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Heading to college this year? If you’re a list lover, our university checklist is 100% necessary to get your sh*t in order!
There are SO many home decor and cleaning items you’ll need for college or university. And it can be super stressful making sure you have everything you need in the weeks or months prior (especially as the nerves start to kick in!).
So, we’ve created a handy-dandy university checklist covering everything from bedding necessities, storage ideas, cleaning must-haves, and little luxuries to make student life super sweet from the get-go.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR FREE UNIVERSITY CHECKLIST PDF!
The University Checklist You Never Knew You Needed
University Sleep Essentials:
- Duvet cover sets (we recommend a minimum of 2 to make laundry days easy!)
- Fitted sheets (check your mattress size first)
- Pillows
- Duvet
- Mattress protectors & pillow protectors
- Reading pillow
- Mattress topper
- Electric blanket
- Decorative pillows
- Throw blanket
- Folding bedside shelf
Dorm Room Desk Essentials (+ Vanity):
- Portable fan
- Light up mirror
- Laptop stand
- Battery powered desk lamp
Dorm Room Storage Essentials:
- Rollable under-bed storage boxes
- Small & lightweight woven baskets (essential for getting ready in your friend’s dorm!)
- Drawer organisers
- 3 tier drawers
- Door organiser
- Stool with lid (also makes climbing into loft beds way easier!)
- Shoe rack
- Space-saving hangers
College Bathroom Essentials:
- Towels including hand, bath & face
- Portable bathroom caddy
- Bath mat
In case you missed it, we already made a post detailing alllll the most essential, can’t-live-without decor finds for the dorm room section of your university checklist. This includes savvy desk must-haves, bathroom basics, and neat storage hacks.
Read the post here and discover our fave recommendations!
Cleaning Essentials:
Laundry Hamper
There’ll be days – if not weeks – when you’re doing ZERO laundry. And that’s just the way it is when you’re studying and having fun, so don’t stress!
But you’re gonna to need a decent sized laundry hamper to hold all your dirty clothes. We recommend finding one with separate sections to make sorting easier, as well as a lid or some type of closure to keep it tidy.
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Large Clothes Airer
When you finally decide to tackle the mountain of laundry you have, a large clothes airer is not a want, it’s a NEED. *Especially* if you want to avoid paying to use the dryer each time.
One with heaters built-in will be great during the winter months to help clothes dry quicker and avoid being left with a musty, damp smell. But they can be pretty expensive. So, if it’s not within your budget, find one big enough to ensure air can circulate freely around your clothes!
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Antibacterial Wipes
Trust us, whether you’re quickly grabbing a bite before class or you’re cooking up a storm with your roommates, cleaning is ALWAYS the most laborious part of being in the kitchen.
Having antibacterial wipes in your university arsenal is the easiest way to kill bacteria, remove grime, and keep counters looking spotless in seconds. They even work for germ-riddled spaces like the bathroom.
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All Purpose Cloths
We know, this probably isn’t the first thing you’d think to put on your university checklist. But it’s one of those cleaning items you’ll be reaching for on the daily.
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Disinfectant Spray
Super handy to have – this will literally be your cleaning ride or die. Use it to make your bathroom sparkle, your countertops squeaky clean, or remove germs from high-touch points such as door handles (this is a must during Freshers or Orientation Week!).
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Laundry Detergent
Aren’t you glad we added this one to our university checklist? This is normally one of those items most students either forget to pack, or choose to buy as and when they need it. But, buying in bulk beforehand is so much more wallet-friendly!
We like the pods as there’s no guessing how much you need for each load of laundry, but liquid works fine too.
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Dish Soap
If you’re sharing accommodation with other students, this might be one of those things that you all club in to buy together. But it never harms to have a spare bottle for those first few days whilst you’re settling in, and it’s also super handy should you run out unexpectedly.
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Scrub Brush
Believe us when we say… not everyone has the same cleaning standards. If you’re sharing a sink, we always recommend using your own scrub brush to clean your dishes. Trust us on this one.
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Mini Trash Can
It goes without saying, doesn’t it? Keep this in your room to avoid a pile of trash mounting on your desktop, or worse, your floor.
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College Kitchen Essentials:
Stackable Mugs
One crucial tip: store all potentially breakable items inside your dorm room. This way, you can keep your eye on them at all times, while stopping roommates from taking what’s not theirs.
And if you’ve not got space, get savvy. Stackable mugs are your best option if you like having your own mug to drink from!
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TOP TIP: If you’re particularly fussy about the water you drink and want to save money by not buying bottles, a small water filter is a savvy addition to your dorm room setup!
Glasses
Honestly, purchase the bare minimum here. A set of 4 or 6 chunky glasses will be enough to see you through, especially if you often drink from insulated bottles anyway (Stanley, we’re talking about you).
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Plastic Cups
Throwing a party in your dorm? Plastic cups are way easier to clean up and most importantly, do not break!
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Plates & Bowls
Again, there’s zero need to buy a huge set of plates and bowls. In fact, buying them individually (as opposed to in a set) is probably a more wallet-friendly idea.
And you certainly shouldn’t invest in an aesthetic set “just because” – there’s a really good chance they won’t even make it to graduation, so why waste your money?
TOP TIP: If you and all your friends are moving to college or uni this year, it might be more wallet-savvy to buy a large, family-sized collection of plates and bowls and share them out equally!
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Struggling to decide on a decor theme for your dorm? We happen to know a thing or two about university room decor, and we’ve got 5 aesthetic interior styles to copy – read the post here!
Basic Pots & Pans
You know what we’re gonna say? Don’t splash out on a flashy 10-piece set of pots and pans because 1) there’s a high likelihood you’ll never use the majority and 2) it gives roommates another opportunity to wrongly take what’s not theirs!
Think about the types of meals you cook and only buy 3-4 pots and pans at most.
TOP TIP: Stick to one stand-out colour when buying pots and pans. This will make it easy to grab what’s yours in a mess of black or stainless steel cookware!
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Basic Utensil Set
There’s a fabulous reason we haven’t listed every single utensil individually in this university checklist, and that’s because you can find some incredible sets with all the basics included. Easy peasy.
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Chopping Board
Plastic or wooden, you decide. Either way, investing in a chopping board is much safer than cutting corners and chopping food on a slippery plate.
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Baking Trays
Regardless of whether you buy cookware to share with your roommates, it’s always handy to have your own baking trays so you can be in charge of what you cook and when.
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Mini Coffee Machine
Okay, this one won’t be an essential on everyone’s university checklist, but if you’re a coffee lover, it’s certainly one to consider.
Yes, it’s an investment initially. But we guarantee it would cost you more money over the years getting your daily Starbucks, so it totally pays off in the long run.
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Cutlery
Time-wise, it’s tempting to buy plastic cutlery to minimise washing up, right? But money-wise, you’re getting more bang for your buck by simply investing in a basic set of stainless steel cutlery.
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Did you know? There are so many budget-friendly room decor ideas – read our post to find out more!
Bottle Opener
Take note: this is super handy to have whether you drink or not.
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Tupperware
Meal prepping or cooking in bulk? High quality tupperware helps you store leftovers and keeps your food fresher for longer.
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Dish Towels
Dish towels get grotty really quickly. So, having a few stored away means you’ve always got one to hand – even on laundry days.
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Miscellaneous Essentials for University:
Command Hooks
We all know the rules: you can’t drill screws or nails into your dorm room walls. So, command hooks are every student’s decor bestie and one you certainly cannot afford to forget when completing your university checklist.
Whether hanging wall art, string lights, jewellery, or your jacket, this is a genius way to bend the rules and leave ZERO traces.
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Power Extender
Don’t be fooled into thinking your dorm room will have a gazillion plug sockets – it won’t.
A power extender is 100% necessary whether you’re using hair tools at your desk/vanity, charging your laptop in bed, or adding string lights to your walls.
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Low Pile Rug
Wanna make the place feel more homey? Avoid fluffy rugs as they’ll only collect dirt and dust – a low pile alternative like jute is much easier to maintain!
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White Noise Machine
During exam season, sleep is essential. Although not everyone agrees, and you might have roommates that still want to party even when the pressure’s on.
But why be a killjoy and spoil their fun? Just block out any distractions with a white noise machine.
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Mini Fridge
We’ve all heard horror stories about food going “missing” at college or university, haven’t we? Keeping a fridge in your room provides you with a secure place to store your meals, snacks, and drinks. An over-the-fridge organiser is also a lifesaver to keep your non-perishables close by.
TOP TIP: Check if your accommodation allows large electrical items to be kept in your dorm!
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Alarm Clock
Constantly snoozing your iPhone alarm without even realising? Perhaps one of the most underrated essentials on this university checklist, an alarm clock will help you get up on time for those early morning classes.
TOP TIP: Place your alarm on the other side of your room so you actually have to get *out* of bed to turn it off.
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Portable Speaker
If you’re bringing a portable speaker to the pregame, prepare to be the most popular person in the room. Even for focused study sessions, you’ll be grateful you bought a quality speaker!
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