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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 3, 2019 13:12:43 GMT
So, we moved to Belgium 3 weeks ago and are in the hotel on base for another week. Our floor has one washer and dryer to share among 28 rooms, many of which are family suites. And many staying here are in The middle of a move as well.
I’ve been doing laundry at off times, setting the timer on my phone so that I wasn’t leaving my laundry sitting in a machine. Often I’ll go in there and there will be items in one machine or the other. I’ll remove them and place them on the folding counter and do my laundry.
Is that proper laundry room etiquette? I asked my college aged kids and they said this is what they do at school. Nine times out of ten, I’ll come back after doing a load of wash and they won’t have even put their items in the dryer. So that’s at least another 30 minutes after their wash load has finished.
Today, I’m doing several loads. I removed someone else’s load from the washer and left it on the dryer. It sat there for another 1 1/2-2 hours while I did several loads. Then when I just went back, they had taken my load of barely dried laundry that was still wet (not just damp) and put that on top of the dryer and their old load that had been sitting there was in the dryer. I had set a timer for 15 minutes because I had a few items that I wanted to hang dry, but wanted a little of the dampness taken out. The dryer would have been still running when they removed my items and put theirs in the dryer.
So was I in the wrong? Should I have waited the 90+ minutes for them to come back and never touched their laundry? What if they didn’t come back all day?
I did talk to the front desk person and he said I was right. But we are also in the DV suite, so I’m guessing he would say whatever he thought I wanted him to say. I know the Peas will tell it like it is!
ETA: the laundry here is free to use. At least I didn’t have that to deal with!
Update:
I’m done with laundry for the day. I set a timer for 40 minutes and went back. Their stuff was still in the dryer, but the dryer had stopped. So I put their dry items on the folding counter and put my wet items in the dryer. When I went back 30 minutes later to get my items from the dryer, their dried stuff was still laying on the counter. So I’m guessing they are clueless about hogging the laundry room.
There are people staying here from the 29 NATO nations. Maybe it’s ok in another country? I just can’t imagine pulling someone’s laundry out of a still running dryer!
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MZF
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,517 
Location: No. CA
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Post by MZF on Oct 3, 2019 13:15:56 GMT
I've done the same. I think what you did is fine.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 13:18:09 GMT
So basically they did what you've been doing, removing someone's wet clothing and leaving it in a heap? If it's ok for you to do it then it's ok for them to do it.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Oct 3, 2019 13:19:56 GMT
You're right....they were wrong. You don't take clothes out of a machine that's still running! If it's done then wait around for a bit (or check back in 15min or so) then remove said clothes....don't interrupt a cycle!
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Post by gar on Oct 3, 2019 13:20:03 GMT
What you did was logical and fine but maybe some people are just unreasonably ‘don’t touch my stuff!!’ for whatever reason.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 13:20:13 GMT
I would have done the same thing you did. Laundry rooms are the worst!
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Oct 3, 2019 13:20:51 GMT
Do you have to pay for the laundry? If not you probably could have just run their load through the dryer. But I think it is a little rude to put wet laundry on the dryer. It's a difficult situation, personally (and I have lived this situation in a few places) I would avoid it all together and take my laundry to the laundromat, get it all done at once and not have to bother other people's stuff.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Oct 3, 2019 13:20:56 GMT
So basically they did what you've been doing, removing someone's wet clothing and leaving it in a heap? If it's ok for you to do it then it's ok for them to do it. I read it as the dryer was still running when they removed her clothes. |
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Post by elaine on Oct 3, 2019 13:21:03 GMT
So basically they did what you've been doing, removing someone's wet clothing and leaving it in a heap? If it's ok for you to do it then it's ok for them to do it. No, she doesn’t remove someone’s clothes from the dryer while it is running. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 13:21:30 GMT
So basically they did what you've been doing, removing someone's wet clothing and leaving it in a heap? If it's ok for you to do it then it's ok for them to do it. Taking wet clothes out of a washer and leaving them is different than taking someones clothes that are drying in a dryer to put their clothes in is NOT the same thing.
It is also etiquette to remove clothes from an unattended (not still running) machine here. Its rude to not come back for over 90 minutes.
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Post by myshelly on Oct 3, 2019 13:22:18 GMT
Do you have to pay for the laundry? If not you probably could have just run their load through the dryer. But I think it is a little rude to put wet laundry on the dryer. It's a difficult situation, personally (and I have lived this situation in a few places) I would avoid it all together and take my laundry to the laundromat, get it all done at once and not have to bother other people's stuff. No! It is completely and totally unacceptable to put other people’s laundry in the dryer. You have no idea what they want in the dryer and what they want I go to dry. Why risk ruining an item that doesn’t belong to you? I think what the OP did was fine. What likescarrots is suggesting is wrong. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 13:24:35 GMT
So basically they did what you've been doing, removing someone's wet clothing and leaving it in a heap? If it's ok for you to do it then it's ok for them to do it. No, she doesn’t remove someone’s clothes from the dryer while it is running.
Sorry Basket1lady I misunderstood, my brains a little foggy today! |
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Oct 3, 2019 13:25:12 GMT
Do you have to pay for the laundry? If not you probably could have just run their load through the dryer. But I think it is a little rude to put wet laundry on the dryer. It's a difficult situation, personally (and I have lived this situation in a few places) I would avoid it all together and take my laundry to the laundromat, get it all done at once and not have to bother other people's stuff. No! It is completely and totally unacceptable to put other people’s laundry in the dryer. You have no idea what they want in the dryer and what they want I go to dry. Why risk ruining an item that doesn’t belong to you? I mean they can't have it both ways, either they make sure they're on time to move their clothes or expect someone else to do it (or leave it in a wet heap) in a community setting. |
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Post by myshelly on Oct 3, 2019 13:26:13 GMT
No! It is completely and totally unacceptable to put other people’s laundry in the dryer. You have no idea what they want in the dryer and what they want I go to dry. Why risk ruining an item that doesn’t belong to you? I mean they can't have it both ways, either they make sure they're on time to move their clothes or expect someone else to do it (or leave it in a wet heap) in a community setting. I agree. They should be on time. Leaving it in a wet heap is fine. Putting it in a dryer is not. |
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,203
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Oct 3, 2019 13:27:37 GMT
I think it's fine what you did but not fine if they removed items from a machine that was running.
Bet you can't wait to move into your new place.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Oct 3, 2019 13:28:56 GMT
So basically they did what you've been doing, removing someone's wet clothing and leaving it in a heap? If it's ok for you to do it then it's ok for them to do it. I read it as the dryer was still running when they removed her clothes. she says that she set a timer, but she wasn't there so it's entirely possible they waited until the dryer stopped and immediately moved the clothes. |
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rickmer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,185
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Post by rickmer on Oct 3, 2019 13:29:47 GMT
i agree what you did is fine - other person was a jerk.
the timer is key - if you want to hold up a washing machine with you wet clothes after cycle is done?! that is just wrong.
welcome to the joys of a shared laundry facility!!
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Oct 3, 2019 13:30:48 GMT
I mean they can't have it both ways, either they make sure they're on time to move their clothes or expect someone else to do it (or leave it in a wet heap) in a community setting. I agree. They should be on time. Leaving it in a wet heap is fine. Putting it in a dryer is not. we can agree to disagree. I would be pissed if someone left my clothes in a wet heap, but again this is why I would avoid the situation all together and go to the laundromat. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:36:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 13:31:07 GMT
What you did was OK IMO as the wash cycle had finished but what the other person did with your laundry was NOT ok, not while your dryer was still running. If you're paying for the use of that dryer, she's actually drying her laundry on your dime!!
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
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Post by Belle on Oct 3, 2019 13:33:33 GMT
You were right, they were wrong to take your clothes from the running dryer.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 3, 2019 13:33:39 GMT
So basically they did what you've been doing, removing someone's wet clothing and leaving it in a heap? If it's ok for you to do it then it's ok for them to do it. I’m guessing that these are machines you pay to use? The difference is that their laundry was in the washer done being washed, so she left it on the dryer for them to pay to dry it, only they never came back to put it in the dryer before hers was done washing. Since they still hadn’t come to put their stuff in the dryer once hers was washed, she went ahead and put hers in the dryer. They were in the wrong because they actually stopped the dryer while her stuff was in there, short changing the drying cycle that she paid for. Definitely not cool. |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Oct 3, 2019 13:34:05 GMT
You are not wrong. You cannot hold up use of the machines if you are not using them. I’d have sat there until I found out who removed my wet clothes from the dryer. I was in the military, this would be an expected response to screwing with laundry.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:36:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 13:35:01 GMT
I read it as the dryer was still running when they removed her clothes. she says that she set a timer, but she wasn't there so it's entirely possible they waited until the dryer stopped and immediately moved the clothes. She said she set a timer and was back before the timer finished! I had set a timer for 15 minutes because I had a few items that I wanted to hang dry, but wanted a little of the dampness taken out. The dryer would have been still running when they removed my items and put theirs in the dryer. |
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Oct 3, 2019 13:38:41 GMT
she says that she set a timer, but she wasn't there so it's entirely possible they waited until the dryer stopped and immediately moved the clothes. She said she set a timer and was back before the timer finished! I had set a timer for 15 minutes because I had a few items that I wanted to hang dry, but wanted a little of the dampness taken out. The dryer would have been still running when they removed my items and put theirs in the dryer. where in that quote did it say she was back before the timer finished? |
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 3, 2019 13:42:23 GMT
I read it as the dryer was still running when they removed her clothes. she says that she set a timer, but she wasn't there so it's entirely possible they waited until the dryer stopped and immediately moved the clothes. The dryer wouldn’t have stopped in the 15 minutes that I was gone. The items were still wet, not just damp. The dryer (with my load in it) would have been still running. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 3, 2019 13:43:03 GMT
She said she set a timer and was back before the timer finished! I had set a timer for 15 minutes because I had a few items that I wanted to hang dry, but wanted a little of the dampness taken out. The dryer would have been still running when they removed my items and put theirs in the dryer. where in that quote did it say she was back before the timer finished? With my dryer, the minimum normal drying cycle is about 45-60 minutes, so setting a timer for 15 minutes at the start of the cycle would mean there would still be 30-45 minutes left to go for the rest of the stuff she didn’t want to take out. Even if she didn’t get back before the 15 minutes on her timer was up, the dryer would still be running for a good while yet. |
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Post by elaine on Oct 3, 2019 13:46:00 GMT
Do you have to pay for the laundry? If not you probably could have just run their load through the dryer. But I think it is a little rude to put wet laundry on the dryer. It's a difficult situation, personally (and I have lived this situation in a few places) I would avoid it all together and take my laundry to the laundromat, get it all done at once and not have to bother other people's stuff. And I would be beyond upset if someone put my clothes in the dryer for me. Not everything that gets washed also goes through the dryer. And how would you know what temp they were washed at, and what temp the dryer should be set to? You could ruin someone’s clothes by doing that. I can also understand not wanting to hunt down a laundrymat in a foreign city, especially since I don’t think that the OP has a car there. (Could be wrong about that though) Anyhow, I think what the OP did was acceptable. Military people, especially, are often used to these situations and usually fairly conscientious that they are shared facilities that other families have to use. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:38 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2019 13:49:03 GMT
She said she set a timer and was back before the timer finished! I had set a timer for 15 minutes because I had a few items that I wanted to hang dry, but wanted a little of the dampness taken out. The dryer would have been still running when they removed my items and put theirs in the dryer. where in that quote did it say she was back before the timer finished? Ok she didn't actually say that but inferred it. I took her post to mean that she set the times for 15 minutes and in her mind and possibly having checked the time when she returned she knew she was back before the 15 minutes was up. In other words she returned before the 15 minutes was up to remove the items she didn't want to be completely dry and found all of them out of the dryer. It's not rocket since to comprehend what she meant surely! |
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 3, 2019 13:53:34 GMT
Do you have to pay for the laundry? If not you probably could have just run their load through the dryer. But I think it is a little rude to put wet laundry on the dryer. It's a difficult situation, personally (and I have lived this situation in a few places) I would avoid it all together and take my laundry to the laundromat, get it all done at once and not have to bother other people's stuff. And I would be beyond upset if someone put my clothes in the dryer for me. Not everything that gets washed also goes through the dryer. And how would you know what temp they were washed at, and what temp the dryer should be set to? You could ruin someone’s clothes by doing that. I can also understand not wanting to hunt down a laundrymat in a foreign city, especially since I don’t think that the OP has a car there. (Could be wrong about that though) Anyhow, I think what the OP did was acceptable. Military people, especially, are often used to these situations and usually fairly conscientious that they are shared facilities that other families have to use. We do have a car, but DH went to work today and I’m stuck here at the hotel. Since I was here anyway, I just thought I’d do some laundry. I know there are laundromats around, but I don’t know where they are and I would have to pay for them. And I would have to take a taxi to get to it! |
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Post by Basket1lady on Oct 3, 2019 13:55:50 GMT
where in that quote did it say she was back before the timer finished? Ok she didn't actually say that but inferred it. I took her post to mean that she set the times for 15 minutes and in her mind and possibly having checked the time when she returned she knew she was back before the 15 minutes was up. In other words she returned before the 15 minutes was up to remove the items she didn't want to be completely dry and found all of them out of the dryer. It's not rocket since to comprehend what she meant surely! Yup. I set the timer on my phone for 15 minutes. And I went as soon as the timer went off because I had some things in the dryer I didn’t want to shrink. So I was back in the laundry room within a minute. The dryer here takes about 40 minutes to dry a load. |
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