Top Ten Tips - Packing For Your First Dorm Room
By Tip Diva | Aug 01, 2008
Categories: Activities, Adult, Appliances, Bathroom, Bed, Bedroom, Behavior, City, Cleaning, College, Computer, Electronics, Etiquette, Food, Moving, Products, Safety, Shopping, Student, Television, Tips, University, Websites
Moving into your first dorm room can be an exciting experience. But what should you bring?
- Talk To Your Future Roommate - Many items can be shared, like television sets, a refrigerator and phone. Call your future roommate and discuss who’s bringing what so there are no duplicates. If you have to purchase big items, make sure to split it up fairly; one person buy the TV, while another buy the mini-fridge, etc. Whatever you do, don’t go splitsies on singular items until you know your roommate well - if one of you has to move out, there could be an argument about what belongs to whom.
- Bring The Basics First - eCampusTours.com has a great list of dorm room basics and what not to forget. Always make sure to bring the minimum until you know how big the room is.
- Check What You’re Not Allowed To Bring - Each college has its own rules and regulations on what you may or may not bring to your door room, especially items with a fire hazard. The rules can vary from dorm to dorm, so make sure you check with the school first. And buy sticky tape instead of thumb tacks to affix posters and pictures on the wall - many schools don’t want you nailing things to the wall.
- Hit Stores Now - Go to stores like Wal-Mart, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond now - July and August is the best selection for back-to-school items.
- Purchase An Lockable Trunk Or Safe - You may trust your roommate, but there will possibly be lots of people going in and out of your room. Invest in a lockable steamer trunk or safe where you can store valuables or stash your computer while you’re not in the room.
- Stock Up On Food - Bringing your own food is a must, because you’ll either get sick of your meal plan at some point or find yourself short on cash. Buy foods that are easy to make in a microwave or hot pot; also stash “to-go” type foods like energy bars or 100-calorie snack packs.
- Buy A Hot Pot - If your dorm allows, invest in a hot pot. You can make all sorts of items with it, from tea to boiled eggs.
- Get Flip-Flops - Flip-flops are a must if you share a bathroom. Wear them in the shower or any communal area where people are walking around in bare feet. Athlete’s foot? Plantar warts? Ick!
- Buy Cleaning Supplies - At the very least, make sure you have Lysol wipes to wipe down and disinfect surfaces. Window cleaner, Febreeze, air freshener and fabric stain remover are also helpful.
- Buy Insect Sprays - Lots of messy college students living in one area? Expect bugs like ants and cockroaches (the latter, especially, if you go to a college in a big city). The school has access to exterminators, but they will temporarily do the job until one is called in.
Other Tips To Check Out:
Great timing…have a teenager ready to make the move after summer. Thanks for the great tips, as always!
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Great tips - i’ve got a new housemate moving in soon and will definately use these tips to help us work out the rules/boundaries - cheers!
The first point is totally true - talk to your future housemate, discuss your likes and dislikes and agree some ground rules from the very beginning!
Great tips and will really help people get organised before going to college this year - cheers will pass on to my kids!
Interesting post
I think the most important thing is to talk to your new room mate and set some ground rules - if your lucky you’ll get someone good! and then its about respect and keeping it clean and tidy!
great post. thank you
Interesting post. thanks.
Interesting post. thank you.
great post. thank you very much
great post. thanx
Very well compiled site. Good tips
good site. thank you very much
thanks for the informative post, very timely as Im going to be moving to a drom shortly
Great tips, especially the one about the insect spray heheh
This list really helped me with moving into my girlfriend’s apartment! I guess it is all in organization.
Thanks for posting!
Great post. You’re in my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.