I have a triplex building with a shared washer and dryer in the basement (outside entrance). All 3 units share the laundry and it's not coin operated. I'm starting to have major issues with laundry being left in the washer and/or dryer and then my phone blows up from another unit wanting to do their laundry. I really don't like being the laundry cop. I never thought it was that hard to start laundry, then come back and take care of it when it's done. I had 5 roommates in college and we never had an issue. But I digress....

The only thing I can think of is to hang a "laundry rules" sheet up by the washer and dryer. One of those rules would be if clothes are in the washer or dryer, they are subject to being set on the nearby table after 30 minutes, so please follow up on your laundry. Before I do this, I wanted to check with the experts and see if yall any experience in this matter and if there was something else I should do instead? I'm really trying to keep the peace here. All the tenants are nice people and I get along with them. I'm afraid if I don't do something, they will all be at each other's throats though.

I'm all ears here. I'm hoping someone has a magic answer. Thanks in advance!

We have a shared laundry in our four-unit furnished rental. --We provide laundry baskets with the unit # on them, so everyone knows whose laundry it is.

--We have a sheet with laundry rules posted on it, including "Please remove your laundry promptly so that others may use the machines."

If you allow your tenants to set the rules, you will never have piece! I've had the same problems myself. The tenants that were house wives and home 20 hours a day would start to use the laundry machines just as other tenants got home from work and wanted to wash their cloths. Selfish people.

Then when the housewife's load were done, she'd take hours to collect them or transfer them from the washer to the dryer.

My other tenants were demanding I get a second set of machines.

Here is what I did. I installed a new lock on the laundry room door. If any tenant wanted to use the laundry machines, they have to comply with my NEW SET OF RULES.

I wanted each tenant to list the day and time during the week that they are able to do laundry. Then reviews the schedule, I made some tenants that were home all day do morning loads so when people that worked came home, they could do laundry. Some tenants had maids that needed use of the machines on a specific date and time -- they got first dibs.

Then, I put 6 5 gallon buckets in the laundry room. Anyone who leaves their laundry in the machines longer than 30 minutes after completed, the next user can transfer the laundry to a bucket and use the machines themselves....

add more washers and dryers

change them to coin operated

Doogie,

THIS BASKET IS FOR LAUNDRY LEFT UNATTENDED.

PS

The times *I* have used a shared laundry a simple "Hey Joe, get your stuff!" was sufficient. Maybe a chalkbaord to write their phone number "Call 999-999-9999 if my clothes are still here and I am not".

I REALLY like Busy's idea to post a reminder to set their phone alarm.

(You need a SMART washer that will call them at the end of the cycle!)

I also suspect the complainer MIGHT be complaining 10 seconds after the washer cycle ends.

What joy when we moved into our own place with our own w/d.

Brad has my idea, -this basket is for unattended laundry- found after 15 minutes, after 72 hours things in common areas are donated.

I've got a QuadPlex & a DuPlex that share one laundry room, 6 units... each unit is assigned one day a week to use the laundry, 7:30am to 8:30pm... Sunday is not assigned and is available UPOND Request as a make-up day, incase someone is out of town, or had to work OT and missed their date. If someone has an "emergency" they can phone me, I'll phone the person who is assigned that day and see if they are done and if the other person can jump in - has been working very well for a number of years. If they abuse the privilege (its not apart of the lease - but is a gift from me) and leave their stuff in the machines, or use on someone else' day I give them a warning... if the behavior continues, they get a 2nd notice. If it happens a 3rd time, I change the locks and reissue everyone but them a new key and let the other tenants know not to let them in, or give them the new key - or they will be locked out... so far it's worked very well.