# Other people's laundry... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 29, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-peoples-laundry/231765 "2004-02-29T17:47:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-peoples-laundry/231765/41 "2004-03-03T15:18:27Z")
About the only time I use a laundromat is when I want to wash saddle pads or horse blankets. I never thought about leaving my stuff. I bring a book and a dog and I wait until it’s all done. I’d be afraid someone would steal my stuff, I guess. Or that the management would get mad because I washed my horse gear in their washers. I do make sure I clean out any horse hair from the machines when I’m done. If I were to do personal laundry at a public facility, I’d prefer people not fold. I iron everything anyway, and I don’t like the idea of people pawing my stuff. StG ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-peoples-laundry/231765/42 "2004-03-03T15:37:18Z")
When ever I used public laundries, I would wait for my clothes. The thought of someone stealing my clothes or going through them eeks me out. If I was out and was late in moving my clothes, I would NOT want someone to fold them. That’s pretty gross, becaue I would have no idea if some perv did it and was running his mits through my clothes. Just throw them on the table, or something. I give people 5 minutes. I then toss it on the table. It’s pretty damn rude to leave your clothes in the washer/dryer. I don’t buy this “I was just a few minutes late” or “I have other stuff to do” stuff. So did I. If you leave your clothes in a public facility knowing full well that someone could easliy go through them, I say it’s fair game. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t advocate someone stealing clothes or going through them. NOT AT ALL. Just don’t act surprised or offended when it happens, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-peoples-laundry/231765/43 "2004-03-03T15:48:18Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > DO NOT ever do this! I have had the unfortunate experience of having clothing ruined because it was put into the dryer by a “helpful” person. I have a lot of clothing that can be machine washed but must be laid flat or hung to dry. Even if the label says that the item can be tumble dried, that doesn’t mean it’s what I want. I hang dry all of my pajamas regardless of the label instructions because otherwise they will shrink and become useless to me. I see what you’re saying, but I usually only do this for one particular woman in my complex (no one else seems to do laundry). She and I kind of have an unspoken agreement on this. She dries mine sometimes, I dry hers sometimes. So, I guess it isn’t something I’d do for a random stranger. And really, if you don’t want your stuff messed with, get it outta there once it’s done!! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-peoples-laundry/231765.md?page=2)