Idle & Abandoned Stuff

Laundries in apartments are communal spaces. Other people count on these spaces and the equipment inside of them. In the absence of specific permission given by that person, you may not disturb anyone else’s things in an active machine. You may reasonably expect that no one will tamper with your things while the machine is on.However, you should pay attention to when the cycle will end, and return before that time. The entitlement to a machine ends with the paid cycle.

If you come across an idle machine where the cycle has finished, you may respectfully place someone’s items somewhere else nearby. Should a basket or hamper be available and next to the machine, that’s a reasonable place to put it. If someone appears disgruntled that you have moved their items which were in an idle machine, report the matter to your property manager.

Stuff that stays in the laundry far past the end of a cycle may be discarded by maintenance with no further notice than this.

Payments & Refunds

Valid forms of payment may vary between properties, but can include US quarter dollars or mobile payment (PayRange, ShinePay, Tangerpay)

  • Refund requests are fulfilled when there is a fault with a machine that was not caused by the user (you). You are asked to provide the following information in a timely manner to receive a refund.

    • Your name and address, if not provided before

    • The date and time at which you had a problem.

    • The laundry room and the machine.

    • Why you’re seeking a refund. A photo helps.

Ask within 7 days. Refund requests are corroborated with surveillance and other reports, and recordings are not kept long. Late requests may be refused.

Not refundable: too much soap, and unbalanced loads. Both are explained under Common Mistakes.

 

Spills, odors and debris.

You are responsible for cleaning up after yourself.

  • Residents are responsible to resolve offensive odors or residues left in or around the machines.

    • This includes urine, cigarettes and other odors which are conventionally considered unpleasant.

    • It is absolutely forbidden to place anything in the machines which may injure a subsequent user.

Be forthright.

If there’s a problem with a machine and you need help, please contact me in a timely manner. Even if you broke it, it means a lot to the other residents because it means things can be fixed promptly.

Hands off the equipment

The washers and dryers, their payment devices, and everything connected to them are serviced only by me. That includes power, water, drains, vents, cameras and sensors.

Residents and their guests may not:

  • force, pry or open a locked door

  • unplug, switch off, move or tilt a machine

  • reach behind or under a machine, or open its cabinet

  • open, bypass or attach anything to a coin box or payment device

  • shut off, disconnect or adjust a power, water, drain or vent connection

  • cover, move or unplug a camera or sensor

  • attempt a repair, however small

If a machine stops, locks your laundry in, shows an error, or looks or sounds wrong, stop using it and tell me. Most errors that lock a door clear themselves after a half-hour.

A forced door breaks the latch, and then nobody can use that washer until I replace it. The connections behind the machines can injure you.

Residents may be accountable under their lease for tampering by themselves, members of their household or their guests.

Emergencies

Water on the floor (more than a little bit), smoke, sparks or anything else dangerous: leave the machine alone, get clear, and tell building staff or someone nearby right away. For fire or injury, call 911. Then let me know.

Everything else comes to me first.