Living in the dorms is a rite of passage for most college students. If you purchased or are purchasing bedding for the dorms you will want to make note on whether the items can be washed and if so how?

Dorm Bedding bought in ‘big box’ stores is notorious for being cheap and flimsy and eventually just being disposable. Because so many styles are made and sold between big box stores and specialty retailers we think it is worth the time to go through what dorm linens can be washed and how – whether in the dorms or at home.

Of all the choices available for dorm bedding you have the range of solid color poly filled comforters, plush/novelty fabric sets and on the luxury side down and down alternative bedding. Most of the fashion printed dorm bed in a bag sets you see in stores around July tend to be polyester filled and of an inferior design. The retailers expect the bedding to be perceived as ‘disposable’ and they can barely make it past the school year before pilling or shrinking with washings.

Polyester filled dorm comforters usually use a ‘batted’ material which is a bonded layer of polyester that is then sewn sandwiched between the decorative fabrics. These comforters can be washed and dried but usually experience ripped seams or pilled fabric before the end of the year. The best recommendation for this bedding is to use it, enjoy it and throw it away at the end of the school year. Because most students live in the dorms for 1.5 years this may or may not be a worthwhile strategy. These type comforters are also not very helpful for keeping college students warm in the dead of winter. Students often pile on a couple articles of bedding to keep warm.

Plush or Novelty fabric dorm comforters are really difficult to wash and often just shred apart. Again they generally wash like the cheap polyester comforters mentioned above and have a shelf life of 1 year. The plush fabrics are also problematic for allergy suffering students as they plush material acts as a giant sponge for allergens.

Down or Down Alternative comforters are really different on several levels including warmth support, durability, ease of care and longevity. Down bedding is considered the gold standard for luxury bedding and is sought after due to its cloud like physical feeling being so light and silky yet keeping you warm. Down bedding also uses natural fabrics like cotton which help to wick away moisture and just feel good, unlike polyester fabric comforters being clammy feeling. Down dorm bedding can also last several years and go from being a dorm bed comforter to a couch throw over the course of a students living cycle in college. Lastly down bedding is a natural product that can be machine washed and dried with great ease. An additional benefit of dorm down bedding is that the higher thread count fabrics block many allergens from entering the comforter.