<p>There's a new product on the market where the detergent, fabric softener, and I don't know what else are all combined in a sheet. No need for big bottle of detergent.</p>
<p>While searching the internet, found little drop in pellets, looked like big cough drops, that could be used for laundry.</p>
<p>Husband is wanting to send son with laundromat size boxes of detergent, which I actually found pretty cheap online through an internet search.</p>
<p>Wonder if any of you have used these in your home, your kids used them in the dorms, or used any of these things in travel.</p>
<p>Since son has limited space in his dorm, and will have to walk a pretty far piece to get to the local grocery store, thinking of sending him up with some travel size boxes or a box of these 3 in 1 sheets, which he can buy refills for. I'm not sure on these drop pellets. </p>
<p>Reason for concern is that I'm getting ready to buy some expensive, for us, business casual and business clothes for son, as he's worn uniforms his whole life and is a big boy, so polos and slacks are not going to be cheap. Would prefer that he not ruin a new wardrobe with bad detergent choice.</p>
<p>My DS uses the ultra-concentrate in a bottle. The bottle is about the size of a bottle of dishwashing liquid, and lasted him all semester. He had some left when he came home for the summer. There are several brands available.</p>
<p>Is this what you mean? [Dropps</a> laundry detergent pacs. Just toss and go: Dropps](<a href=“http://www.dropps.com/]Dropps”>http://www.dropps.com/) It looks like it’s received good reviews but it looks expensive. I’ve just gotten the concentrated liquid for my kids also. It seems to work fine for them.</p>
<p>Didn’t know if CC would delete my post if I mentioned brand names.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s Purex 3-1 sheets, and Dropps is the other product.</p>
<p>I did see one review for the Purex sheets where someone said they found oily stains on their clothes, so they only use it for towels and sheets, maybe left over softener. </p>
<p>We don’t use softener or anti static, so don’t see the point of a 3 in 1, other than the convenience, and don’t want son to have to use two different detergents.</p>
<p>I did actually find a site where I can order a case of 2 ounce laundromat size power detergent, and it works out to less than 50 cents a box. This is what my husband was looking for, and I thought I’d have to buy it for a couple of bucks a box at a store. It’s a product we’re used to, Surf with Oxygen, and it is definitely compact.</p>
<p>I have used those ultra concentrated detergents myself, but I have a heavy hand and I’m sure son, being a laundry novice, will do the same. Just can’t see him taking the time to measure the appropriate amount. But it is a thought, too, to send him with that or pick that up at the local grocery store.</p>
<p>If your kid has always worn uniforms and has never had to take care of his own clothes, he will need some lessons.
How well the various products work depends on the hard/soft quality of the water and the machines. Can you ask students who have been there?</p>
<p>We’ve done everything from the packets of laundry detergent from Sears (they looked like packs of drugs-- white powdery substance-- LOL) to the old Tide concentrated squared, the liquid packets from BB&B-- you name it. They found it easiest to use a plastic bottle of liquid detergent.</p>
<p>My sons use the concentrated liquid soap in a jug (Tide or whatever they happened to have on hand at the time).
Most of the other kids used the liquid soap too.</p>
<p>You don’t need to over-think the laundry process. Have him practice washing a few loads of laundry before he goes off to college. Teach him not to throw the wet clothes into the dryer in one big ball. Show him how to empty the lint trap in the dryer. Send him off to school with a jug of liquid laundry detergent. He’ll figure it out from there.</p>
<p>PS–About his college wardrobe—You don’t need to spend much. The typical male college wardrobe consists of jeans, tees, hoodies, a few nice casual button-down shirts for when they go out on the weekends, sneakers, a pair of khakis, one dress shirt and tie, one pair of casual dress shoes, and a couple of pairs of sweatpants. Throw in a few pairs of gym shorts for hanging around the dorm and working out at the fitness center. Don’t forget a couple of drawstring sleep pants. </p>
<p>Most guys in college don’t dress in business or casual business attire.</p>
<p>Wow, y’all are giving ME good laundry advice. Totally forgot about the wet ball and the lint trap. Yea, need to start those lessons. College is three weeks away for us.</p>
<p>I’d vote for the pellets. Or maybe all-in-one sheets. It can be a hassle just getting the laundry to the laundry room.</p>
<p>My daughter adored her very sturdy pop-up hamper with wide sturdy shoulder strap. It was especially helpful on the three flights of stairs. BB&B.</p>
<p>I can’t believe the whole world doesn’t already know this, but 2 of my (grown-up!)friends acted like I’d cured cancer when I mentioned this, so I’ll
pass it along to your laundry-novice son.</p>
<p>When you forget or can’t get to the load in the dryer right away, and everything is badly wrinkled, just wet a bath towel or two, throw them in, and run the dryer for 5 or 10 mins. The hot steam will remove all those wrinkles on the previously dried clothes.</p>
<p>Not rocket science, but I guess not everybody knows this little trick. Yes, you would have to pay for another dry-cycle, but that beats totally re-washing the load or wearing ridiculously wrinkled clothes. :)</p>
<p>^^^I will have to try that trick when there’s a long wait for the dryers.</p>
<p>Detergent-wise, I used one small (30-40 load) bottle of liquid detergent a semester along with some dryer sheets. I also had a laundry bag with backpack straps that worked really well for carrying my laundry to and from the laundry room.</p>
<p>Another tip–remind your kid not to leave his detergent in the dorm laundry room. It won’t last long that way, my S discovered.</p>
<p>Putting clothes back in the dryer is the only way S knows how to “iron.”
He had one of those travel steamers, but I don’t know if he ever used it.</p>
<p>Wow, you guys are great! Keep them coming! We bought an old fashioned rubbermaid laundry basket. Son is rough on bookbags, can’t imagine what he’ll do with a popup hamper. But I am interested in that popup hamper with backpack straps. Where did you find that? I am overwhelmed whenever I walk into BBB. I think if I had a daughter and/or I was into shopping, I could spend a year in there, but I just spend time looking for which item will work out the cheapest using the 20 percent off coupon. But I am very excited to use my space bags to finally put away the linens from my mom’s house that are occupying two of my closets at home.</p>
<p>Oh, and the wet towel trick. My husband actually taught me that one!</p>