How to do your laundry in halls

So fresh and so clean, clean.

Keep your stuff clean and feel zero stress with this complete guide to doing your laundry. It can feel daunting at first when you're transitioning to a new system (or if you haven't had much experience doing your own laundry) but follow these tips and you'll be a washing pro in no time.

Laundry facilities in halls

All University of Leeds accommodation has some form of laundry facilities, whether this be a shared laundry room or just washing machines and dryers within your flat. For those with shared laundry rooms, if your accommodation has Circuit laundry then you will be able to use the Circuit app to pay and also check if there are free machines for you to use. You will be provided with login details so keep a look out for them in your emails. 

You can find your facility locations for each residence and any contact details you may need if you have any issues.

How to do your laundry

If you're new to this or just need a reminder of how this all works now and again, then these tips will keep you from shrinking your favourite top or turning all your whites to pink:

• Always check the symbols - Everything you wash should be labelled with various symbols that explain how to properly wash said item. For example, maybe it's a certain type of fabric that can only be washed at a low temperature - you will need to know this to maintain the quality of the item!
• Choosing the right detergent - You will also need to purchase detergent/washing tablets that are right for you. We recommend shopping at places like Aldi, Lidl or Wilkos for the cheapest prices. If you have sensitive skin that's easy to irritate, then you'll want to buy Non-Bio over Bio.
• Wash your whites and darks separately - Keep your whites white by not washing them with other colours, simple as that! Also if you want to avoid colour bleed completely, then wash your newer, coloured clothes separately for the first few washes.
• If in doubt, wash at 30º - Washing on the low heat of 30º is not only good for the environment, but you're less likely to damage your items at lower heat if you're not sure how you should wash something. Dirtier clothes such as gym wear and tougher stains will need to be washed at a higher temperature though so just keep that in mind.
• Pockets, pockets, pockets! - An easy mistake to make leaving valuables in your pockets, sticking them in the wash and completely destroying those valuables in the process and/or ruining your clothes too. So just take your time and remember to search every pocket.
• Drying your clothes is just as important - So you've done the perfect wash but have no idea how to dry them quickly and smell-free? If possible, you can hang your items outside on a washing line and let nature do its thing but if not, you'll need to use a dryer. Circuit has a solid guide on how to use their machines. but a general rule to follow is heavier/thicker items will need more time, while basic t-shirts can be dried on a much shorter cycle.

Refer back to this guide as much as you need and before you know it, you'll have the freshest clothes every time. Have a great time washing!