I am pretty sure that I have seen some dorm rooms with an extended length twin bed. Thus I would want to know the size before buying sheets for a child at university. We have done shopping trips later the same day or the day after we dropped a DD at her dorm.
Also, at least in my experience students do wash their sheets regularly, but their comforters quite rarely. Thus at least to me combining them does not appear to be a good thing.
I am pretty sure that I have never seen bleach in a university dorm. However, much to my amazement the bedding does appear to be clean every time we visit so that is at least encouraging.
I’ve done a little research, & have concluded that at least some people’s trouble sleeping might be because their skin is aggravated by polyester. And a lot of the cheap bedding and “back to school” sets are heavy in polyester. So to you might want to spend a tad more for 100% cotton (though I think comforter filling is almost always polyester).
Has anyone used the pre-packaged dorm service that some Universities provide? We are flying in with DS next Fall so we won’t have room for a lot of dorm necessities. We also were not planning on renting a car. We usually use Uber in a big city (DC), so I’m not sure about the Bed, Bath & Beyond service.
Buying an XL sheet for a regular twin sized bed is not the worst. You don’t necessarily have to wait to see what sized bed the school he/she will attend. Having a little extra room in the sheet size is sometimes helpful for making the bed. Most of the beds can only be accessed from one side to put the sheets on so having some extra room in the fitted sheet is helpful. The flat sheet size doesn’t matter.
For a D buy shortly (no sooner than summer before college) before starting school, because of threat of changing mind and need to coordinate with future roommate.
We bought a simple white midweight twin comforter and my D picked out a twin duvet cover for that (PB teen and Dormify have good sales sometimes), and XL twin sheet set.
That way she could just wash the duvet cover, and I would wash the comforter in a big washer at the laundromat in the summer.
Now she is moving off campus and getting a bigger bed, so her brother is going to use the same comforter. He already has a duvet cover in navy/white stripes that will work for it, and I am getting him navy sheets.
@sahmkc You can stick a sheet set (without packaging), prewashed into a suitcase, just in case the local Target is sold out of college bedding. But you can buy the rest there.
I know I hate to feel pilling on sheets and because of that bought DS nicer non-white sheets. He only wanted one set. I got him a nice gray solid quilt from Ikea. Not as bulky as a comforter and a good price. No bleach. Plus I recommend Color Catchers for mixed laundry. Everywhere he applied had XL twin beds . Some had full beds in a few apartment-styled dorms for upper-class student.
We did the BB&B remote pick up and I highly recommend that if you are flying in. You pay when you pick up and can change you mind in the store. DS rejected excess things I had selected at that point. Keep it simple and decently mature in style and you should be OK.
@sahmkc I’ve heard bad things about those University sponsored bedding sets - poor quality for the price. I’ve heard great things about the BB&B service - I’d go that route.
We bought S 2 flannel sheet sets, XL 100% cotton on clearance online once he accepted his U. They worked for him and he handed them down to D, who used them until she moved into an apartment and got a full-size bed.
We flew from HI but we prewashed the sheets and rolled them compactly and they didn’t take up much space in the suitcase.
We bought most other things once he got to move in day. We found BB&B expensive so we didn’t go there. S prefers 100% cotton, so we weren’t interested in the packages that had lots of polyester.
Thanks! This thread has really helped me. I think we will do BB&B, but buy the sheets ahead of time and pack them. I didn’t think about needing to wash them first! I know DS will want 100% cotton as that is what he uses now.
Sahmkc, we flew to dd’s university. She didn’t take much with her-carry on suitcase and backpack, plus two checked bags. We used IKEA FRAKTA storage bags for her checked bags - they zip closed and are shaped like a duffel bag. They fit quite a bit and then fold up to a small size for easy storage in her dorm room. We will then use them when she returns home in May. They are inexpensive - $3.99 at IKEA or you can get them on AMAZON for slightly more. They are also designed to be carried either like a duffel bag or can be worn like a backpack which was helpful on move in day. D got her duvet cover from Urban Outfitters which easily fit after washing at home and packing. We didn’t buy sheets until we got to school so couldn’t wash ahead of time - hindsight, I would’ve done that as they went on her bed right out of the package.
We did rent a car, used the BBB “Pack and Hold” service which was great for much of what she needed but we also made a trip to Target. Fortunately, she has BBB, IKEA and Target all within 10 mins of her school. We could have used Uber but we were staying several days so cheaper for us to rent a car. There are two BBBs in DC so should be easy to get to one via Uber depending which university he is attending (there is another in Pentagon City which would also be reasonably close to GWU and Georgetown.
You could also check with his school - unbeknownst to us, BBB had an on campus temporary “store” on move-in day right outside our D’s university student center. If I had a boy, I think we could have gotten all we needed there-they had all the basics like sheets, towels, pillows, mirrors, lamps, fans, hangers, command hooks, etc. They even had a selection of colors for the towels, sheets, etc. However, the Pack and Store service was unbelievably easy and well organized at the store we used - they had three large universities all moving in during a 3-day span but they have a well-run operation. We also saved a bunch using the discount - you get it for the entire order so you don’t have to use individual BBB coupons.
TJ Maxx/Home Goods often has XL or regular twin sheets of good quality at good prices. I just saw some recently probably left over from the summer/fall college season on the clearance rack. Good quality meaning comfortable - but not expensive. I also vote for a plastic fitted cover for the mattress before putting on your sheets. And the fiber beds were priceless for all three of my kids - one fiber bed lasted all four years (and then some).
