Doing laundry stinks.

Some students forget to keep on the laundry, but panic grips the student who realizes this horrible truth: School is in 10 minutes and all of the socks and underwear are built up in a pile of dirty clothes near the hamper.

Going “commando,” however, is simply not a feasible option for most. Without the invention of dispensable clothing or CAL Grants for new clothes, the only recourse is to set aside a day for the purpose: laundry day.

“I always wait until the last minute to do my laundry, and I seem to run out of clothes right when I need them the most,” said dorm resident Alfred Lee.

Doing laundry can be a fearful thing. Throwing colors in hot water or mixing denim jeans with bleach is a common mistake made by students new to the rigors of laundry.

For some, doing their laundry in the dorms is the first time they?ve ever done laundry in their lives.

“My mom has always washed my stuff. I didn?t even know the difference between bleach and detergent ? I mean, if there is a difference,” Lee said.

In addition to knowing the difference between soaps and drier sheets, students must also learn the unspoken community protocol for doing laundry. The most important of these rules is to pick up finished loads.

“I hate the people who leave their laundry in the washer and dryer for hours, and never come back for it,” said dorm resident Philip Nelson.

Dorm residents live in fear that their clothes may be subject to pranks if left unattended. Policies and consequences for unlawful use of the washers and driers are posted in all of the laundry rooms, but students are still wary of leaving their wash unguarded.”I?m always afraid to leave my clothes behind. I?ve heard of people getting paint spilled in their wash or clothes stolen,” said Draper Hall resident Roger Newallo.

Though some stories of laundry room mishaps tend to be based more on urban legend and superstition than reality, there are some honest tales of acts that stink more than the dirty clothes being washed. Many of these accounts consist of students who have had their laundry violated by others “piggybacking” items in their load.

“I found this guy?s stuff all wrapped up in mine one time when I came back to get my laundry out of the washer,” said Draper Hall resident Melinda Lipanovich.

Laundry duties do not end after dorm life. If no on-site washers and driers exist, renting students must relinquish their clothing to local laundromats. A skim through the yellow pages reveals scores of possible locations for one to do their laundry.

Names of available launders like “Cheap Suds” and “Speedy Soap” pepper the pages of the phone book, but most students who use laundromats choose to take their business to places they?ve heard of through word of mouth.

“I go to this place on Folsom that my friend Jamie told me about,” said student Kathryn Parker.

In a poll of 20 students who use laundromats, the most popular were the two “Sudz Yer Dudz” locations on Arden Way and Folsom Boulevard.

Beyond the few laundromats known on campus, there are a dozen others within a three mile radius of Sacramento State. Dirty laundry can influence more than the sense of smell; it is also a consideration when apartment hunting. Many prospective renters check the availability of laundry services offered at a complex before signing any lease.

In a poll of 50 dorm residents, all of them said the most important thing they would look for in a new apartment would be a washer and drier.

Understanding the importance of such appliances, apartment managers advertise laundry services in renter?s journals such as “Apartment Guide” more often than any other apartment amenity.”On-site laundry is one of the things I looked for when I was searching for my new apartment,” said student Desiree Bugarin.The ideal situation for most students is a washer and drier in their place of residence.

“I was really excited to find that the apartment me and my roommate were going to rent had a washer and drier,” said Bugarin. “I can do my laundry anytime I want without having to ever leave my place.”

The advantages of having in-home laundry appliances are attractive, but like almost all conveniences, they come with a cost.”I like having the washer and drier, but they raise the electric bills a bit,” Bugarin said.

Wherever one?s battlefield is, the war for clean clothes must be fought. No matter if the washer and drier are downstairs, down the hall, or down the street; the dirty work must get done, and someone has to do it.

Send comments, questions, or concerns to[email protected].

For questions or information regarding the site,please contact [email protected]