Laundry Service at college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

As his future employer, may I suggest college is a really great, natural opportunity for you to stop the helicoptering?

+1

Just stop doing his laundry. Quit. Today. Let him live with the consequences.

I DON'T do his laundry. He's been in charge of his own laundry for the past three years: he only does it when he has nothing left to wear, which is why he wore swim trunks all weekend. He isn't phased by the consequences of living in squalor of lounging around in swim trunks. I really feel bad about the person who has to live with him. But as I'd said, he does have a full academic scholarship, so if laundry service is the only luxury we spring for, it is hardly helicoptering.

Make all the excuses you want, it is definitely helicoptering. And I'm definitely on the helicopter end of the spectrum myself, but no way would i do this. If he ticks off his roommate, he'll find out and then he'll deal. If he's gross and girls think he's smelly, he'll start doing laundry. Time to let this one go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

Both of my sons did their own laundry starting at age 12. It is not really that difficult. Did your son ever have to do any chores around the house?

Yes, of course he does chores. He cleans up the kitchen after dinner most nights (dishes, etc.), and he voluntarily cooks sometimes. He also spends a lot of time with his sister, who has Down Syndrome, and helps out taking her to doctor appointments, etc., and he does this without being required to do so. In addition to working hard enough at school to have obtained a full academic scholarship.

But I'm getting him the laundry service no matter what you think. I am kind of regretting that we did not have him apply to any of the schools in his dad's country, where there doesn't seem to be such a vitriolic reaction to something so inconsequential as how his socks get washed in college.

If you knew you were doing it regardless, why did you post? Trollity trollity troll troll.

[Anonymous]

If his first job out of college doesn't allow for laundry service and such, will you OP, continue to support his established life-style?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems that a lot of negative posts about outsourcing laundry has come from people who seem to be real jerks. They have not only failed to answer a simple question that OP has asked but actually been very mean and sarcastic when posting their unsolicited opinions.

It makes me think that they are carrying deep seated anger and resentment because they did not have a laundry service in college.

OP, please provide a laundry service to your kid, otherwise, he may turn into a bitter and jealous person too.

Hi OP.

Yeah, that's hilarious. I definitely never felt bitter about not having a laundry service. I'm pretty sure there wasn't one at my college -- the thought never occurred to me!
Also, I'm not completely lazy, so there's that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

Both of my sons did their own laundry starting at age 12. It is not really that difficult. Did your son ever have to do any chores around the house?

Yes, of course he does chores. He cleans up the kitchen after dinner most nights (dishes, etc.), and he voluntarily cooks sometimes. He also spends a lot of time with his sister, who has Down Syndrome, and helps out taking her to doctor appointments, etc., and he does this without being required to do so. In addition to working hard enough at school to have obtained a full academic scholarship.

But I'm getting him the laundry service no matter what you think. I am kind of regretting that we did not have him apply to any of the schools in his dad's country, where there doesn't seem to be such a vitriolic reaction to something so inconsequential as how his socks get washed in college.

If you knew you were doing it regardless, why did you post? Trollity trollity troll troll.

Um, no. If you go back and read my first post carefully, you'll see that I asked if anyone had ever gotten the laundry service for the child at college, and how it worked out. I did NOT ask whether anyone thought it was a good idea or not, nor did I express any degree of hesitation about my decision to get it. I'm interested in the logistics of the service and how efficient it was, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

Both of my sons did their own laundry starting at age 12. It is not really that difficult. Did your son ever have to do any chores around the house?

Yes, of course he does chores. He cleans up the kitchen after dinner most nights (dishes, etc.), and he voluntarily cooks sometimes. He also spends a lot of time with his sister, who has Down Syndrome, and helps out taking her to doctor appointments, etc., and he does this without being required to do so. In addition to working hard enough at school to have obtained a full academic scholarship.

But I'm getting him the laundry service no matter what you think. I am kind of regretting that we did not have him apply to any of the schools in his dad's country, where there doesn't seem to be such a vitriolic reaction to something so inconsequential as how his socks get washed in college.

If you knew you were doing it regardless, why did you post? Trollity trollity troll troll.

Because she's in Europe and wanted info on college laundry services in the US -- e.g. Whether they were available, whether they were good, how they work, how to choose one/set up an account. It was a logistical question not a parenting one.

This is just some weird DCUM fetish-- not reflective of American attitudes generally. I've never seen or heard people give a damn re college laundry services. (Just old jokes about bringing it home on the weekend for Mom to do). My college had linen service only. I didn't bother (wanted to have my own sheets and towels), but DH had it. At lots of the colleges my daughter is looking at, there are commercial laundry services locally that do pick up and delivery to dorms and have semester-long contacts priced by pounds per week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

Both of my sons did their own laundry starting at age 12. It is not really that difficult. Did your son ever have to do any chores around the house?

Yes, of course he does chores. He cleans up the kitchen after dinner most nights (dishes, etc.), and he voluntarily cooks sometimes. He also spends a lot of time with his sister, who has Down Syndrome, and helps out taking her to doctor appointments, etc., and he does this without being required to do so. In addition to working hard enough at school to have obtained a full academic scholarship.

But I'm getting him the laundry service no matter what you think. I am kind of regretting that we did not have him apply to any of the schools in his dad's country, where there doesn't seem to be such a vitriolic reaction to something so inconsequential as how his socks get washed in college.

If you knew you were doing it regardless, why did you post? Trollity trollity troll troll.

Because she's in Europe and wanted info on college laundry services in the US -- e.g. Whether they were available, whether they were good, how they work, how to choose one/set up an account. It was a logistical question not a parenting one.

This is just some weird DCUM fetish-- not reflective of American attitudes generally. I've never seen or heard people give a damn re college laundry services. (Just old jokes about bringing it home on the weekend for Mom to do). My college had linen service only. I didn't bother (wanted to have my own sheets and towels), but DH had it. At lots of the colleges my daughter is looking at, there are commercial laundry services locally that do pick up and delivery to dorms and have semester-long contacts priced by pounds per week.

OP, when you want to pretend you're another person agreeing with you, don't do it right after you post. And regardless of whether you're trolling or just a doofus, get the laundry service or don't get the laundry service. But, yes, it is helicoptering, and yes, your kid would be better off doing his own laundry because he might actually grow up and do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

Both of my sons did their own laundry starting at age 12. It is not really that difficult. Did your son ever have to do any chores around the house?

Yes, of course he does chores. He cleans up the kitchen after dinner most nights (dishes, etc.), and he voluntarily cooks sometimes. He also spends a lot of time with his sister, who has Down Syndrome, and helps out taking her to doctor appointments, etc., and he does this without being required to do so. In addition to working hard enough at school to have obtained a full academic scholarship.

But I'm getting him the laundry service no matter what you think. I am kind of regretting that we did not have him apply to any of the schools in his dad's country, where there doesn't seem to be such a vitriolic reaction to something so inconsequential as how his socks get washed in college.

If you knew you were doing it regardless, why did you post? Trollity trollity troll troll.

Because she's in Europe and wanted info on college laundry services in the US -- e.g. Whether they were available, whether they were good, how they work, how to choose one/set up an account. It was a logistical question not a parenting one.

This is just some weird DCUM fetish-- not reflective of American attitudes generally. I've never seen or heard people give a damn re college laundry services. (Just old jokes about bringing it home on the weekend for Mom to do). My college had linen service only. I didn't bother (wanted to have my own sheets and towels), but DH had it. At lots of the colleges my daughter is looking at, there are commercial laundry services locally that do pick up and delivery to dorms and have semester-long contacts priced by pounds per week.

You stated that your child is a slob, and rather than let him feel the consequences of that behavior and then learn to fix it, you are going to hire a laundry service for him. Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

Both of my sons did their own laundry starting at age 12. It is not really that difficult. Did your son ever have to do any chores around the house?

Yes, of course he does chores. He cleans up the kitchen after dinner most nights (dishes, etc.), and he voluntarily cooks sometimes. He also spends a lot of time with his sister, who has Down Syndrome, and helps out taking her to doctor appointments, etc., and he does this without being required to do so. In addition to working hard enough at school to have obtained a full academic scholarship.

But I'm getting him the laundry service no matter what you think. I am kind of regretting that we did not have him apply to any of the schools in his dad's country, where there doesn't seem to be such a vitriolic reaction to something so inconsequential as how his socks get washed in college.

If you knew you were doing it regardless, why did you post? Trollity trollity troll troll.

Because she's in Europe and wanted info on college laundry services in the US -- e.g. Whether they were available, whether they were good, how they work, how to choose one/set up an account. It was a logistical question not a parenting one.

This is just some weird DCUM fetish-- not reflective of American attitudes generally. I've never seen or heard people give a damn re college laundry services. (Just old jokes about bringing it home on the weekend for Mom to do). My college had linen service only. I didn't bother (wanted to have my own sheets and towels), but DH had it. At lots of the colleges my daughter is looking at, there are commercial laundry services locally that do pick up and delivery to dorms and have semester-long contacts priced by pounds per week.

OP, when you want to pretend you're another person agreeing with you, don't do it right after you post. And regardless of whether you're trolling or just a doofus, get the laundry service or don't get the laundry service. But, yes, it is helicoptering, and yes, your kid would be better off doing his own laundry because he might actually grow up and do it.

I'm the OP, and that post wasn't me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child disabled?

No, he's a slob. (Yes, I tried to teach him to be neat, but his bedroom is a disaster and he wore his swim trunks around the house last weekend because he was too lazy to do his laundry). But he is a good student on a full scholarship, which I am thrilled about, so I'm thinking about doing it for the first year. Plus, I pity his roommate.

Both of my sons did their own laundry starting at age 12. It is not really that difficult. Did your son ever have to do any chores around the house?

Yes, of course he does chores. He cleans up the kitchen after dinner most nights (dishes, etc.), and he voluntarily cooks sometimes. He also spends a lot of time with his sister, who has Down Syndrome, and helps out taking her to doctor appointments, etc., and he does this without being required to do so. In addition to working hard enough at school to have obtained a full academic scholarship.

But I'm getting him the laundry service no matter what you think. I am kind of regretting that we did not have him apply to any of the schools in his dad's country, where there doesn't seem to be such a vitriolic reaction to something so inconsequential as how his socks get washed in college.

If you knew you were doing it regardless, why did you post? Trollity trollity troll troll.

Because she's in Europe and wanted info on college laundry services in the US -- e.g. Whether they were available, whether they were good, how they work, how to choose one/set up an account. It was a logistical question not a parenting one.

This is just some weird DCUM fetish-- not reflective of American attitudes generally. I've never seen or heard people give a damn re college laundry services. (Just old jokes about bringing it home on the weekend for Mom to do). My college had linen service only. I didn't bother (wanted to have my own sheets and towels), but DH had it. At lots of the colleges my daughter is looking at, there are commercial laundry services locally that do pick up and delivery to dorms and have semester-long contacts priced by pounds per week.

OP, when you want to pretend you're another person agreeing with you, don't do it right after you post. And regardless of whether you're trolling or just a doofus, get the laundry service or don't get the laundry service. But, yes, it is helicoptering, and yes, your kid would be better off doing his own laundry because he might actually grow up and do it.

I'm the OP, and that post wasn't me.

I'm not the OP, and that post WAS mine!

[Anonymous]

Kids need to take care of a few basics, and their personal laundry is one of those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid (who does his own laundry) goes to a Big 10 school with thousands of on-campus residents. Finding a free machine is like playing the lottery and sometimes has to happen at the oddest hours of the day. I don't see why some 22 year old genius hasn't come up with an app for reserving machines in dorms or laundromats because when you think of a 10-story dorm with 4 machines in the basement, you wonder how anyone manages it. Which brings you to the problem of kids bringing enough clothing to last for weeks/months, but having nowhere to store it.

Bottom line, it's a service I'd consider for my kids just to make things a little more manageable, NOT because they are unable to do the laundry themselves.

We just toured Minnesota and they have apps that tell you what machines are open and when your load is done. So you're idea is great but already been invented.

As to the OP- what kind of grown man do you want your son to be? Cut the damn cord and let him learn how to care for himself. Do you still cut the crust off his bread too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone paid for the laundry service at their child's college? How did it work out?

Are you fucking kidding me?

[Anonymous]

As I said we have our dear children Fed Ex their laundry home to their nanny. She has a lot of extra time on her hands and loves to do their laundry. We just overnight it right back to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is the rest of you, not OP who have issues. I am the PP who mentioned that I had it my first year of college.

Even though I was 18 the first time I did my own laundry I grew up to be a fully functioning adult. And as I mentioned to this day I really like doing laundry.

OP asked an innocent question.

Also many of us here on DCUM outsource our cleaning so I don't see what the big deal is. I was personally against it b/c in my experience the services do a crappy job.

OP's son will not be a damaged adult if he doesn't do his own laundry in college. Geez people.

I think people react more harshly to things like this because people feel like as an adult who works and makes a certain income, there is an element of an earned "right" to outsource. Sort of like, been there, done that, feel fortunate to not HAVE to. When you see teenagers and kids outsourcing stuff, well they don't really know any better. They can easily feel entitled, even nice kids.

its kind of like why people have a hard time with parents buying high school and college aged kids designer bags and expensive cars. That kid can't afford that on their own at 22, but they might expect it.

I think some people react negatively to the coddling/ you deserve to not have to do this sort of message it might send.

Except entitled kids do not get full academic scholarships by being entitled. Anyone who has got merit scholarship, they have worked hard at school. If this kid was coddled, he would not be an academic powerhouse.

I find it funny that this has elicited such negative posts on this forum. The work required to run a home - laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, raising kids etc. is usually so derided when it is applied to a SAHM. Most WOHMs cannot do without outsourcing some aspect of their domestic life, yet, a student who has gone to college to study (and has the cash to outsource) should not outsource this chore?



Until recently, I worked at a university where the student body consisted almost entirely of "academic powerhouses". Entitlement was quite pervasive.