Have a Teen Headed to Camp? Break Out the Disposable Sheets!

If you have a teenager going to an overnight program this summer, you’ve probably already started the packing list, and most likely not without a hint of stress.

Before you go too far down that path, the moms at Beantown Bedding have some words to the wise:

Summer camp for teens should be like a mini vacation for you. Assume that everything you send will be lost, stolen or damaged, so set expectations low for the safe return of anything other than your actual kids. Get the rag bin ready for the return of stained T-shirts and suddenly single socks, and pray there are no little critters keeping them company.

But how do you resolve that perennial problem of what to send for sleeping?

Sleeping bags are big, bulky and hot, and, dare we ask, when was the last time you washed one? And how frustrating is it to find sheets to fit those crazy cot-size beds at outdoor camp or the extra-long twins in the dorms at college summer programs? It’s not like there’s an extra set lying around the house. And even if you happen to have an extra set, do you really want them back after the whole camp experience?

Finally, there is a solution: disposable sheets that last for weeks but are soft; hypoallergenic; chemical- and dye-free; and compostable, so they can be discarded guilt-free.

Beantown Bedding’s Laundry-Free Linens® were created by moms of campers and college kids, specifically for campers and college kids.

Kirsten Lambert and Joan Ripple founded the Boston-based startup after their college-age kids, no surprise, never washed their dorm sheets. The two moms were concerned that the invisible accumulation of bacteria, dust mites and mold spores was a health threat to tired students who were always running on fumes. They wanted bedding that was convenient, comfortable and hygienic, but also environmentally responsible.

Sheet sets start at $19.99 and come in six sizes: Cot, Twin, XL Twin, Full, Queen and King. Although pillowcases come with all sheet sets, you can also buy a two-pack of pillowcases for $9.99. You can find them on Target.com. And, even better, all, purchases help to support the donation of sheets to Camp Sunshine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

These clever, innovative sheets have have been endorsed by Whoopi Goldberg on “The View” as one of her “favorite things” for camp, college and travel, and by Kathie Lee and Hoda on “The Today Show” as one of their “favorites.” The sheets were recently featured on HSN (Home Shopping Network) as part of the American Dreams segment and the pillowcases were selected for the celebrity gift bags at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

And it’s not just celebrities who have discovered Beantown Bedding sheets, so have guests and hosts using home-share sites like Airbnb.

They are even lightweight enough to pack for students traveling during the summer or going to overseas programs.

So do yourself a favor and make your life (and your teen’s) easy. Choose Laundry-Free Linens® for your kids this summer and tell them not to bother bringing them home. Just toss in a compost, textile recycling or trash bin. Save all that extra room in the duffle for those precious art projects. And the best part: There will be no gross sheets for you to wash (and store!).

More time for hugs, not bugs!