When Ohio University students encounter problems within the on-campus laundry facilities, they might be surprised to learn that university maintenance employees cannot help them.
Many of the problems that occur in the facilities are related to user error, said Kristan Wun, a customer relations employee at Caldwell & Gregory LLC, the company contracted for all campus laundry facilities.
The most common errors made in the laundry facilities are not using high-efficiency detergent or adding too much detergent, she said.
“What happens is the machine detects that there is too much soap in the clothing,” Wun said. “It’s shooting more water out. Then they’re not going to dry properly.”
Since 2010, OU has given $422 to students in laundry-related refunds, according to university records.
Other student problems have included placing unintended items in the machines such as shoes, which can knock pieces off the machine, and failing to clean the lint filters before drying clothes, which hinders the drying process, Wun said.
Peter Trentacoste, executive director of Residential Housing, encourages students to report these problems.
“Students don’t always complain, and the faster we know about a problem, the quicker we can respond to it,” he said, adding that contact information is listed near machines so that students can notify the company of any problems.
But students requesting a refund should visit the Residential Housing office in Chubb Hall; Caldwell & Gregory reimburses the university for any refunds given, Trentacoste said.
Caldwell & Gregory, based in Virginia, also has a maintenance worker reside in the Athens area to fix any reported problems within the day, Wun said.
There are no current plans to renovate the facilities, according to both Wun and Trentacoste. However, Trentacoste said the Residential Housing staff is looking at plans to build three large, central facilities.
“The feedback says that students would rather have a small center in their building and keep their laundry inside because it’s feasible,” he said. “We can’t guarantee that.”
The current machines are meant to last throughout the company’s contract with OU, which expires in four years.
OU receives a portion of the revenue collected in the laundry facilities, Trentacoste said. Funds that are collected go toward utility costs, such as water and electricity for the sites. Any remaining funds go toward maintaining other residential facilities.
Despite the efforts to keep the facilities in good condition, many students report negative experiences with on-campus laundry.
Rachel Sharkey, a sophomore studying journalism, said her clothes rarely dry within the first 60-minute cycle, causing her to spend additional funds.
“I honestly had no idea you could get a refund,” she said.
bl171210@ohiou.edu
