As the school year comes to an end, many seniors start thinking about the next big step: college.
Many are already committed to one, while others are still waiting to see how the game of waitlists plays out. Either way, something common to these two situations is a dorm.
Dorm life is a big change. Most colleges require first-year students to live on campus, which means moving into a small, shared room with strangers. Students will need to pack up their lives and fit them all into a space that’s probably much smaller than their bedroom.
While everyone remembers to bring clothes, bedding and maybe a mini-fridge, there are some important items that are easy to forget but can make dorm life much easier.
Dish trayOne often overlooked item for dorm life is a dish tray. Since dorm bathrooms are usually shared, students carry shower caddies with toiletries and wear shower shoes, which often get wet. Placing these wet items on the floor can cause water to drip and create a mess.
Instead of using towels or rugs that stay soggy, a dish tray can catch and hold the water, keeping floors dry and clean. It’s an easy way to prevent slips and maintain a tidy space.
Body pillow
A body pillow is a great, affordable solution for the gap between dorm beds and walls, where items like phones or pillows often fall. Unlike costly headboards that can exceed $200 and are difficult to move, a body pillow can cost less than $20 and fits perfectly in the space, preventing things from slipping behind the bed while adding comfort for relaxing.
DampRid
Dorm rooms can often feel damp and sometimes have a musty smell because of moisture in the air. This moisture can cause mold, which is bad for clothes and students’ health. DampRid is a product that helps by absorbing extra moisture in the air without needing electricity. It works quietly and keeps dorm rooms drier and fresher.
Most students put DampRid in their closets because clothes are especially at risk of getting moldy. Using DampRid helps keep clothes clean and the dorm room smelling better. It is a small and easy way to make the dorm feel more comfortable.
Attachable bedside table
If a dorm bed is lofted or raised, it can be hard to reach things like a student’s phone, water bottle, or headphones when in bed. An attachable bedside table is a small shelf that clips onto the bed frame. It provides a place to keep the important items close by without students having to get up.
These tables are very easy to put on and take off, so students can use them all year and then remove them when moving out. This table helps keep things organized and makes the dorm bed area much more convenient.
Mini handheld vacuum
A regular vacuum is useful, but a mini handheld vacuum is essential for dorm life. It easily cleans crumbs, dust, and spills in tight spaces, helping prevent bugs.
Emergency Kit
An emergency kit is often overlooked until it is urgently needed, especially for college students living in close quarters where illness spreads easily.
A well-stocked kit should include over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, cold medicines such as DayQuil and NyQuil, cough drops, and basic first aid supplies like band-aids, gauze, ointment, and a thermometer.
Practical items like nail clippers, tweezers and scissors also are useful, along with vitamins, antacids, allergy meds, and any personal prescriptions.
Having these essentials on hand helps students avoid late-night pharmacy trips and can even assist friends in need.
Water Filter Pitcher
The qualify of dorm water can be unpredictable, especially in older buildings where the plumbing may not have been updated in years. A water filter pitcher is a simple but game-changing addition to any dorm room.
Instead of relying on bottled water, which quickly creates clutter and waste as plastic bottles pile up, students can use a compact water filter pitcher that fits easily in a mini fridge.
These pitchers remove contaminants like lead and chlorine, making tap water taste better and is much safer to drink.
Long Charging Cables
Dorm room outlets are often inconveniently placed, far from beds or desks. Long charging cables, typically six to 10 feet in length, let students charge devices comfortably from anywhere in the room without awkward stretching. For those of us attached to our phones, these cables are essential.
Moving into a dorm can be a big change, but with a few smart items, life gets easier.
