I’m betting the detergent pods are easier to carry up and down to the laundry room. No spilling, no big jug.
You can also get detergent sheets on line. Serves as detergent and dryer sheet. Got son some for drum corps but he hasn’t tried them yet so I can’t say how well they work.
Also, I don’t know if I missed it up thread, but I have heard recommendations to get those color absorbing sheets. My son “knows” how to sort laundry but whether he will or not is another question.
I’d love to hear how well these work from anyone here who has tried them. I have previously read about the sheets and pods on a travel bulletin board, and most of the reviews weren’t very positive. I do agree that they are easier to use when the laundry room may be several floors below a dorm room.
DS uses the Kirkland brand pods and loves them. He even uses them in the summer instead of our regular detergent.
Aren’t the pods just for new HE models? They aren’t recommended for our 15 year old W/D set.
If you’ll be flying to college instead of driving, getting your student’s possessions there will require some organization.
Call the college now and ask if they’ll accept packages before the student arrives on campus. If so, ask how long before, and get the student’s exact mailing address.
We bought D’s school supplies over the summer and mailed them a couple of days before we left. I knew I wasn’t going to want to spend precious Orientation time schlepping around town in search of pens and notebooks, and I didn’t want to pay school bookstore prices. And it was great to be able to check this off my list in July.
BTW, we shipped the school supplies via USPS Flat Rate boxes (but not the large-and-bulkies, which went Parcel Post), because this stuff tends to be heavy for its size. In fact, we used Flat Rate boxes for care packages all through D’s four years at school. Best thing ever for a far-away student.
Fun to read this thread and glad that my kids’ university is 6 miles from our house!
I haven’t read through the whole thread but I highly recommend Downey Wrinkle Release spray for both boys and girls. No one wants to iron clothes anymore, and this stuff makes most wrinkled clothes look presentable. We use it all the time.
Since most college students are over 18 son or daughter must a form signed that will allow parents any info from doctor in case they are sick, taken to hospital etc.
Also, parents should be on son/daughters bank account or signed a form so if son or daughter needs you to transfer money out of an account.
I use Tide pods with my ancient machine with no problem. They are definitely a great dorm laundry solution!
On the topc of dorm laundry, what’s a good type of laundry bag?
@scholarme, I got the Sort-A-Sack for my kids for summer programs, and they will see them through college as well.
http://www.dormsmart.com/Sort-A-Sack-Laundry-Backpack-Sorter-Combo.html
One of my son’s friends gave him a laundry bag with his name on it, in school colors, for graduation. It was a cute gift idea. She gave laundry bags (in various school colors) to her guy friends and the wrap-around towel that girls like (in school colors) to all her girl friends.
@scholarme My sons used a pop-up laundry bag that folds completely flat and stores anywhere.
Don’t know if anyone mentioned this, but once kids move out, tell your auto insurance. They have a reduced rate for drivers who are gone 8 months of the year.
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I used the color absorbing sheets and I liked them. Not sure about brand new clothing, would probably try to wash that alone first, but I occasionally had to wash a light colored gym shirt with red shorts and it worked well for that.
Does anyone know the difference in length of an XL twin and a regular twin? Just wondering if a twin quilt would work OK or if I need to keep searching for the XL? I get that a fitted XL and standard twin sheet are not interchangeable, but I wondered about blankets.
Yes. The XL really only matters for the fitted. It’s a 5" difference. (80 vs 75)
It would be the equivalence of the difference in length between a standard twin or full and a queen or eastern king.
One of the best things we got for D was a rolling 4-drawer cart, Sterlite or similar. Dorm rooms are usually small and often oddly configured, and the cart can be rolled into any available corner or even the closet if space there permits, or it can be used as a nightstand. In addition to the drawer storage, it also provides an extra bit of precious counter space. D used one the small drawers as her medicine cabinet, the other for makeup/HABA supplies, and the two larger drawers for linens and out-of-season clothing.
@LasMa - that sounds like a great idea (we have one of those by the washing machine at home). But what is “HABA” supplies?