Making sure your usage is kind to the environment

Laundry in Halls 

How does laundry work at halls? 

Since 2023, laundry is fully included at all University of Southampton Halls sites, meaning you don’t have to spend any extra money on washing your clothes. The use of our washing machines and tumble dryers is covered by your accommodation fees, as with all other utilities and bills. It’s just one of the many perks included in UoS halls, such as the Unilink bus pass, 24/7 receptions, and gym access at selected sites. 

No matter where your room is at any of our Halls, you will be within walking distance of one our on-site launderettes. These are accessible to all students living in Halls and include a good number of washing machines and tumble dryers. See the list below for information on where you can find your nearest launderette.  

• Wessex Lane – in the designated laundry block opposite The Boiler House 

• Glen Eyre (Chamberlain Hall, South Hill and Hartley Grove) – in the laundry room by the Chamberlain Post Room, as well as smaller laundries in Hartley Grove and South Hill C block

• Glen Eyre (Richard Newitt Court, Chancellors Courts, Old and New Terrace, Hillside House, J-Block, the Bungalows) – big laundry room behind Main Reception near the gym 

• Highfield Hall – Laundry is located outside Aubrey House and is accessed via the door near the servery.   

• Archers Road – Laundry room located at Romero Hall 

• City Gateway – Laundry room next to common room above Reception 

• Mayflower – Laundry room on level 1 of block C  

• Erasmus Park – Laundry located by Reception and Common Room

Our laundry facilities are now run by Washpoint, a company specialising in hassle-free washing specifically designed for student halls. Using the Washpoint app or website, you can track your washing or drying progress so that you don’t have to wait right next to the machine. That gives you time to eat, study or catch up on your favorite TV show whilst your laundry is handled stress-free. You’ll get a notification as soon as it’s ready! 

As well as being included in the cost of rent, all our washing machines are pre-loaded with detergent. This means you don’t have to worry about buying laundry pods or any extras – just pop your clothes in, choose your spin time and temperature, press start, and you’re off. There is allergen information about the detergent the machines use in all launderettes, and if needed, you can use your own supplies.   

Using machines fairly

It’s important to be a community in halls, and since our launderettes are shared by many blocks and flats, laundry is a key part of keeping the halls community going. We want our washing and drying machines to be used fairly, responsibly and correctly. Here are some tips to ensure this. 

• Use as few machines as possible – one for coloured washing and one for whites as a maximum, so that there is space for other students to do their laundry. Most students do their laundry once a week 

• Don’t overload or underload the machines – 75% capacity is ideal for the best wash and dry cycle 

• Wash the right items together and separate other types; for example, wash bedding in one cycle, coloured clothes in another, and white clothes in another 

• Empty the pockets of clothes you’re washing and make sure no loose items are in the machine, from tissues to AirPods to your keys  

• Please collect your clothes from both the washing machine and dryer in a timely manner, so that other students can use the machine after you 

• Remember that our machines dispense detergent automatically, so no need to put in your own  

• To avoid clothes shrinkages or if you’re unsure on what temperature to wash at, use the default cold wash cycle 

Using the machines sustainably 

We’ve all got to do our part in living, working and studying sustainably. Laundry uses a lot of electricity and a lot of water, so it’s important as a university that we try to manage this sustainably and reduce unnecessary usage. There are many small things you can do as a resident in UoS halls to help us act responsibly for the environment, from turning off your light when not in your room to following these tips about sustainable laundry. 

• Wash on the default cold wash setting – this not only uses less power but also reduces the chance of damaging your clothes 

• Wash only when necessary – we know that laundry at no extra cost is appealing, but only complete a laundry cycle when you need to  

• Use and wear your clothes sustainably – not all your clothes need to be washed every week or after every time you use them. Use clothing more than once! 

• Do shorter cycles – whilst muddy clothes may need a longer wash, shorter cycles work perfectly for most clothes, saving you time and saving the planet  

• Use Washpoint’s provided detergent, unless allergic – the detergent preloaded into our machines is ecofriendly  

• Be smart with your washes – plan which clothes and items need to be washed when so that you don’t waste any washes 

How do students feel about the new Washpoint system? 

Laundry used to be costly for students in halls, so when we switched to using Washpoint and making it included in halls fees, we wanted to find out what students thought. Will, a recent UoS graduate and former resident of Wessex Lane, dropped in at Glen Eyre Halls to ask how the current residents feel about the laundry system. Watch the video below to find out what they said.