It happens at one time or another: you visit the local laundromat for a quick wash but all the machines are in use. After waiting for the cycles to finish, you realize the occupant does not intend to return soon. So what do you do—come back later or remove his or her laundry from the machine?

The StraightDope forum put this question to a vote. Interestingly, 84.72% responded that they would take out the clothes. Most subscribed to the argument, “It’s understood in a communal laundry scenario.” Only 6.95% disagreed with the idea of touching other people’s clothes. Before concluding that pulling out a tardy washer’s clothing is okay, let’s consider two variables.

• Are there timers on the machine? If the machine counts down to completion, then the user has little excuse not coming back on time. While you should leave a small buffer before taking action, you cannot afford more than 10 or 15 minutes.
• Has a note been left behind? If the person leaves a note begging for more time, grant it—within moderation. Similarly, if the person left a phone number, give a courtesy call and ask permission to move their clothes.

Communal Laundry Etiquette

If you must remove another person’s clothes, be respectful. Do not rummage, steal or discard. Instead, pile it into a laundry basket and set it on top of the machine. Under no circumstances should you put the clothes into a dryer. You cannot assume that all the person’s clothes are dryer-friendly.