Before heading off to college in the fall, you need to make sure that you have everything you need to survive the year. Of course, you’ll need your books and pencils and all of that, but there are so many things that you wouldn’t think of which could majorly improve your quality of life at school, both in and out of the classroom. Here are 10 products no college student should be without while at school.
1. A Shelf For Your Bed
Unlike your bedroom at home, most dorm rooms feature tall, thin, raised, bunk beds that are just high enough to make a running jump necessary to get in (though it’s not even guaranteed that you’ll make it on the first jump). This means you’ll have to take your phone, laptop, headphones, coffee, etc. into bed with you, and that can get messy. This shelf lets you have the nightstand that could never actually fit in your dorm, without having to take up lots of space.
Price: $34.99
Best Review: “I bought this because when we were decorating our new bedroom the option was for us to get a Queen sized bed and have 2 end tables OR get a king and then only 1 end table would fit — My husband prefered the Queen and i was like — NOPE NOPE NOPE – so we got the King, but i’ll admit i really did need a place for my book, phone bottle of water etc at night before bed. I was uncomfortable on many levels with sleeping with these items under my pillow each night! The bed shelfie is amazing it is small enough to not be in the way but in reality its all i ever needed out of a night stand anyway!!! It is SO easy to put together (i was able to do it without hubs help in less than 10 mins!) just tighten it on any size frame! Color is beautiful and the product is good! My husband was like “uhm that’s genius — you always figure it out dont you!?” ;)”
2. Shower Shoes To Protect Your Feet From Nasty Bathroom Floors
Unless you have a private bathroom in your dorm (and even if you do), you’re probably going to be facing the nastiness that is communal showers. Hair, soap scum, and other mystery substances coat the floor of the bathroom, even if it’s cleaned frequently. The shower shoes are simple and cute, and easy to slip on and off when you venture out to the shower room. Your feet will thank you, trust us.
Price: $11.99
Best Review: “So far, I have been using it for a couple of months and they still look brand new. When I was buying it, I thought to myself that it looked cheap and would break right away, but I was wrong. Tough, flexible shower sandals. I love the multiple holes on the base so it can drain properly so your feet can be as clean as your whole body.”
3. A Hanging Shower Caddy To Keep Your Toiletries Organized
If you have to share a bathroom with more than one or two people, it becomes complicated to leave your things there for when you shower. Instead, most students end up bringing all of their soap, shampoo, toothbrush, etc. with them back and forth each time they go to the bathroom. Your life will be a lot easier with a shower caddy like this one, and it even has a hanger attached so it doesn’t ever have to touch the ground.
Price: $22.97
Best Review: “This is so versatile and it is a great option for college students! It has enough space for all of my full sized toiletries, and it can hang anywhere. At my school, each dorm building has a different bathroom setup, and some showers do not have shelves or hooks for traditional shower caddies. This shower caddy allows me to hang it anywhere, and it’s great! I’ve was able to fold it up small in my suitcase when I moved in, and I have thrown it in the washing machine to get it clean. I’m very pleased with my purchase!”
4. Magic Hangers That Save So Much Space In Your Closet
Unfortunately, most dorms come with a closet that doesn’t hold even half of what we need it to, so you’ll need to take advantage of every inch of space you get in your closet. These magic hangers save tons of space by allowing 5 articles of clothing to take up the space of only one hanger. It’s pretty awesome, and you can now technically boost your wardrobe by 5!
Price: $13.99
Best Review: “Ok, I know the headline is dramatic, but I cannot say enough about how these hangers have transformed my tiny, odd-shaped closet. I was so desperate for more space, I was considering spending big bucks to have a professional come in and redesign the space. Then I found these and it’s like my hanging space quadrupled! It feels downright luxurious in my closet now. I can see all my clothes and nothing is squished together like it used to be. I can also comfortably add a substantial amount of clothing and would still have room to grow. BUY THESE IMMEDIATELY!”
5. A Plug Extender That Doesn’t Take Up Any More Room – With USB Ports
You’ll probably find yourself with a lack of outlets in your room, the library, or even the computer lab. Competing with your fellow students for one of these coveted sockets to plug your laptop into is not the way to go. Instead, grab this plug extender that stays flat on the wall and doesn’t take up extra room, yet it gives you 3 standard outlets and 2 USB ports, all to yourself! Not to mention it lights up automatically, so you don’t have to awkwardly search for the outlet hole in the dark.
Price: $14.99
Best Review: “Took this on my last cruise and it worked awesome. Loved the usb and having extra plugs. The nightlight was the best thing about this product. The cruise cabin was very dark at night time, so this was great being able to see when trying to walk around at night.”
6. A Laundry Bag With A Heavy-Duty Grip
There’s nothing worse than having your laundry pile up to the ceiling, just to have to take it down to the laundry room without the bag tearing and your clothes pouring out onto the floor. With this laundry bag, you won’t have to worry about when it’s time to take your clothes to be washed. It has a sturdy grip, lots of space, and is totally collapsable. Also it comes in really nice colors.
Price: $18.99
Best Review: “This is by far one of the most simple yet most important purchase I’ve made off Amazon! This item is made out of sturdy material, is nearly rip resistant, and holds up large heavy louds of laundry. The handles make this particular laundry bag easy to carry. I recommend this product to anyone who is in need of washer and dryer accessories.”
7. A Big Recliner Pillow For Ultimate Comfort and Back Support
The truth is that most likely your bed will be up against a hard wall. And your back will probably be on fire after a few hours of working or watching Netflix on your laptop from bed. Instead, save yourself the hurt and get this incredibly comfy back pillow that will keep you propped up and in a good position the whole time you’re in bed (or on the floor, we don’t judge).
Price: $36.79
Best Review: “Very comfortable! My apartment is tiny and a couch won’t fit. I use this to lay on the floor and watch TV. Love it. I stick a yoga bolster under my knees and it’s better than a recliner. Don’t be alarmed that it’s deflated-looking and flat as a pancake when you first unpack it. I followed the instructions and gave the pillow a massage. It poofed right up! And it was even more full the next day.”
8. An LED Desk Lamp With USB Charging Ports And Different Modes of Light
This is not just an ordinary desk lamp. Aside from the super-adjustable neck with which you can actually manipulate properly and even collapse entirely, it comes with a USB charger port so you can keep yourself plugged in at all times. It also has 4 distinct modes of lighting that can be switched around for when you are sleeping, relaxing, studying, or reading.
Price: $39.99
Best Review: “I’ve had my lamp for about 9 months and I LOVE IT! My mum loved it too and we bought her a black and white one for her to hide in her small apartment! I don’t ever collapse mine because it’s on my desk but she has them in her living room and bedroom folded down and they are so unnoticeable!!”
9. A Rapid Ramen Cooker That Works In Only 3 Minutes
It’s no secret that college students end up eating tons of ramen. But if you don’t have access to a stove, it can get tricky. This microwave-safe, BPA free, dishwasher-safe ramen maker lets you pop in the noodles, fill with water, and add whatever flavors, spices, or toppings you’d like! Pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes, and you’ve got a delicious meal all ready to go.
Price: $9.99
Best Review: “For 4 months we had been heating our noodles in the microwave using the clear Rubbermaid containers. While the noodles were still good, you had to microwave them for at least 8-9 minutes and still they would have this weird taste to them. It wasn’t until I was re stocking on noodles and other snacks that Amazon recommended me this little bowl that claimed it cooked your noodles in the microwave in 3 minutes and they would come out just like they would if they were made on a stove. It was cheap and so I decided to try it. OH MAN! This is the way to eat noodles. I had bought two packs of two bowls and ended up giving them to a few of my co-workers who now love these things. DEFINITELY A GREAT PURCHASE. Followed the directions exactly and got perfect results. I am going to recommend this to new sailors when they ask what they should bring on a deployment lol.”
10. A Memory Foam Mattress Topper That Fits your Dorm Bed
Unless you are paying for top-notch accommodation, your dorm room bed will most likely not be the most comfortable you’ve ever slept in. But you can still feel like you’re sleeping in a 5-star hotel with this memory foam mattress topper. It even fits a Twin XL (which is the typical size of a college dormitory bed). The topper has 2 inches of memory foam, and is textured in 5 different zones to reduce pressure on your body and give you a super-restful sleep. It’s also infused with lavender!
Price: $39.99
Best Review: “bought this over the summer for my dorm and I didn’t open it until move in day, expanded perfectly in a few hours & still feels like the first day. took a little time to get used to it but this mattress topper does not dip or bend just where you sit/sleep a lot, it stays super even. it’s really comfortable and the smell is great! all my friends love my bed a lot because of it. it seems small but it makes a big difference! highly recommend and the price is super worth it, first semester is over and it’s still great!”
