15 College Essentials You Didn’t Know You Needed

Picture this: You’re preparing to move into your college dorm or apartment. A whirlwind of packing lists and to-dos surrounds you. Still, what if you’re forgetting something crucial?

Fortunately, Moving Help® has thought of everything for you. With this list of 15 college essentials you didn’t know you needed, you’ll be set up for success.

15 College Essentials

Keep reading to see how each of these college essentials will improve your college experience.

Dust-Busting Basics

Keep your room fresh and clean so you have a safe space to relax after a long day. Use these college essentials to address the mess.

1. Air Purifier

Dorms often suffer from poor air circulation. Avoid the congestion and cough that comes with a dusty dorm and breathe easier with an air purifier.

Choose an air purifier size that’s suitable to your dorm’s square footage. For the best results, replace the filter every few months according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

2. Vacuum

A dorm vacuum is a minor investment that will make a big impact, whether you make a big spill or need to upkeep your space. Conveniently, some of the most affordable vacuums on the market are also compact, lightweight, and multi-purpose. Look for a stick vacuum that can transform into a handheld vacuum to access hard-to-reach places.

3. Laundry Hamper Backpack

Finding the time and motivation to do laundry in college can be difficult. Make the laundry process feel one step easier with a fabric laundry hamper that has backpack straps for ease of use. Use it as your main hamper or use it as a lining for a standing hamper.

Social Starter Pack

The truest college essential is a good group of friends. Use these products to transform your room into an inviting hangout spot.

4. Doorstop

Not sure how to find friends? Prop your door open with a door stop and let the friends find you!

An open door works best for making friends during move-in. People are making frequent trips up and down the halls bringing supplies to their rooms, and they’re particularly eager to meet new people.

5. Whiteboard

Hang a whiteboard inside your dorm room to leave messages for your roommate.

To spark a bigger conversation, put a whiteboard on the outside of your door with polls and questions for people in your hall to answer. This small gesture can build a sense of community, and you’re guaranteed to see responses that’ll give you a good laugh.

6. Storage Ottoman

Not keen on having your friends sitting on your bed to hangout? Not everyone has the space or budget to add a small couch to their dorm room. A storage ottoman is a compact, affordable solution to bring extra storage and seating to your room.

8. Electric Kettle

Electric kettles are crucial for “cooking” without a microwave. Heat water for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, ramen, mac and cheese, and more.

9. Comfort Food Snack Box

College is a petri dish, and you’re bound to get sick. To prepare for illness, fill a small bin with saltines, ginger ale, applesauce cups, and any other shelf-stable comfort foods that help you feel better when you’re sick. Tuck this box away and reach for it when you’re ill and don’t have the energy to get food immediately.

A Better Bed Setup

As you settle into your routine, you may not have the longest nights of sleep. With these college essentials, you guarantee that every hour of sleep — however few or many you get — is high quality.

10. Small Bedside Fan

Dorm rooms can get stuffy, and your building’s A/C may be unreliable. Sleep better with a cool breeze from a small bedside fan on your nightstand. If you don’t like direct airflow on your face while you sleep, try an oscillating fan. A globe fan, like the Woozoo, is a fancier option that rotates up, down, left, and right.

11. Dark Colored Bedding

The bed is the centerpiece and primary seating area in most dorm rooms. As such, food spills, grime, and natural body oils will stain a light-colored comforter or duvet cover, even with frequent washing.

A dark colored comforter or duvet cover is essential for anyone who wants their bedding to hold up for more than one semester.

12. Bed Sheet Straps

Although you may not struggle with this at home, your fitted sheets at college may be prone to lifting off the mattress overnight. Between a thick mattress topper and the constant motion of you getting on and off your bed, your sheets don’t stand a chance.

Use bed sheet straps to secure your fitted sheet to your mattress and avoid the frustration of constantly readjusting your sheets.

Mending Must-Haves

Be ready to encounter minor bumps and bruises. These college essentials will help you mend yourself when you get sick and your belongings when they break.

13. First Aid Kit

Convenience stores near college campuses often have higher prices than elsewhere. To save yourself the money and stress of finding bandages and medicine in a pinch, stay prepared with your own first aid kit.

Buy a premade first aid kit or personalize one with your preferred supplies and over-the-counter medicines. Even if you don’t need the kit, a friend likely will. To prepare for any scenario, include the following in your first aid kit:

14. Tape and Superglue

You don’t realize how frequently you need to make minor repairs until you’re living in college and can’t just run downstairs to the kitchen junk drawer for tape or superglue.

15. Scissors

Scissors are the ultimate college essential, as you’ll need them to open the packaging on most of your purchases for your new dorm. Buy scissors immediately so you don’t delay the moving in process.

Packed to Perfection

With these 15 college essentials, you’ll be prepared for any scenario college throws at you. For a head-to-toe packing list, check out these 220 items you may need for each aspect of dorm and college life. To save space in your bags, leave behind these 10 college “essentials” you won’t actually use.