Laundry - it's an inevitable part of every college student's life. Some people have done their own laundry since they were old enough to reach the dials on the washers, but for others, college is the first time they take their clothes into their own hands.
On-Grounds housing has its own laundry rooms, and laundromats such as Suds on Maury Avenue and the Cavalier Washette on Ivy Road are convenient for students living off Grounds.
For students who just don't have the time or the willpower to do their own laundry, Suds offers a semester drop-off plan, which includes unlimited wash, dry and folding for $240.
"They say only your doctor knows, or your husband knows," said Laura Batson, an attendant at Suds, "but the person who does your laundry knows. You can tell a lot about a person just from their laundry."
But besides the drawbacks of having someone else sort through your dirty laundry, most students, especially first years, choose to use the on-Grounds facilities.
"I do my laundry based on how many pairs of boxers I have left," first-year College student Andrew Huxsaw said. "Once you're wearing your last pair of clean boxers, you know it's laundry day. I'm working on a two-and-a-half week cycle."
Others have managed to avoid the annoyances doing laundry altogether.
"We don't know what doing laundry here is like," first-year College student Kendall Stevenson said of her and her roommate Alison Jones. "Our parents do it."
But for those who have to brave the trials of laundry themselves, it can be quite an experience. The heavy laundry room doors creak open and closed every few seconds, as students holding their swipe cards in their teeth struggle to drag their laundry bags in before the alarm goes off. Odd socks and dryer sheets litter the floor as frustrated students wait for a machine to open up. There's a whole set of laundry room politics that comes into play when students are in a rush.
"There's an internal struggle when your clothes are done and someone else's clothes are just sitting in the dryer," first year College student Kim Schloss said.
Other people are more vindictive with other people's clothes.
"One time somebody took my clothes out of the washer while I was gone," first-year College student Alex Sonneborn said. "So as I was putting my clothes into the dryer, I took the lint from the dryer, opened up that washer, and dropped it in. You don't want to mess with my clothes."
Most students face more mundane concerns. You can always spot one or two confused students, scratching their heads as they contemplate how their white shirts turned shades of grey and red.
"I thought that not mixing colors and whites was a myth," said first-year College student Jerrod Quarles, "but now my favorite shirt is pink."
For those students who have moved off-Grounds, Suds is only a block from Scott Stadium and offers a comfortable, quiet environment. Tables and chairs fill up one side of the room to allow students to catch up on some reading while their clothes spin. Of course, the soft hum of the washers, and warm air emanating from the dryers can prove too much for some.
"Most people try to do homework but don't, they just watch other people," said Adam Kesselman, a fourth-year College student who was doing laundry at Suds. "It's really easy to fall asleep in here."
Few students venture out to the Cavalier Washette on Ivy Road, where water seeps slowly from under the cracked, orange vinyl of a dilapidated washer and the harsh fluorescent light is absorbed by the rough concrete floors. As Charlottesville resident Misty Gentry moved between the seven washers she was loading with her week's laundry, she lamented the task ahead of her.
"Doing laundry sucks. Washing baby puke is enough to make anybody gag," she said.
Gentry's little girl plays in a rusty wire basket at the end of the table where her mother is ripping open her fifth trash bag of dirty clothes.
"It usually takes me two hours, if I stay on top of it," Genry added.
The regulars at the Cavalier Washette have plenty of complaints.
"You put a lot of money in the machine and the clothes don't come out dry, and they don't reimburse you," Brian Watson said. Yet he keeps coming back because he works next door and it's convenient.
Convenience seems to be one of the few things the Cavalier Washette has going for it.
"There's nothing that I like about this place at all," said Nha Ton, who works in the nail shop next door, as he hurriedly pops quarters into his drier. "It's just convenient, I get paid while I get my laundry done."
Whether you like to drop your laundry and run, or spend an hour or two surrounded by the sharp smell of detergent, there's no reason to wait until Thanksgiving Break to sleep on freshly laundered sheets.
Read More
How study abroad taught me to stop studying
By Grace Scott | 4 days agoTurns out, it took attending one of the most prestigious universities in the world for me to realize there's more to life than studying.
Collyn Clark reflects on Space Workforce 2030, building an inclusive space industry
By Carly Stender | 6 days agoClark said programs such as the SWF 2030 internship can serve as launch pads for a career in the aerospace industry.
The White Spot: an iconic diner etched in student nightlife
By Alexa Graham | May 7, 2024The White Spot is a timeless diner for Charlottesville residents and students looking for a greasy spoon infused with University spirit.
