Roommate Laundry Room Agreements

Days

• Discuss the days you and your roommate each want to have access to the washer and dryer. You can try an alternating schedule where you have Monday, Wednesday, Friday one week and the next week you have alternate days. You could try doing stretches of more than one day, such as Monday and Tuesday then give your roommate the next two days. Be willing to make exceptions for certain circumstances, such as a big event that warrants heavier use of the machines.

Times

• Designate certain times that the laundry room is off-limits, especially if it is in a particularly busy part of the house. If the machines are loud, set quiet hours that they cannot be run, such as from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Detergents

• Decide whether you and your roommate are going to share materials in the laundry room or each buy your own laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets. If you share materials, alternate who needs to purchase them each time you run out and decide together on a brand or scent that appeals to both of you.

Etiquette

• Have common courtesy for your roommates in the laundry room. Ensure that you both know to clean the lint trap in the dryer after each use and put materials back. Do not leave your laundry baskets full of clothes in the laundry room or dirty clothes all over the floor. Do not leave your laundry in the washer or dryer, especially if it runs into your roommate's time to use the laundry room. He should not be responsible for your laundry and you should not have to take care of his.