In Chile, I have the unique displeasure of using the public laundry facilities in my building. Capacity is quite limited, and often people are forgetful, inconsiderate assholes who leave their clothes in the machines long after the cycle is done, sometimes an hour or more. It happens enough that I’ve resorted to pulling clothes from machines and putting them in the dryer, or on the counter. But I feel weird about touching other people’s shit, especially if it’s underwear or something. What do you think about this? Latinos are not as obsessed with personal property as Americans, so they probably care less. But what do you think? Is it appropriate to remove a stranger’s clothes from a machine if they leave them sitting idle, and you need to use the machine?
Throw the clothes out and stomp on them until they're muddy/dusty piles of ruined cloth. That's the only way to assert your laundromat dominance.
Absolutely. When people have to share a resource, it's incumbent on each to relinquish it in a timely manner when their use of it is complete. I wouldn't be upset about 5-10 minutes (people can't always watch the clock perfectly, after all), but an hour is excessive. When it gets to be 30 minutes past the end of the cycle, I'd feel justified in removing another's laundry (and have done so).
This may depend on who was doing the laundry. If it is some beautiful Chilean woman, there are a number of possible options. If it is anyone else, I would just leave it on the counter or take it outside and burn it. What'cha doing in Chile, anyway? What's it like over there?
Agree completely with Paladin. Anything under 30 minutes is forgivable and I'm willing to be patient, but beyond 30 minutes is when I'd start moving stuff on top of the dryer/washer. I've done this and had this done to me before and I don't see a problem with it. People just need to set themselves a timer to remind themselves, it's not that hard!
Wow. I was skimming through the Wikipedia page for Chile. Seems like an awesome place to visit! May have to make a trip there one of these days... do you see a lot of this?!
I don't particularly like living here, but it's good to visit. I have a thread on this subject, although I haven't updated it much.
I'm not touching anyone elses shit. No telling what you'd catch, lice, crabs, I mean really, that's stupid. Besides, I have a washer and dryer.
I'd agree with the half an hour rule. The place we are living at now doesn't have washer/dryer hookups. First time in about a decade I'm doing the shared laundry room thing (well, shared with people not my roommates). Not horrible, but you do have to think out your laundry schedule, you can't just throw something in on your way out and get it later.
Worst laundry etiquette - when people STEAL clothes out of the dryer. Had it happen living in an apartment complex in Colorado. In the Air Force in one barracks our laundry room was on the second floor. Once someone took my clothes and threw them out the window into the parking lot below and put their clothes in. They weren't washing uniforms so I couldn't see their name-tags.
