Inside: ALL you need to know about dorm room essentials for college boys. What to buy for the dorm room and what is a waste of money.

Trying to figure out what you soon to be college kid really needs for their dorm room or college apartment. It’s probably less than you think, but there are also probably items that would never occur to you either.

As the mom of a brand new high school graduate. I’ve spent the last year or more in numerous facebook groups all about college applications, admissions, college life and several specific to perspective parents for particular schools that my son actually applied to. This whole adventure has been A LOT! Yes, all capitals and I would really put about one hundred more explanation points if it wasn’t so obnoxious.

Since I’m in all these parents groups, I’ve been amused, surprised and kinda grossed out by what I’ve learned regarding boys and dorm rooms. Many parents, in attempt to keep us newbie parents of incoming freshman from making some of their mistakes, have been sharing all sorts of wisdom (and some pretty gross pictures) as they have arrived on campus to move their boys out their dorms for the summer.

It has been enlightening to say the least. I also am lucky to have a few friends with teen boys who braved the wilderness of college dorm living with their teen boys before me and they’ve been an amazing resource. So, please let me help you as other have helped me to figure out just exactly what your son absolutely needs for his dorm room and what he definitely does not.

There is a difference between dorm room essentials and crap

The biggest takeaway by far was DON’T SEND THEM WITH SO MUCH CRAP!!!. They don’t need it and they don’t want it. Plus, what little stuff they actually use will most likely be beyond salvageable at the end of the year and even more will end up in a giant trash heap at the curb of the dorm waiting to fill local landfills.

Many moms showed pictures of desks and floors covered inches deep in dirty clothes, school papers and textbooks, weeks old take out containers, and even bedding that long ago stopped being used on the actual beds. Most were sure that their boys had never changed their sheets, let alone washed them the entire year. Same was true for most of their clothes. You could seriously smell the stench through the computer screen for some of these rooms. Cleaning products set unused in buckets in their closets – where not a single stitch of clothing or pair of shoes could be seen (as they were buried somewhere in the trash heaps on the dorm room floor).

I’m sorry if this seems somewhat gender discriminatory and I have no doubt that there were a few girls dorm rooms who weren’t much better and certainly some boys rooms that were probably pristine when their parents arrived. But overall, based on what I was seeing in these parenting groups, through no actual scientifically based data collection, my conclusion is that college boys and college girls are just two different dorm room dwellers.

So, if you have a teen boy heading to college next year, let’s take the collective wisdom of what these experienced moms had to say. It seems clear that there are some definite “must haves” for boys, but the list is short and pretty practical.

Also, just a few other quick tips before we jump into the dorm room suggestions. There are a few other essentials that you may not want to send your kiddo to college without:

Quick Tip 1: You might want to consider getting your college student an Amazon Prime College Account. This entitles the member to many discounts specific to college students that aren’t available through a regular prime account. You can sign up here Amazon Prime College Account to help save on the essentials listed below and then your student can use it during all four years of college to help quickly order and save money on all sorts of other items they are likely to need.

Quick Tip 2: Most parents don’t think about the fact that at 18, their college kid now is entitled to all the legal privacy protections that come with being an adult. This means that if they have a medical or financial emergency, you aren’t automatically entitled to information about them or to be involved in decisions about their care. Don’t be left on the sidelines when your adult child needs you the most. Be sure you put the necessary legal documents in place to avoid this. You can take care of it yourself online quickly, easily and affordably with the Mama Bear Young Adult Power of Attorney Package. Use the Code PTTCollege20 to get 20% off.

Dorm Room Bedding

Bedsure Twin XL Mattress Pad Dorm Bedding – Soft Cotton Mattress Cover for College Dorm, Quilted Mattress Topper with Deep Pocket Fits up to 21The 44-Piece College Dorm Essentials Set – Totally Complete – Iceberg Green/Granite Gray Color – Twin XL Bedding SetAmazon Basics Ultra-Soft Lightweight Microfiber Reversible Comforter Bed-in-a-Bag 5-Piece Set, Twin/Twin XL, Blue Denim/Beige Stripes, StripedBedsure Fleece Bed Blankets Queen Size Grey – Soft Lightweight Plush Fuzzy Cozy Luxury Blanket Microfiber, 90×90 inchesAmazon Basics Lightweight Super Soft Easy Care Microfiber Bed Sheet Set with 14-Inch Deep Pockets – Full, Taupe & Full, Dark GrayAmazon Basics 5-Piece Lightweight Microfiber Comforter Set with Sheets ,Bed-in-a-Bag Sheets, Blue Striped Bedding, Twin/Twin XLUtopia Bedding Sherpa Blanket Twin Size (Navy, 90×66 Inches) – Soft Lightweight Plush Fleece Reversible Winter Blanket for Bed, Sofa, Couch, Camping and TravelBedsure Firm Pillows Queen Size Set of 2 – Adjustable Shredded Memory Foam Pillows, PE Cooling Design Dual-Sided with Rayon Derived from Bamboo Washable Cover for Side, Back, Stomach, Hot Sleepers

Quick Tip: Most college dorm room beds are not a standard size, but instead a twin XL. That is the assumption made for all the suggested items below. But be sure to check the residence life page of your college student’s particular school to confirm.

A Mattress Pad – Most dorm room mattresses are not the best quality and so almost all schools suggest that students bring a mattress pad. The sleep foundation rates the Sleepyhead Gel Mattress Topper Twin XL as the best college dorm mattress cover.

A Mattress Cover – A mattress cover is also suggested, because as already mentioned, college kids can be slops and many of them will eat and drink while sitting on their beds. The cover will protect the more expensive mattress pad and can also be helpful with dust and other allergens. The Bedsure Twin XL Mattress cover is priced right and is the suggested match to the Sleepyhead Gel Mattress topper.

Multiple Sets of Inexpensive Sheets – One of the highest rated XL twin sheet sets is from Amazon Basics they are perfect for dorm rooms and you can’t beat the price. Again, it is suggested that you buy multiple sets. Be prepared for the fact that they may never get washed and you may just be tossing them at the end of the school year. So, if you haven’t spent a fortune at least it might not be such a big deal. If you do have a college kid that is more apt to use a washing machine and might want a slightly more high end set, you might try these sheets from Mellani that are also highly rated and recommended.

A Blanket (preferably in a dark color) – Depending on what climate your kid is heading to for college, it may impact the weight of blanked you want to purchase. However, also keep in mind that some dorm rooms (especially on higher floors) tend to be like ovens year round no matter what the temp is outside and then even in really warm climates, some dorms are kept at frigid temps to discourage mold growth. So, an idea might be to get a few lighter weight ones that can be layered. This Twin XL Microfleece Plush lightweight blanket that comes in many colors is a definite winner and checks all the boxes. If you really think you’ll want something heavier, then these Supersoft Sherpa blankets are the ticket.

Dorm Room Appliances

Zyerch Mini Refrigerator with Freezer 3.6 Cu. Ft., Small Dorm Fridge with Freezer, Adjustable Thermostat Compact Fridge with Freezer for Apartment, Dorm, Kitchen, Office, SilverFeelfunn Mini Fridge with Freezer – 1.7 Cu.Ft Single Door Mini Refrigerator with Adjustable Thermostat, Energy Saving, Low Noise, Small Fridge for Bedroom, Office, Dorm, Classroom, Apartment – BlackEmeril Lagasse Everyday 360 Stainless Steel Air Fryer, 360° Quick Cook Technology, XL capacity, 9-in-1, 12 Pre-Set Cooking Functions including Bake, Rotisserie, Broil, Pizza, Slow Cook, ToasterTOSHIBA ML4-EM12PA(BS) Countertop Microwave Oven with Stylish Design As Kitchen Essentials, Smart Sensor, 13 Auto Menus&Mute Function, 1.2 Cu Ft with 12.4IRIS USA WOOZOO Fan with Remote, Oscillating Desk Fan, Globe Fan, 10 Speed, 89ft Max Air Distance, Low Noise DC Motor, 8h Timer, 120° Adjustable Tilt, WhiteIRIS USA, Woozoo SC15T, Remote Controlled Compact Globe Oscillating Circulating Fan, White, 1 PackHoneywell HT-900 TurboForce Air Circulator Fan Black – 2 Pack (2) (2)LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Bedroom, Smart WiFi Alexa Control, Covers up to 916 ft², 3-in-1 Filter with HEPA Sleep Mode for Allergies, Pollutants, Smoke, Dust, 27dB Quiet, Core 200S-P, WhiteLasko Portable Electric 42nutribullet Ultra Personal Blender NB50500, 32 oz, GrayKeurig K-Mini Coffee Maker, Certified Refurbished, Oasis (Renewed)0.5L Small Portable Electric Kettles for Boiling Water, Stainless Steel Travel Kettle, Fast Boil Teapot, Boil-Dry Protection & Auto Shut-Off, Perfect For Traveling Cooking, Coffee, Tea, Eggs(Green)

Small Refrigerator – College kids are hungry pretty much 24/7 and cafeteria food isn’t known for being gourmet. Throw in the need for snacks to fuel late night study sessions and having a small fridge is pretty much a necessity. Be sure you understand the square footage of the dorm room and space available before purchasing a mini-fridge. This well rated Compact Dorm Fridge is a pretty safe bet for most dorms. However, if you’re extra tight on space, you might also want to consider this Ultra Compact Dorm Room Fridge.

Air Fryer – It just so happens that I work with college kids and so I asked some of them the other day about the one thing they could not live without in their dorm rooms. And to my surprise, boys and girls alike were 100% hands down most enthusiastic about air fryers. Apparently the air fryer is to Gen Z what the mircrowave to Millenials. This Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer was the one they all suggested.

Microwave – Okay, so if you’re skeptical of the whole air fryer situation and think a microwave is still the better bet. This small countertop Toshiba Microwave is a best seller and perfectly sized for a dorm room.

A Fan – Dorms are known for bad air circulation and many colleges in cooler climates don’t have A/C. Additionally, it appears universal that dorm rooms on higher floors tend to be warm year round. This is why a fan has become a must have for most college dorm room. By far the hands down most suggested is the Woozoo 5 Speed Globe Fan. However, they are so popular, they are regularly out of stock and hard to find. So, a few back up options include this slightly more expensive Woozoo model or this much more economical Honeywell Turbo fan. If a tower fan is preferred as it can be a little better space wise and to cool the whole room consider the Lasko Oscillating Tower Fan.

An Air Purifier – Due to the circulation issues mentioned above and the general construction of many dorms, mold can be a pretty significant issue. The schools won’t divulge this information, but join any parent group for any college and you’ll hear about it. (P.S. it’s not just the dorms, but many college apartment buildings too). Then there is also the fact that you’re putting a whole bunch of young people in small spaces who aren’t sleeping or eating all that well and therefore are perpetually sick, which means germs spread like wildfire in dorms. Staying healthy is a challenge, but an air filter can certainly help. This Levoit Hepa Air Purifie is fairly compact and effective making it a top choice for dorm rooms, but these pricier Dyson purifiers seemed to be the ones students and parents felt worked best.

General Dorm Room Essentials

Drevet LED Desk Lamp with Wireless Charger, Desk Table Light with USB Charging Port and 2 Outlets, 3 Lighting Modes, 3 Level Brightness, 1H Timer, Touch Control, Eye-Caring Home Office Foldable LampDirt Devil Scorpion Plus QuickFlip Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, Powerful Suction, Lightweight, Includes Quick Flip Crevice Tool, Corded Portable Vacuum CleanerBLACK+DECKER dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum, Home and Car Vacuum (HHVI315JO42)Power Strip, ALESTOR Surge Protector with 12 Outlets and 4 USB Ports, 6 Feet Extension Cord (1875W/15A), 2700 Joules, ETL Listed, Black6 Ft Surge Protector Power Strip – 8 Widely Outlets with 4 USB Ports, 3 Side Outlet Extender with 6 Feet Extension Cord, Flat Plug, Wall Mount, Desk USB Charging Station, ETL,WhiteFlat Plug Extension Cord, 5ft Power Strip with 4 USB Ports(2 USB C), 4 Widely Outlets Extender, Wall Mount, Desk Charging Station for Office, School, Travel and Dorm Room Essentials, ETL Listedfunest Bathroom Small Trash Can with Lid,10L / 2.7 Gallon Slim Garbage Bin Wastebasket with Press Top Lid for Bedroom,Rv,Office,Kitchen,Craft RoomTIPGO Slim Bathroom Trash Can with Lid Soft Close, Step Pedal, 6 Liter / 1.6 Gallon Stainless Steel Trash Bin, Small Garbage Cans for Bedroom, Office, Kitchen (Matte Black)Care Science First Aid Kit, 110 Pieces | Professional Use for Travel, Work, School, Home, Car, Emergency, Survival, Camping, Hiking, and MoreAtickyaid Mini First Aid Kit – 140 Piece Small First Aid Medical Kit for Car, Home, Office, Travel, Camping, Sports, Outdoor, School – Emergency First Aid Supplies and Survival KitSelf-Care for College Students: From Orientation to Graduation, 150+ Easy Ways to Stay Happy, Healthy, and Stress-FreeThe Ultimate College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to HomesicknessIKEA 901.491.48 Frakta Storage Bag, Blue, 4 PackTICONN 6 Pack Extra Large Moving Bags with Zippers & Carrying Handles, Heavy-Duty Storage Tote Moving Boxes for Space SavingMr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable, Shoe Cleaner, Cleaner Pads with Durafoam, 10 Count

Desk Lamp – The lighting in most dorm rooms is pretty harsh and sometimes you’ve got one roomie pulling an all nighter while the others are trying to actually sleep. A good desk lamp like this multifunctional LED desk lamp with wireless charger and five lighting modes is a solid solution with the added bonus of working as another USB charging option.

Power Strip with USB ports – Computer, iphones, appliances, lamps.. getting the idea. These college kids are plugging a ton of stuff in and most dorm rooms don’t come equipped with nearly enough plugs. Inclusion of the USB ports is a must and how can you go wrong with this perfect five star rated power strip that is ideal for a college dorm room.

Handheld Vacuum– The likelihood of much cleaning going on is pretty slim, on the other hand the likelihood of spills is pretty high. It can also get pretty icky constantly stepping on food crumbs and dirt and debris that gets brought in on over the course of the year. An easy to use and effective handheld vacuum did seem to be something that got some use and could be worth sending. Plus, it doesn’t take up much room and can be thrown in the closet – since it should be used for something.

Small Trash Can With Lid – Many dorm rooms don’t provide trash cans or the ones they do are pretty puny and don’t have lids. Since small spaces are prone to stink up fast, a solid trash can with a lid isn’t a bad idea.

First Aid Kit – It may never get used, that would be the best thing to say about this item. But… just in case, this is one of those better safe than sorry ideas. An inexpensive way to purchase peace of mind. Also, don’t be surprised when they call asking what they should take for a cold, a sort throat, a stomach ache and so forth. While it might be nice to hear from them, its even better empowering them to figure a few basics of health care themselves, so tuck this handy guide in with their school books.

See WHAT NOT TO BUY at the end of this post for the last two items pictured above. 😉

Bathroom and Laundry Essentials

F-color Mesh Shower Caddy Portable, Upgrade Deeper 7 Pockets Shower Bag Basket Tote for College Dorm Room Toiletry Bathroom Essentials Gym Camp Quick Dry 2 handles with S Hook, BlackALPIRIRAL Black Bathroom Accessories Set, 10Pcs Bathroom Accessory Set with Trash Can, Soap Dispenser and Toothbrush Holder, Soap Dish, Cotton Ball & Qtip Holder, Toilet Brush Holder, Tissue Box CoverDOKEHOM 90L Large Laundry Basket, Collapsible Laundry Bag, Freestanding Tall Clothes Hamper, Foldable Washing Bin (Black)Camco Shower Caddy | Black and Green | Mesh (51997)Litfun Shower Shoes for Women Non-Slip Quick Dry Shower Slippers Lightweight Pool Sandals with Drain Holes for College Dorm, Beach, Bathroom & Gym, Black 38DUDE Bombs – Toilet Stank Eliminator – 1 Pack, 40 Pods – Fresh Scent 2-in-1 Stank Eliminator + Toilet Bowl Freshener – Refreshing Blend of Lavender, Cedar, Lime, and EucalyptusBeeGreen Laundry Bag Backpack w Adjustable Shoulder Straps College Dorm Essentials w Drawstring Closure for Travel Camp Heavy Duty Laundry Backpack Portable w Handle Xlarge BlackSimpli-Magic 79447 Diamond Bath Towels Set, 6 Piece Set, 2 Bath Towels, 2 Hand Towels, 2 Washcloths, GrayFUNKYMONKEY Memory Foam Sandals for Men, Outdoor Adjustable Comfort Graphic Strap Slide Sandals (9 M US, Black Monkey)UniLiGis Washable Travel Laundry Bag with Handles and Drawstring (2 Pack), Heavy Duty Large Enough to Hold 3 Loads of Laundry, Fit a Laundry Basket or Clothes Hamper, 27.5×34.5 in,GreyTide PODS Laundry Detergent Pacs, Spring Meadow Scent, 112 Count, Concentrated Laundry Soap Detergent, Stain Remover and Color Protector, Tide PODS Laundry DetergentOZIPCO Laundry Bag with Straps – Washable Backpack for Dirty Clothes Hamper Bag, Large Portable Shoulder Straps Heavy Duty Nylon Dorm Laundry Bag – Waterproof Reusable Drawstring BagsFebreze Air Mist Air Freshener Spray, Odor-Fighting Room Spray, Air Fresheners for Home and Bathroom and Kitchen, Aerosol Can, Unstopables Fresh Scent, 8.8oz, 3 CountAmerican Soft Linen Salem Bath Towel Set, 100% Cotton 6 Piece Towels for Bathroom, 2 Bath Towels 2 Hand Towels 2 Washcloths, Sage GreenEarth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets Fresh Scent – 60 Loads Eco Liquidless Soap – Travel-Friendly for Hot & Cold Cycles, Tackles Tough Stains & Odors – Gentle on Skin, 30 CtPoo-Pourri Before You Go Toilet Spray, Original Citrus, Royal Flush, Ship Happens, 1.4 oz BottlesDowny Wrinkle Releaser Spray, Travel Size Spray + 16.9 Fl Oz Pack of 2, All In One Formula, Removes Wrinkles, Static and Odors, Light Fresh ScentOxiClean® Carpet Pet Stain Remover 24oz

Shower Caddy – A slightly more portable hanging shower caddy seems to be the preferred and more modern update to the older bucket style. Not having to set this version on the floor makes it particularly appealing. The key items to include: deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, shower soap, shaving necessities, lotion/sunscreen and maybe some body spray.

Towel Set – Don’t count on these surviving more than the first year, so this fairly good quality, but not so spendy set is your perfect option. You’ll definitely want at least two sets, maybe more. If you have a kid that isn’t likely to launder often or at all, dark colors for sure. If they will launder at least occasionally, go with white and have them use bleach!

Shower Shoes – Shower shoes are a must, but don’t count on your kiddos to wear them. You might consider showing them some google images of the potential consequences of not wearing them to create a little motivation. And then make if fun, because who doesn’t want to sport funky monkey shower shoes simply for the name alone?!

Laundry Baskets/Bags – Let’s talk about how laundry is going to go down. If they actually do their laundry, they will not fold it, so buy at least two of these brilliantly designed laundry basket and bag all in ones. One to hold the clean laundry and one for the dirty laundry. This will at least keep their room from being completely covered in random clothes, because why would they ever use the closet and dressers that are designed for such purposes?

Laundry Bag Part II – Okay, so hear this idea out. It might not also be a bad idea to get them a simple, easily portable laundry bag like this one with the handy compartment for detergent. It is highly likely that they will sort clothes in the following way; pretty clean, a bit funky but still wearable and whoa, that smells baaaaaad! The latter are the ones that might get washed and will need to be kept separate from all the other clothes, The bag will make it easy to transport to the laundry room and to remember the detergent. Well, one can hope.

What NOT To Buy

There is more that could be added to this list and you can figure out some of the items that might be a little more particular to your child. But the idea is to keep things as simple as possible. Start small and if they need more stuff, that’s why Amazon Prime was invented. Better to get items as they go then to end up with a bunch of stuff they never use. However, here are a few things better left never bought:

• Throw Rugs (you don’t want to know how gross these can get by the end of one year of college)
• A TV (that’s what their phones and your netflix password are for and it just takes up space)
• A Gaming Console (Do you actually want them to go to class, like ever??)
• Plates, silverware or any kind of any food consumption device that requires washing (they won’t ever get washed)
• A Printer (there is rarely room for it, they will run out of paper, ink, etc – it’s a hassle and there are plenty on campus)
• A ton of new clothes (see all the laundry comments above – keep it to the bare minimum, but extra undies maybe..)
• Luggage – there is no where to store it. Go for these instead.
• Tons of cleaning products – grab some Clorox wipes and call it good.
• An iron (LOL!!!!) or other silly small appliances (toaster, keurig, panini press, waffle maker, you get the idea)
• Fancy decor like throw pillows, candles or anything that will just be clutter (They don’t care if their room is “pretty”)
  

Parenting teens and college students is hard, but these popular posts other parents found helpful might just make it a little bit easier. 

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