<p>We found that the Purex 3-in-1 sheets left oily marks when we used them in our front loader. Gave them to a neighbor with a top loader and she has had no problems. It may have to do with not actually getting fully immersed/dissolved in the limited water used by a front loader.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info on laundry! I was thinking of sending my daughter with the Purex sheets but I think her dorm has front loading machines so we will probably stick with Tide. I’ve used the Tide stain release and didn’t find that it made a difference when used as directed - but it was the best stain remover if applied directly to the stain just before washing. It saved a couple of things that I thought were beyond redemption.</p>
<p>The sturdy BBB spiral popup hamper that we like with a heavy duty strap is out of stock online.
[Spiral</a> Pop-Up Hamper - Bed Bath & Beyond](<a href=“Bed Bath & Beyond | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding, Rugs, Kitchen Essentials & Moree”>Bed Bath & Beyond | The Best Deals Online: Furniture, Bedding, Rugs, Kitchen Essentials & Moree)</p>
<p>I found one at our local BBB store in May for a graduation present, but I had to ask for it (the manager found it in the stockroom). If you can find this model, I thin it is well worth the $9.99. </p>
<p>The wheels models sound nice, especially if there is a strap to help when on the stairs. </p>
<p>The flimsy popup hampers are worthless. The wimply handle/straps break under load.</p>
<p>What about the hampers that come in those dorm in a bag things? My son is using the old fashioned rubbermaid, but many of his friends are getting the dorm in the bag stuff at Target and BBB.</p>
<p>One more tip: College kids like to wash colors and whites together–not so good for the clothes at times. I send Shout “Color Catchers” with them–just put one sheet in the wash and it soaks up any dye from really dark clothes or new clothes that haven’t been washed before. Will keep your sons from having pink tshirts!</p>
<p>Loved the “One More Day and I’ll be Naked!” bag! S2 just rolled his eyes…</p>
<p>Does anyone use canvas duffels for laundry?</p>
<p>I always throw a dry towel in with a load of clothes in the dryer. Cuts the drying time way down. Moms know this trick. Don’t use a white towel with your black clothes.</p>
<p>Wow, you guys are great. My mom never taught me how to do laundry, and I’ve learned through trial and error. So happy to get your tips to use myself and to pass on to son.</p>
<p>By the way, he’s done work out clothes, and even did bed sheets today, mattress pad, comforter and all.</p>
<p>Next, the serious stuff, permanent press. Got to remember to separate those colors.</p>
<p>“…bed sheets today, mattress pad, comforter and all.” Not in one load, I hope. lol</p>
<p>I originally heard about the Dropps on this website and D has loved them. I have not tried or heard of the Purex sheets until I saw this post. Our local Costco doesn’t sell them but if you order enough of them online you get them shipped free. She really liked the convenience of leaving the small bag in the bottom of her laundry bag and just pulled a pouch out after putting her dirty clothes in the washer at school. They are lightweight and you dont’ spill liquid or granular stuff anywhere. They are about the same size as those Cascade/Dawn dishwasher packets.</p>
<p>I sent ShawSon with Dropps and there is some probability that he used them. So, convenience and good performance (we tried them and they seem to work) were typically not enough to induce actually doing the laundry. Ah well, one thing at a time.</p>
<p>Hint - Pick towel colors that make color division easier. For example, maybe light towels to throw in with white socks (especially if underwear is not white wash). </p>
<p>
Is there any other way?</p>
<p>
I’m going to teach my D to do hers in the dorm the same way I did mine 3 decades ago: canvas bag for dirty clothes, rubbermaid basket for clean-and-folded. Don’t laugh…I still have the 2 bags my mom got for me (plain off-white and blue very 70s print) AND the orange basket. All are still in great shape. Think I’ll send them with her to carry on the tradition. :)</p>
<p>Okay, momofsongbird, since you jumped in with what you did, so will I. I made a large draw string bag (3x3.5 feet maybe) for my laundry and I would wash it when I washed my laundry. After everything was dry, I folded the bag in half and stacked all my other follded laundry on top and carried it that way. It worked great. You could even do a white bag and a neutral bag. Couldn’t talk my daughter into trying it.</p>
<p>Big Honkin’ box of Tide – go Old School! (Wash colors in cold water and no Clorox - I see a lot of that from the boys in the freshmen dorms.)</p>
<p>Excellent system, MD Mom. I used to wash the duffle bags every week, too, because they’d had the dirty laundry in them. My roommate used to say, “What for? You’re just going to put dirty clothes in them again.”. I guess I was (and am) a fussier girl than most…</p>
<p>I did not use laundry baskets until after I was married!</p>
<p>Somewhat related: Buy two dozen identical pairs of socks for everyday use. Per family member. Saves lots of time sorting socks and longer between loads.</p>
<p>I’m surprised no one mentioned these: [Dryer</a> Balls](<a href=“http://www.simplygoodstuff.com/dryer_magic-dryerballs.htm]Dryer”>http://www.simplygoodstuff.com/dryer_magic-dryerballs.htm). T</p>
<p>hey are a good, cheap, eco-friendly alternative to liquid fabric softener or the softener sheets. I’ve been using them for the last year and I love them. Gave them to D2 to use at school next semester.</p>
<p>I bought a set of those dryer balls at Staples for $1.00.</p>