Throughout my life I have been a resident of several apartment complexes with varying qualities of laundry room facilities.

I've lugged my laundry down there with the best and the worst of them at all hours of the night and day. I like to think that I have become a seasoned Soap Opera specialist.

I know there are certain things you can and cannot do in Launderama land. Generally it's not proper laundry room etiquette to "borrow" someone's unattended Gain or Snuggle or to commandeer the remaining minutes on another's dryer without permission. But everyone knows that, right?

When I came to college I was surprised to find out that certain individuals in my residence hall were unaware of the unwritten rules of the Washateria. So, to help clear up some of the confusion that sometimes comes with having to go to the local laundromat, here are some rules to do laundry by:

-- Never tamper with laundry room equipment. I know, I know. If you press the hot, warm, cool and air buttons on the dryer a million times it'll give you an extra ten minutes for free. But abusing this technique could cause damage to Tech Express capabilities and when that happens, you are infringing on my right to swipe my ID card to pay for my forty-five minutes without the inconvenience of having to scrounge for quarters. And I don't appreciate it. Also, climbing behind washing or drying equipment with the intention to hot wire them is probably not the safest way to do your laundry. Unless you just have a thing for singed hair.

-- Don't bring your significant other's laundry. We are all grownups here. If you want someone to do your laundry for you, go home and let your mother do it.

Nothing's worse than waiting 31 minutes for the sweet buzz of the washing machine timer just to see some cute couple traipse in arm in arm and unload two sets of two weeks worth of laundry.

It's not cute to take up all ten washers and all ten dryers when there are a hundred dorm residents waiting for your boyfriend or girlfriend's laundry to spin.

-- Don't get mad when someone moves your clothes. If you left them in the dryer over your allotted 45 minutes, don't get all up in arms when your clothes are left wrinkled on the blue folding table awaiting your return. When your time is up, your time is up.

-- Be aware of who is next in line for the equipment. There is no sense in starting a brawl over whose turn it to use the washing machine. If questions do pop up, try to settle them in a nonviolent fashion. Personally, I prefer flipping a coin, as someone is sure to have a quarter lying around.

-- Keep an eye on your clothes. Theft is the most likely outcome when you use a public facility and leave your clothes all alone while you run upstairs to watch The OC.

Happy (not money) laundering!

Rindy Metcalf is a senior journalism major from Bossier City and serves as the managing editor for The Tech Talk. E-mail comments to rdm018@latech.edu.