<p>How much does laundry service cost at most prep schools and what is typically included? What about dry cleaning for formal clothes?</p>
<p>At my D’s the girl’s must do their own.</p>
<p>That’s what I expected my S to do next year, but have just learned of these services that do it for the students at some schools. Just wondering on cost to see if we need to budget for that. Makes sense so that focus can be on studying, activities, etc., but not sure if it is worth it.</p>
<p>This discussion <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/795005-cost-laundry-service.html?highlight=laundryincludes[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/795005-cost-laundry-service.html?highlight=laundryincludes</a> links to an important service in the mid-atlantic and another one in new england. You can do a search of “laundry” in the Prep School Admissions forums to find more discussions.</p>
<p>We didn’t sign up for a plan. I think the cheapest one was over $500 and an all-inclusive one was over $700. Our son does all his own laundry and has fallen in love with Downy Wrinkle Releaser. As for drycleaning, sweater and blazers are $6.50. Slacks are close to the same. I asked about shirts (in a moment of weakness) and they are $2.50 so dear son will continue to do his own. The price for a down comforter is somewhere around $25, but regular comforters are cheaper.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info and links!</p>
<p>There is a laundry service at Thacher. It is used primarily by a small percentage of the wealthier students. Most everyone, including my son, did their own. It’s one of those small habits that it’s good to see your kid develop. The typical excuse of the laundry service set is that the child is too busy with their work and shouldn’t have to waste time with the chore. Since 85% of the kids manage to handle their laundry just fine, that excuse really doesn’t pass the red face test. But you hear it all the time. (Dry cleaning is different - most kids send out their occasional suit, dress etc to be dry cleaned.)</p>
<p>I write this long response because I’m a HUGE believer that boarding school is also a great opportunity for bright, often privileged children to work on their personal independent living skills: cleaning up after themselves, doing their laundry, keeping their rooms neat, caring for their property (and the property of others) etc. I do not think these sorts of lessons/habits/skills should be ignored and/or subcontracted out.</p>
<p>I strongly agree with Thacher Parent. Doing laundry is one of those small life lessons / skills that a student should learn at BS. Speaking of small life lessons, my son now understands the importance of removing an ink pen from his pocket <em>before</em> the clothing goes into the washer / dryer!</p>
<p>There is something seriously wrong if your children do not have the time to do their own laundry. I’m a senior at BS and I spend far less than 30 minutes every week. </p>
<p>Dry cleaning, as Thacher Parent points out, is completely different. I don’t have the prices for my BS, Stevenson, on hand, but if the OP is still interested in a week, I can post them (two local places have prices posted in the dorm with all their contact information; very convenient).</p>