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One of the biggest challenges faced by students in hostels is managing laundry. Washing machines are shared by dozens of students, which often leads to conflicts, wasted time, and frustration. Students wait in long queues, only to find machines occupied, clothes left unattended, or their turn skipped. This everyday struggle adds unnecessary stress to hostel life, especially when time is already tight with academic commitments.
Who benefits?
This solution benefits students by reducing waiting time and ensuring fair access to washing machines. It also helps hostel administrators, as it minimizes complaints, improves machine usage efficiency, and reduces maintenance issues caused by misuse. In the bigger picture, the entire student community benefits from a more organized and stress-free system.
Why this problem matters to me
I have personally faced situations where I had to wait hours to do my laundry, only to find the machine already occupied or my clothes misplaced. Such small inefficiencies, when repeated, cause stress and reduce productivity. Since hostel life is already demanding, solving this issue would directly improve daily convenience and peace of mind.
Technical details
The Smart Laundry Management System (SLMS) would be a mobile/web app linked with hostel washing machines. Students can book laundry slots in advance, receive notifications when their turn arrives, and even get alerts if a machine becomes available earlier. The system can use IoT sensors to track machine availability, and a QR code or RFID-based login to prevent misuse. A simple database backend would manage booking schedules, while push notifications ensure smooth communication.
By combining digital booking with smart monitoring, this system offers a simple yet effective way to solve a real-world problem in hostels.
