Odor longus, vita brevis

Laundry.

Let me first just say that this is big. There is no way you can pack enough clothes for you never to do laundry at Academy- it's going to happen. Noli timere! We RA's got your back. But that doesn't mean we can't prep you with the basics. 

I know, I know, it's in the Student Packet a couple times. But maybe there are some of you who have never done laundry before. First, let's review what to bring for laundry:
1. Laundry Basket/ Hamper
2. Detergent (Tide pods* are very portable for a 3 week stay!)
3. MONEY (the laundry machines at Randolph Macon only take quarters, which means you need lots of them. I would recommend bringing 10-15 dollars in quarters, since each machine will cost $1.50 per use)
4. Anything extra you may want (Fabric Softener, Dryer Sheets, etc.)

Since your schedule will be so full at Academy with activities and we share the facilities with the other Academy, there will be limited time to do your laundry. Usually you only have the opportunity once per week. So when it is your day, make sure your participate! All those lovely business casual outfits (see blog post below for ideas) can get stinky if worn without being washed, especially in the hot summer. Don't you want a community of that wafts Mountain Spring scent? (Rhetorical question, amici)

But how do you know what settings to use when washing and drying clothes? How do you group the clothes? I gotcha. Below is a clever graphic for helping with this, but feel free to ask an RA at Academy. 

Just for good measure, here are some hot tips from a former Academy student (...me). Odds are, you won't always have enough clothes to split loads into whites and darks. Combine loads with your roommate or suitemate, so that you're splitting the cost of the loads while retaining the colors of your clothes. Also, you are sharing these machines with other students, so responsibly move your clothes out of them as soon as you can. There are only a max of 4 working washers and 4 dryers at a time; move your clothes before someone else does! I already mentioned this, but detergent pods are a convenient, portable option for your laundry needs, if a bit expensive. 

Lastly, I know you have to bring business casual clothes, a formal wear outfit, athletic clothes, and a Roman outfit, but do not forget to bring one or two sweatshirts/pairs of pants. It really is no joke when we say that it gets COLD inside buildings, and often we can't control it. 

That's it from me this time. Best of luck to all of you packing. See you in less than 2 weeks!

-Sallie, RA 

*this blog was not sponsored by Tide