<p>Santa Clara University does the same. There is a student run group that takes donations AND finds stuff that is abandoned by students. It is sold and the profits are given to a shelter or something of that kind. I believe their group actually was the top dollar netter for the last couple of years. It’s a national organization but I can’t remember the name. Many college campuses have this.</p>
<p>With regard to towels…don’t get REALLY thick plush ones…they don’t dry quickly and often result in that mildewy…sweet spoiled smell. The thinner towels dry more quickly.</p>
<p>DD needed four towels…NO HAND TOWELS…just four regular bath towels. She had a couple of washcloths too. She will NOT bring those home with her in June…four years of use…enough (trash).</p>
<p>Sorry, but another “eewwwww” moment - he brought the one towel and washcloth he had used the whole semester home to be laundered at Thanksgiving. Yes, I sent him with two of everything. Trust me, the whole year was peppered with “eewwww” moments.</p>
<p>D is a girlie girl but she uses one towel, one hand towel and one wash cloth and one scrubby thing for the shower. All of them and the one set of sheets, go in the wash weekly-ish. She tries to do laundry weekly and at her school the machines are FREE! No reason not to.</p>
<p>My mom bought my D monogrammed towels. She has 2 bath sheets and 2 bath towels. They are very heavy, so she needs two of each to allow complete drying between uses. Never uses the washcloths as she uses a looofa and doesn’t wear makeup to take off, so the 6 are useless.</p>
<p>Ditto on the 2nd set of sheets, which we put away for future years when the 1st set wears out. I made add that both sets of sheets returned from S1’s semester away at grad school unopened. The only way I could convince S2 to use them was to prove that his brother had never taken them out of the package.</p>
<p>Didn’t take a printer freshman yr because roommate had one. But when roomie broke his trying to change the cartridge, S2 bought one. </p>
<p>Hand towels came home, but he has 3 bath sheets. Didn’t want a shower organizer because he says he needs something that will hang on a hook. </p>
<p>Found a bottle of febreeze in the trunk that I didn’t buy.</p>
<p>Yes, regular sized towels, and not the thickest plush-est ones you can find. There wasn’t room in my D’s room for each girl to have 2 towels out and drying in rotation.</p>
<p>TV. Mom insisted and insisted he had one. Two months later when she drove down to deliver winter gear she returned with it, still in its box. Good “I told you so” opportunity. Kids were watching TV on their computers using simple and cheap cable adapters.</p>
<p>I laugh about the towels, b/c my D insists on using a new towel every day! I keep telling her that when she is doing her own laundry she will feel differently (which is what happened to me when I went away to college).</p>
<p>My daughter RARELY used her second set of sheets. She typically washes her sheets and puts them back on the bed fresh from the dryer - no folding necessary. However, when she came down with swine flu, she did use that second set of sheets. She didn’t feel quite well enough to wash, dry, and make her bed, but she also didn’t feel like climbing back into the same sheets after her initial really sick phase. She pulled off the old sheets, stuffed them in the laundry basket, put the clean ones on her bed and climbed in. Later she washed both sets - and went back to her usual routine of using only one set. Still that second set came in handy - I’d definitely buy it again, even knowing she seldom used it.</p>
<p>I do know she used her printer. I think she took clothes/shoes she has yet to wear - but she’d do it again. :)</p>
<p>Son isn’t home yet to know what he used and what he didn’t. However, after reading this thread, I am scared to even touch his sheets and towels. He was sent with four towels and two sets of sheets… so even if they’re disgusting, he was given a fighting chance.</p>
<p>I still have a set of my sheets from freshman year in college. They were “kids” sheets in a noah’s ark theme. They are still in great condition, but I have no idea why I keep them.</p>
<p>Both my boys use bath sheets (would imagine this is easier for walking down the hall to a common facility, too). Sent S1 with three, which actually got used and washed regularly. Can’t imagine either would use a bathrobe.</p>
<p>Sent S1 with two sets of sheets, which he alternated after some prodding. By the end of the year, one set was so disgusting (despite washing) that I threw them away. I wouldn’t let the dog sleep on them.</p>
<p>My H did a semester on a wilderness program during college many decades ago. Slept in the same sleeping bag, unwashed, for 4 months. Now he is in his fifties, and would probably do it again. We moved overseas for several months years ago and when we were packing he suggested that we just take sleeping bags so we could sleep in them for months on end. So to all the mothers of sons who worry that their sons are sleeping in the same icky sheets for a semester… don’t count on things changing!</p>
<p>My boarding school son alternated his sheets, he changes them every week. He even vacuums his room, because of his allergies. He may use the same towel over and over again though. He is required to make his bed everyday, he may go nuts next year at college,</p>
<p>D is notorious for wearing her regular jackets out, even when she is dressed up (think North Face fleece over a nice dress - EEK). So I found a great bargain on a basic black Coach coat at the outlet right before we dropped her off at school last summer.</p>
<p>Needless to say, right after she came home, she comes to me with the coat, still in the bag, and asks for me to help her cut the tags off. It was to take me to Mothers Day brunch, so I cut her some slack!!</p>
<p>I think that (and her extra quilt) are about the only things she never used…other than the light clips I sent for decorating the room since the school doesn’t allow strings of lights in the dorms.</p>
<p>I also overdid it with the 3-M Command hooks, but she will need them next year…</p>