours. I have taken other peoples clothing down if it's dry and if they left a basket in there, folded it neatly and put it in their basket so there is room for my clothes.
I was really cross last Thursday as I had reserved the 12-5 session and someone was using it, I left my laundry there and a note asking them to come and knock on my door when they were done but they never did, they even started a new load after I left the note! It's like being a student again, my family in the UK just can't get their heads around us not having our own washing machine!
We are allocated a specific drying room, so it wasn't that she'd left it in there after her washing session, it was that she's taken the "best spot" (I do find that the stuff in front of the fan dries quicker, not sure why this is different in other cases) in ALL (yes, she took the 3rd one too after I posted the first post) the drying rooms, rather than using the whole of the drying room she was allocated. Irritating, nothing major, just annoying.
This is the first time I've not had my own washing machine and I don't like it, but hey - that's just how it is!
I would go and speak nicely to her. She shouldn't be able to do that, and maybe she doesn't understand the rules. If that doesn't work then write or call the agences
If she does it again, I will do. I assume all I have to do is check the name on the list for the washing machine room she was using - don't want to get the wrong person!
Pssst - a little secret. The thing is not a fan, but a dehumidifier. It uses electricity to get the water out of the humid air. The fan in it just makes sure that the dried air is exchanged all over the room. I am sure that the places directly in front of it are a tiny bit better, but really: it does not matter - your clothes in the other parts of the room will dry quickly as well. Really really.
I think you may be right.. Last week my partner left his uniform in the washing machine overnight (he gets back in the early hours), and the next morning there was a passive aggressive note claiming our behaviour had disrupted the whole day for the lady from downstairs.
At first I felt guilty and was nervous to see her, but then I thought what a fool to let my washing disrupt her day. Or get to her enough to write a silly note. It's simple, take out the washing and do your load. Or, knock on the door of who you think it may be and ask them to move it.
It's a pain in the arse about the drying room, if it was me, I would just move the clothes. I think the person who did it just assumed you wouldn't be doing any washing and they took advantage of your space to dry their clothes quicker.
This is why I do my utmost to find my clients housing with their own laundry room. It is actually getting easier to find these places as I think a lot of people are fed up with communal laundry facilities and all the hassles.
I know very few people who share laundry who are not unhappy with the situation.
I just saw an apartment the other day, a 3 1/2 room apartment, nice area, near a train station, and low tax area for under 1,300 a month. It is more than enough space for a couple, even a couple with one child could manage well as there is a big garden. Having one's own washer/dryer there (it was in a big bathroom) was a bit of a surprise but a real plus in my opinion.
Hey Kamarate, so sorry to hear that. I feel for you, since something similar happened to me last week. Do you think it only happens in Neuchatel?! In our building every one reserves as many machines they like but only on the day...so if you want to wash at say 17:30, you still have to wake up early and "reserve" a spot. Then there are only 2 drying rooms and you have to book those as well. I had mine booked for 18:00 and found half of it full because apparently the other lady misread and thought it was 13:00 (really?! Come ooon!) and thought it was no longer valid. So I fortunately managed to fit everything in there but the next day when i went to pick them up her clothes were still there, although obviously fully dried...
My advice to you is not to say much because wars do start in these rooms. Especially since there's mostly women who do laundry and usually not in the best mood (tired from work, children, etc.). Also, the elder ladies in the building tend to have some sort of "sorority" and it's nice to be part of it...I have a neighbour who once neatly folded all of my clothes in her basket because someone else needed the space in the drying room etc and she just happened to be there. There will always be people who do not respect laundry etiquette so I surely hope when I move I'll find a place with a washing machine...and a dishwasher too! Anyone know of such a place in Lausanne?
So did I, actually. Because, believe it or not, that has happened to me. I was staying at my then-boyfriend's place and had washed all my pretty, matching undies by hand and hung them up in the drying room (along with our other washing, it was our washday as per the plan). When I went down in the evening to pick up our stuff, two sets had disappeared.
I didn't know how to address this matter, I mean, you can't go ringing doorbells demanding to see people's underwear, now can you? So I chalked it up as "life school tuition fees" and have since hung up any expensive clothing in the bathroom.
Why not? - now there's an interesting concept. I may have to start my own undercover undies theft investigation branch. Probably won't need a sniffer dog, though.
Wow, that is new! I had detergent stolen from the drying room but undies? Really? Wow...That's why I always hang my (and bf's) underwear on the balcony (summer) or on the radiators (winter). Takes two hours to dry and I don't risk having it stolen. Still...WOW