When trying to find an apartment, an oft-overlooked factor is how the complex handles apartment laundry. Let’s face it, washing and drying clothes in an apartment laundry facility can seem daunting at first, especially if this represents your first time doing laundry in a public or semi-public space. Never fear, however! We here at ApartmentSearch have put together a few tips that will make doing your laundry in an apartment a breeze.

For residents located a long distance from the laundry room, portable hampers offer a unique solution to the back-and- forth walk with bulky, overstuffed baskets of clothing. A simple invention, portable hampers with wheels make transporting heavy loads of laundry almost like having your own clothing caddy. In essence, you can literally roll away your laundry transportation issues. If you are getting ready to move to a new apartment, purchasing a portable hamper might just be the ideal item to add to the moving checklist.

Being prepared and organized is essential to getting in-and-out of a crowded laundry room quickly and efficiently.  Having your laundry detergent, dryer sheets and money together may eliminate multiple trips back and forth from the apartment to the laundry room. Many portable hampers also include storage pockets that will help keep these items together.

Using a portable timing device like an alarm, such as a watch or kitchen timer, can help ensure clothes are removed from the washer or dryer as soon as they are finished. Your neighbors will thank you for it, and you will have the freedom to avoid staring at the spin cycle for hours on end.

Apartment laundry day does not have to be a nightmare. It simply takes a bit of ingenuity and preparation. Besides, helping with laundry room etiquette — by following the above tips — you may just set a great example for your neighbors, thus making apartment laundry day easier for everyone.