Move-in day, the time when hundreds of new college students flood the dorms to set up their new life, is also one of the most stressful days of college, but I am here to make it slightly easier with the 10 essentials you need to make the transition as smooth as possible.
As a college student who has moved dorms and apartments three times now, I like to think of myself as somewhat of an expert in the fine art of college move-ins and move-outs. So I have compiled a list of the things you need, or at least what I think you need.
Disinfectant Wipes
These are at the top of the list for a reason. You are moving into a room that has been inhabited by maybe the cleanest person on earth or a teenage boy whose sheets have been washed once the entire year – and that was when his mom came to visit. So it is best to give the entire dorm a once over with a disinfectant wipe.
Easy to buy and easy to get rid of, these will be useful not just on move-in day but your whole college life. Wipe down the countertops, the bathroom, and your desk to make sure you remove anything left over from previous residents. Trust me you will feel much better about your new living space once you do this.
Mattress Topper
Imagine getting into your bed the first night and you feel the hard, plasticy mattress beneath you. It is not fun, I experienced this my first night away at college and practically ran to Target the next day to buy myself a mattress topper.
Mattress toppers are inexpensive but make a world of difference when it comes to getting a good nights sleep in your new bed.
Swiffer
You don’t know what went on in your dorm before you got there, the parties had, the drinks spilled, so it is best to just clean it all. A Swiffer is the easiest floor cleaning tool that will also come in handy when you have your own parties one day.
Desk Organizer
You’re a big college student now, this means you have too many textbooks, too many random handouts, and never enough space, a desk organizer can help resolve this.
Dorms don’t have a lot of room and your desk is one of the only spaces that is yours, so make sure you keep it organized, it will help with your mental clarity and your stress when you’re running out the door looking for that paper you need to hand in.
Filtered Water Pitcher
After a long day of moving, you are going to be thirsty and nothing will quench it like a cold glass of water, this is where number five comes. First thing you should do when you get into your dorm is fill up a filtered water pitcher and put it in the fridge, this will not only be great on move-in day but every after that.
Every dorm room should have one of these in the fridge because you don’t know the quality of the water coming out of your faucet. Just make sure you and your roommates understand that the person who finishes it has to fill it back up, cause there is nothing worse than an empty pitcher.
Shoe Rack
College dorm rooms are small and you probably have a decent number of shoes, a simple storage solution is a shoe rack for the back of your door. Clear some highly coveted floor space by keeping your unnecessary number of shoes in a previously unused space.
Wall Art
This may not sound like an essential but it is. Dorm rooms can be cold and dull but some cheap wall art can easily change this. Whether it is a tapestry or polaroid pictures, use some Command strips to hang them up and make your room feel a little more like home.
Power Strip
Whether you are sharing a room or not there are often only a few power outlets. Between your lamp, phone and laptop charger you quickly run out of space. Bringing a power strip can solve this problem, and also fights over which roommate gets which outlet.
Shower Caddy
When you go for a shower you have your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and razor and unfortunately only two hands. Bring a shower caddy with you to make those trips to the shower that much easier.
Pictures of Your Family and Friends
This one is for your first night away when you can feel a bit homesick, having pictures of your loved ones close helps.
