Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:53     Subject: Re:can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just learned my freshman boy will be in quad with a private bathroom. What's the minimal cleaning stuff you'd send with him?


zero. because the other kids will bring too much. but I would send him cleaning supplies January

"other boys" bring nothing in my experience
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:53     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty

do not recommend mom hanging around on move in day (and we're also a plane ride away for 2 kids). mom should definitely not be in the laundry room.


Not sure what you mean by hanging around. We were in at around 10am and then at the parents event at 1 and then left with everyone else. Laundry takes 45 minutes. Some of us had to buy sheets when we go there.

drop off stuff. picture if he's willing. leave.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:52     Subject: Re:can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:Just learned my freshman boy will be in quad with a private bathroom. What's the minimal cleaning stuff you'd send with him?


zero. because the other kids will bring too much. but I would send him cleaning supplies January
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:51     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty

do not recommend mom hanging around on move in day (and we're also a plane ride away for 2 kids). mom should definitely not be in the laundry room.


Not sure what you mean by hanging around. We were in at around 10am and then at the parents event at 1 and then left with everyone else. Laundry takes 45 minutes. Some of us had to buy sheets when we go there.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:46     Subject: Re:can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Just learned my freshman boy will be in quad with a private bathroom. What's the minimal cleaning stuff you'd send with him?
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:45     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.





Boys do not need robes.

A shower caddy and flipflops? Yes. Anything giving an instagrammable dorm experience vibe, pass
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:44     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty

do not recommend mom hanging around on move in day (and we're also a plane ride away for 2 kids). mom should definitely not be in the laundry room.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:43     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Just an FYI, your son will not use any or most of the cleaning supplies you purchase.

If he makes it through an entire package of disinfectant wipes, or half a can of lysol, consider it a parenting victory.

For cleaning, your son just needs a package of wipes, a can of lysol, and something to get crumbs like a cheap handheld vac or a small brush and dustbin. Anything more than that will be returned to you untouched.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:41     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.






All of this, plus an inexpensive mattress topper. Also a cheap nightstand with fabric drawers, a small lamp for that, a desk lamp, and two long surge protectors. Nothing remotely fancy. Including a few items of new clothing, I spent ~$400.

never saw a college boy wear a robe. and never saw a college boy with a nightstand w/lamp. None of my kids' freshmen dorms could have accommodated a night - the rooms are too small for that.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:40     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I put it all in my shopping cart and it was $600. and that's on sale.

I dont need to save money, but do I need to go "nice" on everything? do I need it all?

mattress topper - can I go cheaper? like a $50 one or do I get the $150 one. or even the 250 one
mattress pad - this can be basic, right. and do you do a topper and a pad?
comforter vs duvet and cover (which is a lot more, but nicer)
sheets and towels - i can manage this part.

My son doesnt care about bedding.



Does anyone know how often they change the mattresses in dorms? Any requirement or regulations ??

the mattresses are NEVER changed. They are just coils and foam encased with a vinyl-type waterproof, fire-resistant encasement. And rather thin (6-8 inches maybe). You could sray it down with Lysol or whatever when you see them.


Oh THAT sounds healthy. Good lord.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:38     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
My kid is going to a SLAC where they live on campus for the whole time so I got nicer stuff during company store sale. Comforter, sheets, towels then 3” mattress topper on prime day for $70 and a mattress pad. And
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:38     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:38     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I put it all in my shopping cart and it was $600. and that's on sale.

I dont need to save money, but do I need to go "nice" on everything? do I need it all?

mattress topper - can I go cheaper? like a $50 one or do I get the $150 one. or even the 250 one
mattress pad - this can be basic, right. and do you do a topper and a pad?
comforter vs duvet and cover (which is a lot more, but nicer)
sheets and towels - i can manage this part.

My son doesnt care about bedding.



Does anyone know how often they change the mattresses in dorms? Any requirement or regulations ??

the mattresses are NEVER changed. They are just coils and foam encased with a vinyl-type waterproof, fire-resistant encasement. And rather thin (6-8 inches maybe). You could sray it down with Lysol or whatever when you see them.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:34     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:Then the fitted sheet around the mattress and topper?

yes, you can find deep pocket fitted sheets in XL twin. we also had a mattress pad over the topper but found it unnecessary if you buy a good topper.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 10:32     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy
Anonymous wrote:How many towels?
My son uses every towel only once in high school (and does all his own laundry to keep
up at this rate). It's his one quirk that he insists on that the rest of us don't share. I can't imagine this will continue in college?

my kid put everything thing that he wore every day into the wash pile at home, including things he wore briefly or like athletic shorts he sleeps in. I assumed it was his lazy way of having the laundry lady (me) wash and fold his clothes. I was shocked to learn he does the exact thing at college. And does his laundry weekly.
So I'd send him with as many towels as he wants. (But I'd probably send thinner or quicker drying ones - the dryers at my kids' colleges were all a little weak)