49. Band-aids | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Featured

50 Basic Items From Amazon Every College Student Needs In Their Dorm Room

Less is always more.

15347
50 Basic Items From Amazon Every College Student Needs In Their Dorm Room
Jessica Cary

You can never start packing for college too early.

Regardless of when you start, you're still going to be buying things last minute. Prior to college, it's good to clean out any items you no longer use. This way, when you come home for the summer, it's easier to make room for your new college items. Surprisingly, you need a lot less than you think at college. The biggest mistake you can make is bringing too much stuff.

Here's a list of the things you absolutely need for the first year of college:

1. Earphones/headphones

Pixabay

College is a lot more noisy than you think. From living in a dorm to studying in the dining hall, you are constantly surrounded by some type of noise. Earplugs may also be helpful while sleeping.

2. Comforter

Everyone needs a good comforter that doesn't slide that much. With your bed up against the wall, it's hard to keep your bedspread in one place.

3. Sheets

Two sheet sets are optimal so you can wash one set while the other is on your bed.

4. Towels/towel wrap

Pixabay

Same with sheets, everyone needs two sets of towels.

5. Shower shoes and bath mat

Shower shoes are obviously a must in a communal bathroom. With your shower shoes being wet out of the shower, it is very nice to have a bath mat to dry your shoes and feet off.

6. Lamp

Having one lamp is helpful when the lights are out while getting ready to go to bed and waking up in the morning so your roommate can rest peacefully.

7. Bed risers

One set of bed risers is good to raise your bed and put your dresser underneath. It's not necessarily a must. Dressers beside your bed and desk look good too.

8. Basket of snacks

When the dining hall isn't open, having a foldable box of snacks is very helpful when studying, breakfast or during finals week.

9. Drawer organizer trays

Instead of sliding toiletries and makeup sitting in a drawer, it's so much easier is you organize with long, plastic trays to go in your desk drawer. This way, you find what you are looking for faster and your stuff isn't making noise sliding in the drawer when opening and closing.

10. Suitcase

Keep a suitcase at school for weekend trips and an extra book bag for when you move out at the end of the year.

11. Plastic bins

Keep the plastic bins you brought your stuff in, in your room all year under your bed so it is easier to move out at the end of the year.

12. Husband pillow

Having a large husband pillow was helpful to sit up while I was sick to avoid coughing all night long. Limit the number of pillows you bring to four because they do take up space.

13. Notebooks (not binders)

Flickr

With constant walking around campus, carrying binders are too heavy. Notebooks are easier to take lecture and reading notes in. For handouts and loose papers, folders are great.

14. Dish soap

To wash any dishes you have, one bottle of dish soap is perfect.

15. Detergent

Bottle or pods, have one or the other.

16. Dryer sheets

Only one box of dryer sheets.

17. Duster

Your desk and other surfaces will get dusty and is good to have a duster and not just wipe surfaces down with a paper towel.

18. Clorox wipes

Have antibacterial wipes for sick days, or wiping up spills. I used these a lot if dirt was stuck on the floor.

19. Steamer

Flickr

Irons are a big no. Small dorm room = no storage for iron and ironing board. Have a small, affordable steamer that can be stored easily. I highly recommend the Joy steamer, which heats up within a minute.

20. Fridge/freezer

Everyone needs a fridge or fridge with a freezer. Personally, I used the freezer way more to heat up meals when I couldn't make it to the dining hall for dinner.

21. Cup and coffee mug

Flickr

Having one plastic cup and one coffee mug is all you need.

22. Plastic silverware

Have one box of plastic silverware with spoons, knives, and forks that can fit in your desk drawer.

23. Paper plates

Pixabay

Perfect for a movie night in bed!

24. Headboard

Bring a headboard to college so that your pillows won't fall behind your bed. This is one thing I wish I would have brought to college.

25. Trashcan and trash bags

Buy a small three gallon trash can to go in your room with trash bags to go in them.

26. Cold medicine and pain reliever

Going to college and having no medicine is the worst. Of course you can always buy some at the on campus market or health center, but it may not be open at the time you need.

27. Desk hutch

A desk hutch is probably one of the most well known must need items on the college packing list. This is so you can put your schoolbooks on, a lamp, makeup, etc..

28. Printer

Having a printer in your room is a very efficient way to print out papers, notes, and homework. This saves you money from printing out pages at the library.

29. Vacuum

Spending money on a vacuum no one wants to do, but it's worth it. Your room will be really gross especially if you have a rug and you will have to stare at the filth all year. Not to mention that all of that dirt will stick to your feet, socks, and eventually end up on your bed. Not having a rug is the way to go to ensure your floor will be actually clean. Swiffer offers a vacuum and Swiffer in one called a Swiffer Vac and is only $50. It's cordless and lasts a really long time before you charge it. This was one of my favorite items I had in my dorm last year and used it every week.

30. I.D. wallet

Prior to college, I bought a small I.D. pouch with a keychain attached to it. This was so helpful because I was able to keep my room and car keys, and university student card together. I found this much easier instead of putting my cards in a pouch on the back of my phone where I would risk laying down my belongings and leaving them somewhere.

31. Mirror

Buy a full-length mirror to go on the back of you or your roommate's closet door. It's nice and helpful to see how you look every day, especially when putting on makeup. Bed, Bath, and Beyond is a perfect place to buy this.

32. Mattress pad

Flickr

A mattress pad made my bed probably more comfortable than my bed at home. If you're a slacker about buying most things for college, this is the item you don't want to miss out on.

33. Stepstool

If you have bed risers, you definitely want a step stool or ottoman to get on your bed.

34. Stapler

This might seem not needed, but you will have to staple papers together to turn into your professor.

35. Circular fan

Oscillating fan towers are a no go. They do not get cool air all over the room. Get a circular, Honeywell fan that sits on your windowsill. This way, it can tilt up so the cool air can be spread all over the room. And did I mention, it's less than $30? Even if your dorm has air conditioning , get one anyway.

36. Paper towels

Napkins, cleaning messes, or acting as a plate, you will need these.

37. Tissues

You WILL get sick living in a dorm. Trust me, you will want some tissues.

38. Umbrella and rain jacket

Pixabay

Depending on the season and day you will need both.

39. Rain boots

Rain boots are a staple for college girls. Walking in the pouring rain is any college student's nightmare, especially if your classes are 20 minutes from your dorm.

40. Mattress cover

Besides having a foamy mattress pad, you will need a mattress cover to go over the mattress pad. This goes underneath your bottom sheet and adds to the comfort of sleeping.

41. Over-the-door hangers

These are hangers to put your towels on or any other item your heart desires.

42. Shower bucket/organizer

Rather than having a shower bucket that could fill up with water, have a shower caddy with holes that you can bring into the shower with you. This way, no water stays in it and doesn't grow mold.

43. Flash cards/whiteboard

These are very helpful study tools especially during finals week and in case your dorm doesn't have a whiteboard you can study with. Staples has all sizes of whiteboards you can put underneath your bed.

44. Laundry bag

Flickr

Laundry bag > laundry basket because of space

45. Door stopper

At the beginning of the year, you will want to keep your door open to meet people on your hall and dorm. Also, a door stopper is good when moving into your dorm room.

46. Water bottles

Have plastic water bottles in case your reusable bottle breaks.

47. Plastic bags

Plastic bags are great for breakfast on the go or anything that needs to be protected from breaking.

48. Power strip

You will use a power strip every day to plug things in like your phone and laptop charger, fan or lamp.

49. Band-aids

You never know when you might need them.

50. Hand sanitizer

Avoid a trip to the bathroom to wash your hands.

Lastly, remember to only buy what you need. Your dorm room doesn't have to look like it came out of a catalog with a ton of decorations. As long as you have the bare necessities, you will be all good.

Report this Content
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

444489
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

18015
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

42336
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

21745
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

322156
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments