<p>be careful with those featherbeds…they tend to be warm and dorm rooms are usually way overheated.
S goes to school in the South,uses a/c most of the year.He uses a combo of different weight layers…top sheet for hot nights,regular comforter and a fleec blanket.
Second Spring…where did you find the vinyl zippered mattress cover for an XL?</p>
<p>Cathymee- was very hard to find the twin xl vinyl cover. Ended up getting it through Amazon, shipped from the Bedwetting Store. It’s the best barrier not only for bedbugs, but also for dust mites which I am sure love those old dorm mattresses.</p>
<p>i think I originally just googled XL mattress covers. Someone else I know got theirs thru Amazon as well.</p>
<p>thank you everyone for the answers!!</p>
<p>I, too, want to thank everyone for their suggestions.</p>
<p>I am trying to start getting supplies for my son and have a few questions. I hope someone can give me advice. Does it really make a difference if my son uses a regular twin comforter or should I get an XL one? Also, I already have zippered twin mattress covers, but am curious if they will fit the xl mattress? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>It depends. We’re going with the XL mattress pads (both the egg crate and regular) but regular twin sheets (deep pocket fitted sheet) and regular twin comforter. DD doesn’t sleep inside her bed anyway, so I figure it shouldn’t matter.</p>
<p>We went with a full-size comforter so it would hang over the sides of the bed as far as within a few inches of the floor. May help to keep the room <em>appearing</em> neat…even though I have huge doubts of it actually <em>being</em> neat. Comforters the same size as the bed size only come to about half-way down the sides, to show off the dust ruffle or rest of the bedspread I guess.</p>
<p>Are the full size comforters long enough? Do people recommend down with a duvet cover or just a normal comforter?</p>
<p>Depending on the kid, it may not matter what size the comforter is. It will stay wadded up in a pile on the bed all year anyway. If you have a kid who actually makes their bed… well that’s a different story.</p>
<p>Ditto the advice NOT to buy from the company that sent you the mailing. A friend did that for her son a few years ago, the sheets were MORE expensive and really poor quality. JCPenney, Target, Linens & Things, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc, are probably cheaper and definitely better qualify, from what I hear.</p>
<p>yes. the only thing that you need different for the extra long bed is the fitted sheet.</p>
<p>and to second the statement about the sheets from the thing you get in the mail, they feel like sand paper…</p>
<p>Last year, we bought a full/queen comforter with the same idea in mind Novelisto mentioned…that it would hang over the sides and look neat. However, my d reports back that it was a huge hassle and that it was just too much comforter, especially when she was try to change position while sleeping. She said she constantly felt encumbered and tangled up in it…and that it was impossible to make the bed. I think part of the problem is the style of bed and the fact that the beds are usually crammed against two walls.</p>
<p>Soooo…we are buying a twin quilt type comforter and matching sham for her this year (and I’m bringing the full/queen comforter home to use in the guest room since it is still in great shape.) </p>
<p>She also got over lofting after about 3 or 4 weeks and lowered her bed almost to the floor. She left the bed lofted just one rung up which made it easy to climb into and easy for hanging out…but still allowed room for storage underneath. This seems to be the most popular configuration. BUT, she has also asked for a bed skirt to hide the boxes under the bed and that request has turned out to be the toughie. I found one site that sells twin XL gathered bedskirts in cotton or satin with a 21 inch drop with a rainbow of color choices…but I’m not sure 21 inches will be enough. Does anyone know if bedskirts come any longer? (I have tall beds in my home, but I’m not a bedskirt fan…so I’ve no idea about sizes.)</p>
<p>I was thinking of sending the matress cover we got for son’s dust/dust mites allergies. I think it’s XL because it’s loose and baggy on his bed. I remember a thread awahile back about the flammability of the egg crates. Anyone else remember that? I saw some black XLs at Linens and Things and was wondering about school colors for bedding–Scarlet and Black–too cute? I’ll ask son first.</p>
<p>Having sent 3 S to school, I highly recommend dark colors for their sheets. One went with dark blue, one with forest green and one with grey jersey. At least when they weren’t washed they didn’t LOOK filthy 
Also they did not bother with the top sheet very often or the second set. Second set came home folded. Comforter in same dark colors was all they used. </p>
<p>If you know anyone at the school check on the XL issue. Oldest S said that the sheets were too long even though the school said to get the XL. The other 2 were fine. </p>
<p>BTW Linens and Things is advertising their XLs on sale.</p>
<p>We got all of the sheets xlong from Jcpennys online i even had them monagramed so no one could take them. they were wonderful and very soft. good hunting</p>
<p>I had the same question about egg crates and posted this earlier in the thread (didn’t get any responses then and am still wondering about whether to get one):</p>
<p>After looking at the fiberbed and reading other posts, though, I was thinking an egg crate might provide better cushioning for my S. Have the egg crate type pads you have found/purchased have a tag or something indicating they are fire “safe” (I mean, on par with regulations for mattresses and box springs)? I ask this because in doing a search about egg crates I came across this old CC post about egg crates being a fire hazard and I don’t know if that refers to a particular type:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=767263&postcount=41[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=767263&postcount=41</a></p>
<p>I purchased a vinyl zippered mattress cover for $8.99 and egg crate for $9.99 at Linens 'n Things. Both were 20% off and extra long. Not many left!</p>
<p>Janejersey, </p>
<p>I think “4 in one” referred to a 4 inch one. At the last minute, we bought our S a four inch mattress topper online and had it shipped for free. According to my S, the two surprising things he couldn’t live without were his mattress pad and his printer. He even packed it when moving to another location for his summer internship. The foam density makes it soft but firm which was important as he didn’t want a “fluffy bed” since he often studies late into the night.</p>
<p>Ohhhhh. My brain just did NOT, as it should have, process “in” as “inch” ;)<br>
I was thinking some kind of new-fangled layered thing. Thanks!</p>
<p>Was the mattress topper you got memory foam or something else?</p>
<p>Janejersey,</p>
<p>Out & about so just getting back to you. Yes, it was memory foam. It was a last minute luxury decision on my part. I was feeling bad for myself—unfulfilled nesting instincts with a S that really didn’t need much beyond the basics. His roommate was bringing everything and a lot more—a TV, game system, coffeemaker, blender, carpet, refrigerator, microwave, chairs, and then some.</p>
<p>Foam quality, density, thickness, and prices vary. It pays to shop around. Usually you can get free shipping to the dorm room. S was flying across country and didn’t need one more thing to pack.</p>
<p>Last year, someone posted this link to a [memory</a> foam buyer’s guide](<a href=“http://www.sleepwarehouse.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=13]memory”>http://www.sleepwarehouse.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=13). I ended up purchasing from them because Twin XL was sold out at Linen ‘N Things and Bed, Bath, & Beyond by the time I decided to purchase. Not trying to endorse them. S loved his topper.</p>