4 ms·

Shared washers and dryers spread fungal infections like candidiasis.

brutusborn 3y ago
Wouldn’t the heat and chemicals kill off most of these? Isn’t the point of washing clothes to get rid of this kind of stuff? I’m not sure I want the answer to these questions, maybe ignorance is bliss.
- downvotetruth 3y ago
  The dryer heat should, but realize that the surface of the machines like the handles are separate.
  - op00to 3y ago
    wear gloves.
- WanderPanda 3y ago
  > I’m not sure I want the answer to these questions, maybe ignorance is bliss. Same, already second-guessing my regular runs to the laundromat
- op00to 3y ago
  If shared laundry were a significant vector of transmissible diseases, it would be pretty damn obvious. Can fungus grow in your washer? Sure. My washing machine growing up as a kid was gross and my clothes constantly stunk because of my family's inability to take wet laundry out of the washer. Then I went away to college, the machines were maintained, I'm not a moron and can handle getting clothes out of the washer when they're done, and my clothes no longer stunk. Wash your clothes with detergent (no, you don't even need hot water), dry them promptly, and you will be fine. Use a hot air dryer instead of line drying if you're really worried.
toast0 3y ago
What's the alternative? Dorm rooms aren't going to get individual laundry machines if they don't even have individual toilets. Most apartments aren't getting individual laundry equipment either. And you can't wash your clothes down at the river anymore.
- downvotetruth 3y ago
  A warning would seem helpful. There is no alternative to suffering if people accept the conditions. Some choose not to go to university; some are trapped in slums.
- dvdkon 3y ago
  Most apartments around here have their own washing machine, often the tenants buy their own. I understand that some people are fine with shared machines, but I think at least for families, a washing machine (+ dryer maybe) is a good investment.
- Aaargh20318 3y ago
  > Dorm rooms aren't going to get individual laundry machines When I lived on campus (in the Netherlands) every apartment (6-18 people) had at least one washing machine. These weren't provided by student housing, but there was at least one small room in every group that had all the plumbing needed for a washing machine. You'd go out and buy a cheap used one as a group and run it until it died. Same thing applied for everything in the group's shared space: refrigerators, freezer, gas stove, oven, microwave, TV. You'd have a gas hookup in the kitchen but the group itself was expected to provide the stove, just like in any normal apartment.
  - Symbiote 3y ago
    In other countries these appliances are provided with rented apartments. In Denmark and Britain I'm provided a washing machine, dryer, fridge, stove, oven. Especially for students it sounds a hassle to make them install and remove these.
    - 3y ago
wkat4242 3y ago
Not so likely with 60-80 degrees Celsius though. Also professional washers have disinfectant cycles. I use the laundrette around the corner as I don't have a washing machine or dryer (it's really just as easy, and the washers and dryers are crazy fast compared to home ones) and my clothes are just fine at 60C. Bedding and towels I do at 80.

Wouldn’t the heat and chemicals kill off most of these? Isn’t the point of washing clothes to get rid of this kind of stuff? I’m not sure I want the answer to these questions, maybe ignorance is bliss.

downvotetruth 3y ago
The dryer heat should, but realize that the surface of the machines like the handles are separate.
- op00to 3y ago
  wear gloves.
WanderPanda 3y ago
> I’m not sure I want the answer to these questions, maybe ignorance is bliss. Same, already second-guessing my regular runs to the laundromat
op00to 3y ago
If shared laundry were a significant vector of transmissible diseases, it would be pretty damn obvious. Can fungus grow in your washer? Sure. My washing machine growing up as a kid was gross and my clothes constantly stunk because of my family's inability to take wet laundry out of the washer. Then I went away to college, the machines were maintained, I'm not a moron and can handle getting clothes out of the washer when they're done, and my clothes no longer stunk. Wash your clothes with detergent (no, you don't even need hot water), dry them promptly, and you will be fine. Use a hot air dryer instead of line drying if you're really worried.

toast0 3y ago

What's the alternative? Dorm rooms aren't going to get individual laundry machines if they don't even have individual toilets. Most apartments aren't getting individual laundry equipment either. And you can't wash your clothes down at the river anymore.

downvotetruth 3y ago
A warning would seem helpful. There is no alternative to suffering if people accept the conditions. Some choose not to go to university; some are trapped in slums.
dvdkon 3y ago
Most apartments around here have their own washing machine, often the tenants buy their own. I understand that some people are fine with shared machines, but I think at least for families, a washing machine (+ dryer maybe) is a good investment.
Aaargh20318 3y ago
> Dorm rooms aren't going to get individual laundry machines When I lived on campus (in the Netherlands) every apartment (6-18 people) had at least one washing machine. These weren't provided by student housing, but there was at least one small room in every group that had all the plumbing needed for a washing machine. You'd go out and buy a cheap used one as a group and run it until it died. Same thing applied for everything in the group's shared space: refrigerators, freezer, gas stove, oven, microwave, TV. You'd have a gas hookup in the kitchen but the group itself was expected to provide the stove, just like in any normal apartment.
- Symbiote 3y ago
  In other countries these appliances are provided with rented apartments. In Denmark and Britain I'm provided a washing machine, dryer, fridge, stove, oven. Especially for students it sounds a hassle to make them install and remove these.
  - 3y ago

wkat4242 3y ago

Not so likely with 60-80 degrees Celsius though. Also professional washers have disinfectant cycles. I use the laundrette around the corner as I don't have a washing machine or dryer (it's really just as easy, and the washers and dryers are crazy fast compared to home ones) and my clothes are just fine at 60C. Bedding and towels I do at 80.