Your brand new college kid may have been adept at doing his own laundry at home, but the dorm laundry room is a whole other thing. So when you're madly doling out last-minute freshman advice, make sure to touch on that. There's more to college laundry than "don't wash reds and whites together," so here's the lowdown on detergent, quarters and holding on to one's underwear.

1. Laundromats & Quarters: Most dormitory laundry rooms use coin- or card-operated machines. After years of using Mom's washing machine, the cost of using those machines is going to come as a rude surprise - especially when it turns out that the 25 cent-fee for the dryer gets you 7 minutes of hot air. Coin-operated machines have become something of a rarity, so before your kid stockpiles a million quarters, check to see if the dorm uses cards. Depending on the school, your kid may be able to purchase a laundry debit card or use the student ID card that doubles as a dining hall pass, so the charges go to his university account.

1. Lost Socks & Moldy Towels: At home, a load of laundry can stay in the dryer for days without much problem. Leave a load of wash in any dorm machine for more than a few minutes after the agitating or tumbling ceases, and you court lost socks and dumped undies. Whoever wants the machine next will feel little compunction about dumping your kid's laundry on the nearest flat surface - or the floor. And leaving a pile of wet laundry anywhere for a couple of days turns those nice new towels into mildewed nastiness.
2. Soapy Suds: Detergent purchased in itty bitty boxes in the laundry room costs significantly more than doling it out from a big box or jug. Bonus: Storing a big box of laundry soap in the dorm room closet, next to the laundry bag, counteracts the aroma of stinky socks. Warning: Storing the big box of laundry soap next to your dorm room snacks makes your crackers taste like Tide.
3. Baskets & Bags: Speaking of laundry bags, keep in mind tote-ability when choosing a hamper. There are many cool hampers on the market these days, or you can make your own. But you'll want to remember a couple of things. The hamper has to be carried up and down several flights of stairs, so look for something that's lightweight and has really good handles. It may be a flight of fancy to think your new freshman is going to iron and fold all his or her nice clean clothes, but a boxy hamper will keep crisply folded shirts from getting jumbled on the way back to the room.

1. Laundry 101: Don't wash whites and reds together unless you want pink underwear.