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Shopping for college can be fun, but it’s also a bit of a pain. What’s actually going to be useful? What’s going to fit? Why does it all cost so much?
Here are a few of my favorite tried-and-true college and dorm supplies.
Just like the classic Ikea moving tote, but these bags are semi-transparent, so you’ll know what your looking at under the bed. They’ve also got backpack straps to help you carry them in and out on moving day.
We’ve hung this off the side of a bunk as a place to hold snacks, hair ties, cleaning wipes, first aid and medicine. This design is much more stable than a lot of over-the-door models. Works great for summer camp too!
These small (6″x8″) storage bins will organize clothing drawers or keep small items from falling off a shelf, and collapse down completely flat. Larger options can work for laundry baskets.
Dorm mattresses are often vinyl covered and crunkly. Make yours just a bit nicer with a great topper.
Mugs aren’t just for coffee, they’re great for dorm cooking too! This is the right size for many of the “meal in a mug” recipes in the following cookbook. Make sure to get a vented mug for cooking versatility.
Many college cookbooks use air fryers, hot plates or toaster ovens, but most first year housing won’t allow anything more than a micro-fridge and kettle. These recipes are all made for the microwave and mostly feature ingredients you can get at a convenience store. If your school doesn’t allow in-room microwaves, they’ll likely provide one in a communal kitchen.
Dorm sinks are notoriously tiny. Create some temporary counter space with this, and then hang it up out of the way.
This masking tape is strong enough to hold up almost anything. I use it underneath “permanent” adhesives to make them temporary. I hold up bulletin boards, wallpaper, curtain tie-backs, picture hooks, power strips, etc. It makes almost anything as removable as a Command Hook is, maybe more so. Cut the excess with a sharp blade to hide the color, but the green adhesive’s hold is the best.
There are never enough outlets in your room, and they’re never where you want them. Fix that with Anker’s surge-protector, multi-outlet, USB-A and USB-C outlet extender, or maybe get 2.
This unobtrusive caddy can hold whatever you might need but don’t want to have to get out of bed for in the middle of the night. Especially if you’re on the top bunk.
Sold as a monitor stand and desk organizer, the steel plate version of this shelf is just the right size to hold your coffee maker and supplies. There’s even room to store utensils and a couple of plates. Available in several colors, I recommend the solid metal rather than the mesh version.
Thank goodness many universities have moved to a free laundry model, but whether or not you’re paying per load, you’ll want to start out with the laundry essentials, and these plastic-free sheets are both effective and take up almost no space at all!
Whether you’re worried about your passport or your prescription for a controlled substance, if you think theft might be an issue, get a lock-box that is difficult to remove from your room. If someone accidentally leaves the room unlocked, you won’t loose your stuff.
When you know you need absolute darkness to sleep, but don’t want to force your roommate to live like they’re in an underground bunker, create a blackout cocoon just for your TwinXl bed.
You often can’t bring many appliances into a dorm room, but rechargeable battery-operated appliances are typically fine. This blender will ensure you’ve got a least a few different nutrients in your diet. (Maybe sneak a banana out of the dining hall to pair with those frozen berries in your mini-fridge?). The blender cup is also to-go!