Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about college bedding by DormSmart shoppers, including twin XL. Please contact us if you require assistance prior to buying bedding for college.Typically, the width of the mattress remains the same for both sizes, 39". However, we have come across a few campus with 36" wide mattresses.Students can feel confident that their bedding for college will fit properly because DormSmart ALWAYS checks actual bedding dimensions before categorizing it as twin or twin XL, meaning labels or packaging do not matter rather size matters! Regardless of how a manufacturer has labeled their bedding, before it hits DormSmart's virtual shelves the dimensions must be checked and the bedding categorized accordingly.DormSmart reviews more that 2000 college housing websites annually and the one thing we have learned… there is no consistency between colleges when it comes to bed sizes. Some schools have standard twin beds, many schools have twin extra long beds (commonly referred to as Twin XL or TXL), and a few even have double beds in their dorm rooms.
The best approach for students and parents is to contact their school housing office prior to purchasing bedding for their dorm room.While twin XL is preferable (minimum length of 90"), twin comforters and duvets (86" and up) can work on an 80 inch extra long twin mattress but they will be short. Please note that your mattress topper, fitted sheet, mattress pad, and bed skirt must be manufactured to properly fit a twin extra long mattress. Here's how to make a twin XL bed with a standard twin comforter... pull the comforter toward the bottom of the bed to accommodate the 5 inch difference then turn down the top so the comforter does not appear short when the bed is made. You can then fill in the top with extra pillows.Your "fitted sheet" must be manufactured to fit a twin XL mattress. Beware of retailers who tell you that a deep pocket twin fitted sheet will PROPERLY fit your twin extra long mattress. Also, if you plan to use a jersey twin fitted sheet on your twin XL mattress, be advised that it may lose it shape or shrink after repeated washings and slide off your bed.
Some of the newer residence halls being constructed on campuses today are more like an apartment versus the standard dorm room so students are able to use larger beds. In addition, full size and queen size comforters, 90 inches or longer, can be used to accommodate the additional height of a raised twin XL bed in your dorm room. Lastly, if you are planning to move into your own apartment versus remaining in the residence hall beyond your freshman year, it may be a wiser investment to purchase a larger comforter or duvet set that can be used in both spaces. Your bed linens such as a your fitted sheet, mattress topper, and mattress pad must be manufactured to fit your mattress size (i.e. twin or twin XL) but you can definitely get away with a larger comforter or duvet and save money!Full comforters and duvets are 80” wide by 86 to 89” long, the same length as standard twin bedding. The additional width of a full comforter or duvet can be used to accommodate the height of your RAISED twin bed, providing more fabric on the sides.
It definitely increases your selection of twin bedding for college. Repeating patterns and solid colors work best.Most queen comforters and duvets are 86” wide by 90” or longer,the same length as twin XL bedding. The added width of a queen comforter or duvet can be used to accommodate the height of your RAISED twin XL bed, providing more fabric on the sides. It definitely increases your selection of twin XL bedding for college. Repeating patterns and solid colors work bestExtended Twin Bedding, Twin Extra Long Bedding, TXL Bedding, XLT Bedding, Twin Extended Bedding, Extra Long Twin BeddingWith so many American mills closing these days, it's difficult to offer a wide selection of bedding that is only American made. However, because DormSmart believes in supporting US based businesses, our bedding is either Made in the USA or Imported by a US Based Distributor who creates jobs for Americans. In a nutshell, if you are shopping for American made dorm bedding, you can find it on DormSmart's virtual shelves, even twin XL.
The bedding's origin is easily found on each product listing, just like the dimensions. ;)If for some reason you are unable to locate the information you require, please remember, we are human and contact us. While we strive for perfection, sometimes we fall short and need to make a correction.A poly cotton blend is exactly that... a blend of polyester and cotton. While a poly cotton blend fabric is durable and wrinkle resistant, it generally takes several washings to soften. A 100% cotton fabric is much softer but tends to wrinkle. It's really a matter of personal preference. , L.L.C., first published March 21, 2010 and last updated on July 29, 2015.One of the biggest complaints by owners of memory foam pillows and mattresses is the unpleasant, and potentially unhealthy chemical smell. Memory foam is manufactured using polyurethane and several other chemicals, so it isn’t surprising that it emits a chemical odor. This “off gassing” of volatile organic compounds is a common and well-documented property of memory foam pillows and mattresses.
The fumes are often compared to those experienced in a freshly painted room. If you are experiencing this odor, the good news is you may not have to endure the smell for long. The bad news is that some of the chemicals used in memory foam aren’t entirely benign.Many memory foam mattress owners report that the off gassing period ends after a number of days.(1) Of course there are many factors which influence this including the product, the type of foam, the sensitivity of the person, the room ventilation and more. Even if the initial odor goes away, it is natural to wonder if there are health issues related to off gassing.Most people do not report any health issues resulting from their memory foam pillow or mattress. However, there are various reports of headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions resulting from the odor produced by memory foam. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ll want to avoid sleeping on the foam during the initial off gassing period. You can leave the pillow or mattress in a well-ventilated area for a week or two and see if that helps eliminate or reduce the odor and symptoms.
If after several weeks, the issue persists, it is probably time to consider an alternative to memory foam.Many many people use memory foam products without reporting any side effects or related health issues. That said, there are various reports and studies which indicate that memory foam may be somewhat toxic. Reports include carcinogenic chemicals and formaldehyde gas. To manufacture memory foam, chemicals are added to polyurethane to make it more dense and viscous at the same time. Additional chemicals are required to make the polyurethane flame retardant. One of these, Pentabde (of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) family), was used until 2004. Pentabde is now known to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, and nervous system.(2) A study in 2000 specifically found mattress emissions to be toxic to the lungs of labratory mice.The long-term effects of memory foam and its toxicity is not fully understood, but there clearly is some reason for concern. Aproximately one-third of your life is spent in close contact to your sleeping surface, so it is important to consider you and your family’s health when selecting a pillow or mattress.
Are you interested in the support and comfort provided by memory foam, but want to avoid that chemical smell? There are several natural pillow options for those looking for a new pillow. Of course, our favorite is our buckwheat hull pillow. Besides being natural and chemical-free, buckwheat pillows are a great alternative to memory foam for a couple of other reasons.Memory foam is not breathable and this can result in a hot and sweaty pillow. The shape and particulate nature of buckwhat hulls leaves a lot of air space in your pillow between all of the hulls. This airspace allows warm moist air to escape, leaving your pillow cool and dry.While a memory foam pillow conforms to the shape of your head, the overall shape and thickness of the pillow is fixed, making the pillow less adaptable to your sleeping position. The fill in a stuffed pillow can be shifted and adjusted for a wider variety of shapes and sizes.If you’ve decided against a memory foam pillow and a buckwheat pillow isn’t right for you, other natural alternatives to memory foam include pillows filled with down, cotton, wool, latex, kapok or millet hulls.