Want to know the best dorm essentials that every college freshman should have? These are the highly approved dorm room products you need to know about.
Decorating your freshman dorm room is really exciting, and if you’re anything like me, you want to make sure that you do everything you can to create a living space that you’ll love. I lived in four different dorms throughout college, and I’m here to tell you about the products that I couldn’t have lived without.
You’re going to learn about all the dorm essentials that you’ll need for your dorm bathroom, dorm decor, and dorm organization.
After learning about all of these dorm products, you’ll be extra prepared when you move into your dorm room this fall.
This post is all about the best dorm essentials that every college freshman should have.
Best Dorm Essentials
1. Shower Caddy
This portable shower caddy is a must-have item if you’re living in a community-style dorm your freshman year. In community-style dorms, students share bathrooms and showers. Leaving your things in a shared shower is rude, and you may get your items tampered with. That’s why you should be using a shower caddy when showering in the dorm.
This dorm essential comes in twelve different colors including black, white, blue, pink, and green like the one above. Its dimensions are 9.25 x 6.75 x 7.75 inches, making it compact enough to fit comfortably in the shower while still being spacious enough to hold all your shower necessities.
This caddy also comes with a handle, making it easy for you to carry. The handle is coated with a rust-resistant finish, so you don’t have to worry about your handle turning colors over time. This caddy also has drainage holes at the bottom, so any water that touches it runs right out.
Both functional and stylish, this caddy has to make it to your shopping list before this fall.
2. Shower Shoes
Right alongside your shower caddy, you’ll need shower shoes. Gross things touch the floor all the time, and it’s likely that your dorm has experienced its fair share. You do not want any unwanted remnants of someone else’s bodily fluids touching your feet. By wearing shower shoes, you can avoid getting some contagious bacterial and fungal infections such as Athletes Foot, Ringworm, and Staph.
Thankfully, there are plenty of shower shoes to choose from. I recommend this one. These shoes are super lightweight yet still slip-resistant. The quick-drying material and holes in the sole, make these shoes perfect to store in your dorm room. This shower shoe is also stylish and can be worn to the pool, locker room, or beach.
3. Vacuum
You’ll want to keep your dorm room nice and tidy while in college. The new friends that you’ll make will want to stop by. Your Resident Assistant (RA) may do room checks. Also, keeping your living space clean will make it easier to study and relax.
I recommend this Bissell vacuum because it’s lightweight, easy to assemble, and can be used as a handheld. I know that vacuums can be bulky, but this one is sleek and compact, making it easy to store. Good on both carpet and hard flooring, this vacuum will suck up any crumbs leftover from your midnight snacking.
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4. Trash Can
Even though you use one every day, you probably didn’t think about getting a trashcan for your dorm. Having your own trashcan is essential. You do not want to be arguing with your roommate about whose turn it is to take out the trash. I would recommend getting a trashcan with a lid like this one to keep any unwanted odors away.
5. Safe
Most people also don’t consider getting a safe, but I think it’s a dorm essential for many reasons. As a former resident assistant, I’ve seen what can happen when you don’t lock up your things. Your roommate or her friends could go snooping through your private documents. Someone could steal your medications, jewelry, or cash. Don’t let that happen to you.
With .5 cubic feet of storage space, this mini-safe is the perfect size for your dorm. Its strong steel alloy material will deter thieves. This safe is also programmable, so you can create your own password. You don’t have to worry about forgetting your password, because this safe comes with two emergency override keys.
Tip: Keep your keys in a safe place. If the safe’s batteries die, you’ll need the key to open it!
6. Portable Fan
Are you one of those people who has to have the fan on while they sleep? Most dorm rooms don’t have a fan, so you’ll need to bring your own. This small portable fan offers three speeds, quiet airflow, and 360-degree rotation. This fan is USB-powered, making it especially versatile. You can power your fan by plugging it into your laptop, or you can use an adapter to plug the fan directly into a wall socket.
This fan is great for places other than your dorm room, too! Imagine studying at the park on a warm fall day with your portable fan there to cool you off.
7. Cleaning Supplies
If you know me, you know that I was a Resident Assistant during college. As an RA, I saw some (and smelled) pretty gross living spaces during room inspections. Tidiness was also a common issue that caused residents to request room changes. Don’t be the person that your roommate is complaining to your RA about.
It’s pretty simple to keep your room clean. Just make it a habit to do a little bit each day. Having this 9-piece cleaning kit can make things even easier for you. This kit comes with 409 multipurpose cleaner, Windex, wipes, and more.
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8. Electric Kettle
Having an electric kettle is an absolute must in my opinion. This is the EXACT electric kettle that I have, and I use it to make tea, coffee, hot chocolate, ramen, and instant oatmeal. This Hamilton Beach electric kettle boils water faster than a microwave, so you can make breakfast and still have enough time to get to your 8 AM class.
All you have to do is fill your electric kettle with water, place it on its base, then press the lever. When the water begins boiling, the kettle will shut off on its own. In the meantime, you can be getting dressed for class.
9. Surge Protector
Having a surge protector for your dorm is absolutely essential. Between TVs, laptops, cellphones, and your space heater, a lot of energy is being used. Thankfully, you don’t have to pay for an electricity bill while in college, but you do need to protect against any power surges that may occur.
I recommend using this surge protector. With12 outlets and 4 USB ports, it has room for all of your dorm essentials.
10. First Aid Kit
You never know when you’ll need a band-aid, so it’s best to be prepared. A first aid kit is essential whether you’re living in a dorm or not. But this isn’t just any first aid kit. This kit is manufactured by the #1 leading manufacturer of First Aid Kits in the USA. That’s right. It’s American-made.
This 100-piece first aid kit includes 50 bandages, 12 alcohol wipes, and 2 antibiotic ointment packets. You can also find gloves, gauze, and an instant cold compress in your kit. My favorite part about this first aid kit is that it comes with a handle, making it easy to carry when you need to.
11. Blanket
If you’re planning on making new friends in college, having a blanket is a must. Movie nights, game nights, and late-night study sessions are all times when you’ll want a blanket to snuggle up with. This fleece throw blanket is super soft and is sure to become one of your favorite dorm essentials. With 15 colors to choose from, there’s a blanket for everyone.
This post was all about the best dorm essentials to help you be as prepared as possible when moving into your dorm this fall.
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