real culture shock for me coming to switzerland and finding laundry rooms are the norm. In england we were all posh enough to have a washine machine each. Some of us even have dryers as well (but thats mainly royalty).
My last apartment had its own washing machine cum tumbler in its own separate room, but there was also an industrial quality washing machine and tumbler in the cellar, and good drying rooms too. The cellar system had a card which put the electricity used onto your normal electric bill.
It's a shame that the building noise drove me out of the place.
i am very intrigued about the schedule thing...i always obeyed it and...guess what...
in my building the schedule starts at 7 and ends at 21. so that "we keep the water pressure for showers and other domestic needs" ...it sounds so like...20 years ago...cause i haven't seen any pressure difference ever...
anyways...guess what...i finished my washing and drying at 20.30-20.40 and the "monster lady" just comes in with 4 bags of dirty stuff to wash them...i was amazed...she is Swiss..she has been living in the building for the last 15 years and there were a few times, when she knocked at our door accusing us of forgetting to take out the fluffy stuff from the dryer "and it must be you cause you came the last ones, just a few months ago and i have been living here since 15 years and this has never happened"...how about that?
but i am not stretching my nerves on this...1 day before i will leave this building i will put some nice paint in the washing machine just before her scheduling starts...i know is childish...but it will just make some of her clothes a bit blueish...or pinkish...haven't decided yet... and that will pay for my dead neurons
Same here. We have to buy jetons to use the machines. I've also live in appartments where the key card that switched on the machines identified who was using the machine so that the electricity cost could be distributed.
I thought it was the norm to pay rather than the other way around.
Thankfully I live in an appartment where washing is not only free, there is no timetable and you can access the machine and do washing 24/7 (it is really deep in the basement). Previously I lived in a standard 2 washes a month appartment where the concierge was a **** who complained any time I couldn't be home on a Friday evening from 5-10 (my wash time).
People need to relax when it comes to washing. If someone's wash is finished, take it out and put it on top and expect people to do the same to you. Putting on a wash and going out for the day is acceptable. If someone wants the machine they can move your stuff. You consent to this when you go out. Same if someone doesn't want to wait for you to collect when your laundry is done. Putting in a wash between two washes of another person is acceptable, do it and have it done to you. First come first served.
I would rather have it like this than a regimented, no-sundays timetable.
Our appartment has it's own washer and dryer underground and so do all the other appartments. We sometimes wash on Sundays and have never has any complaints. Our elderly Swiss neighbours do not mind.
The lady next door said that when she was bringing up three small children, she was only allowed to use the communal washing machine in her appartment complex once a fortnight and she absolutely hated it. I think that's why she is tolerant of us. When we moved here, my wife insisted on us only considering appartments with individual washing facilities. It certainly makes life easier.
The risk of having some fluff collecting, schedule creating anal retentive laundry fascist seems far higher than having a sensible, mature, trusting approach.
I'm convinced the Swiss have a massive sado-masochistic streak.
They inflict harsh petty rules on each other, and then bloody obey them
Is it that bad? I am living in the US and wash and dry every 2nd day, max. one hour, everything done. We are moving to CH soon, I think it will be a hassle if it can take up to 5 hours to dry the clothing, never heard of it. What if both partners work, should one take a day off to do the laundry? seems like that is the only option. Laundry seems to be complicated, recycling even more, no wonder they are depressed.
Anyone else out there have their allocated laundry day on a Tuesday? Thinking about how next Tuesday is Christmas Day, and the following is New Year's Day, as in my building, washing on holidays is against the rules. That's three weeks without doing the wash - this system doesn't work!
Go talk asap to your janitor or landlord,it's not your fault that the festive days fall onto weekdays ,try to reason with them that you can do your laundry!
My laundry days are also monday and tuesday but we only block the 'real' sundays here as washing days,because there are flats (bedrooms) above the laundry room and the noise is heard up there.......
i hope u can sort something and do let me know if you want me to help prepare something in german
That is sooooooooooooooooooofunny. Yes, why do they inflict all those rediculous rules, have they nothing better to do? That is why you will always find the Swiss peeping out from behind the curtains, they are spying on each other, it seems that they find pleasure to catch someone disobeying the rules. I do not think the rules are petty to them, they take it VERY seriously, their whole life evolve around what you are suppose to do, and what not.
After reading all these replies I am a little scared about laundry in CH. Maybe I'll be soon looking for an apartment in CH...So, I don't know if anybody can give some advice about the requisites that a flat must fulfill in order to have your own Washing/Drier Machine...?. It would be good to know that in advance...
Fran, It's mostly the newer more expensive apartments that have a washing machine and It's always stated in the advertisement. Not all apartments have such strict rules, so say you find a building with only 3 apartments the laundry schedule is usually pretty relaxed.
Agree with Oldhand....we have no problems...sure people complain if you don't clean out the lint etc..but then so would I.
We share with 3 other flats and no one minds if you wash on Sunday, sure we can't always wash at the second we want to, but its really not that bad to book a day and do 3 washes in 1 go.
To summarize the contents of this thread: everything is possible from once per three weeks strictly scheduled half a day turns, never after 9PM or before 7AM only Monday to Saturday, and payed with a card or a funny magnetic thing which you have to charge up every time with the landlady until feel-free-as-you like, everything included, doesn't matter when.
You "would rather have it like this" is the right expression, because never ever think about touching anyones clothes (or washing on sundays) before you know 100% sure that it is indeed accepted at the appartmentblock where you live. If you are not sure and you still do it, do not be amazed if you indeed get an official warning of the house owner (second warning = out).
Let's try and keep the Swiss bashing to a minimum until you've actually lived here, mmmmm-kay? From your posts it sounds like your setting yourself up to hate living here.
It doesn't take 5 hours to dry. A whole load from start to finish with a decent washer/drier takes about 2 hours. There are these things called weekends where people generally don't work and are an ideal time for doing laundry. I work 70+ hours and week and still manage to get laundry done.
I can say that for 10 years in my rented place, I washed almost when I wanted. It was a sign-up system with 2 rooms with washer and dryer for 10 apartments. This worked a treat - especially when I figured out the lady living above it washed when she wanted.
For those who don't live here yet - it's a question to ask when you're looking at places. Don't jump to conclusions just yet based on a complaint or two - it's not like you'll run out of undies now
FWIW, I prefer the sign-up solution to what I have now - a room with washing piling up in front of the machines