Just Put It Back

The other day I was crusin' Bed Bath and Beyond for some sheets (I went with baby blue), and all the "For Your Dorm" and "Twin XL Bedding" signs took me back to last year when I was shopping for all this... crap. Luckily for me, I have a wonderful older sister who gave me the low-down on things I would genuinely need versus things that are just a waste of money and precious dorm space. This is what I was thinking when I saw a mother and daughter in the parking lot with a car filled up with all of these essential treasures like an iron and ironing board. I thought so seriously about going up to them and gently tell them the facts of life - or the facts of college life. I don't know every college student in America but I feel safe in saying that of the students who bring an iron/ironing board to college because their moms bought them, maybe about 5% of them use them for a grand total of one time. If that. Let's talk alternatives.

1. Instead of an ironing board, go with Downy's Wrinkle Release spray. Considering most college students aren't wearing their Sunday Best to class every day, an iron isn't necessary. For those occasional wrinkles, though, and the people who care about them, Wrinkle Release does the trick.

2. A landline telephone. Hard to believe that some people actually use them. Even harder to believe a college student is going to use one over his cell phone.

3. Tool-kit. Yes, there are some situations which may require the use of a screwdriver or hammer in a college dorm. None of them come to mind at the moment but I'm sure they exist. However, you don't need to bring your own tool box. If there is a time where you need some socket wrenches, you have other options: 1) your R.A.; 2) filing a maintenance report; 3) the kid down the hall who brought tools thinking he'd need them.

4. Every piece of clothing you own. Chances are you'll go home in between semesters, if not more often. Therefore you don't need to bring every piece of clothing you've ever even thought about wearing. Bring things home and take things back. This way you'll be doing a minimum amount of lugging and you'll have more room (again, precious space) for the clothes you want to wear.

But seriously, don't bring an ironing board. Just don't.