Bradley should invest in new washers and dryers  – The Bradley Scout

Doing laundry is a routine everyone experiences, but in college, it’s a process students typically dread. Between working, finding a time when washers are available and worrying about the quality of the machines, doing laundry can be a hassle.

Although laundry became free to Bradley students last year, the machines have recently had consistent issues.

For instance, there have been concerns regarding the cleanliness of the washers. Some washers often smell of mildew for weeks on end, suggesting that they are not cleaned regularly. This is problematic because that foul smell could transfer to clothes, leaving an odor even after washing that can be difficult to get out.

Additionally, some washers have been straight-up malfunctioning and destroying people’s items. Residents at Main Street Commons have had issues with washing machine agitators lodging clothes or sheets into the bottom of the machine, necessitating several people to pull it free.

When it comes to the dryers, many of them just don’t work properly. Students often have to run their clothes or bedding through multiple cycles on the highest heat for their laundry to be completely dry. This is frustrating for everyone, as it means the flow of students able to do laundry is slowed down significantly.

The multiple dry cycles can cause damage to clothes like shrinking and pilling. This makes the entire process not only long, but also a real pain.

Aside from more technical issues, at the end of the day, there just need to be more machines. In the Student Apartment Complex, there are only four total washers and dryers for six floors of students. In each building in the St. James Apartment Complex, there are only two washers and dryers. This is incredibly inconvenient when buildings have multiple apartments housing up to four roommates, especially when machines are out of order.

Doing laundry needs to be more efficient and accessible, and Bradley should invest in new machines. Of course, the matter of machines being available isn’t entirely one the university can help, but improving the number, cleanliness and quality of the machines can help