<p>My son is one of those rare kids, I guess, who managed to survive freshman year without a mini-fridge or a microwave in his room. It sounds like he could have used a hot water kettle however, so I'm looking for something small for making a cup of tea once in awhile. I'm hoping they are allowed since they have an automatic shut off. Seems like they wouldn't be worse then an iron.. </p>
<p>Likely acceptable since there’s no open heating element. Check with the school dorm- they all seem to list forbidden items on their websites. PS- this IS a college related subject.</p>
<p>Odds are any kettle will be illegal. Doesn’t mean they aren’t in the dorms. The main concern is torchiere lights because those are directly linked to fires - kids put things on top. Assuming the thing is illegal and needs to be put away during breaks, etc., the main thing is whether the water tastes ok. This one seems ok. I sent my kid our old Capresso. It has a glass carafe. She thought the metal one tasted metallic.</p>
<p>I checked the colleges website but there is nothing there. I know my son got a list of what to take and what’s not allowed last year but that was sent in the freshman housing packet, there isn’t anything on-line regarding dorm policies that I can see.</p>
<p>I disagree about the odds regarding kettles. The main criteria seems to be an open or contained heating element. No George Foreman grills, but the Amazon tea kettle looks acceptable. No hot plates.</p>
<p>Torchieres can be fine but not the hot halogen ones. Definitely read the info for your specific school.</p>
<p>Sent son off with a Melita express kettle in 2004. He used it often, several friends in dorm borrowed it during freshman years. He brought it home after grad school. H and I use it often for tea. Has automatic shut off and is faster than microwave for most uses. It was legal in dorm, microwave was not, microwaves blew fuses.</p>
<p>I gave S an electric kettle and some oversized mugs for Christmas freshman year. (The kind of mugs you can use for drinks or for cereal/soup/ice cream etc) He really liked it and used it all four years. I subsequently got one for myself, which I love. Mine is a 1.5 litre Aroma brand from Target. It’s stainless, with a separate base (the base is the part that plugs in) and automatic shutoff. One of the best purchases ever.</p>
<p>Kathiep, microwaves were not allowed in S’s dorms, but there was no problem with the kettle. I think you’d be fine. The automatic shutoff is key, as is having no exposed heating element. But both of those features seem to be standard these days.</p>
<p>S had an inexpensive electric kettle in the dorm … I bought it at Kohls. It had an automatic shut off, and the heating element was not exposed. He used it all the time.</p>
<p>Keurig (sp?) and others of that kind of coffee maker also make hot water as well as coffee or hot chocolate or tea. Strictly regulated auto-on/off. Or, like I tell my kid, just get off your butt and walk the 100 feet to the 24 hour cafeteria across from the dorm.</p>
<p>We got D a Hamilton Beach electric kettle from Costco for her dorm; she uses it for tea. They don’t have it online but it’s about $20. I have the same one at home.</p>
<p>My D used her electric kettle more than anything else she brought to school. It’s on the “definitely bring back” list, unlike a lot of other things she never used (drying rack). She boiled water for instant oatmeal, soup, tea, etc. Since there was no kitchenette in her dorm, and sometimes she just wanted a cup of something warm when she didn’t feel well at 2am, the kettle really came in handy.</p>
<p>Got this from Target for D1 last year in her ‘color’ (teal). She & her roommate used it all the time for tea, hot chocolate, ramen, etc. I believe it has an auto-off when the water reaches boiling. </p>
<p>Sounds like a kettle is definitely on the must have list. I don’t know how my college grads did without one! What made me think of it was my son mentioned that when he had a cold he liked to drink tea but that meant he had to walk down three flights of stairs to the mini-kitchen in the common area. I think his new dorm may have a similar set up and I don’t think his new roommate is bringing a microwave, so the kettle should come in handy.</p>
<p>“Something that my D laughed at when I bought it - and now wouldn’t be without - is her Krups electric water kettle. Another mom on CC had recommended it a few years ago (I found it in the thread in the Parent Cafe forum) and she was right on target! Not only did D love it, but everyone on her floor used it too.”</p>
<p>I posted this over a year ago and the recommendation still stands. There are mixed reviews of this kettle on Amazon, but my D has used her Krups water kettle for 4 years and she still loves it. It has worked great!</p>
<p>I ended up getting the kettle that I linked to in my first post. I think this is going to work very well. Nice size and the water heats up quickly and fairly quietly. A light flips on while it’s heating and then off when it’s ready. It immediately shuts off after water reaches boiling temp but the carafe seems to keep it warm. The only part of it that is hot is the carafe, but even that isn’t hot enough to start a fire if it was accidentally parked next to papers. Pours neatly. I like how the cord is attached to the base but the pot itself is wireless. The only drawback is a very short cord, probably about a 15" long. </p>
<p>I found a plastic container in my tupperware cupboard and filled it with an assortment of herbal, green, etc teas and a few packs of hot cocoa along with a spoon. I’ll grab some sugar packs somewhere when I’m out and he’ll be all set!</p>