College Dorm Checklist | What to pack for college!

Hey guys, it's Joi here, and today's video will be the kickoff of my back to school and get ready for college series. If you are going back to college or starting your first year of college and you want to consume all of this great college content, make sure you hit that subscribe button and thumbs up this video. Also, leave a video suggestion in the comments below to let me know what you guys want to see next.

Today we're going to be talking about college dorm essentials, especially for first-year college students. If you don't know what you need for your dorm or don't know where to start shopping, I have an awesome guide for you that's on my blog. It's the best college dorm shopping list for freshmen.

Bedding

The first thing I have on the checklist is your bedding. When you get to college, most college beds are size twin XL, so make sure you remember that when you're shopping for sheets or comforters to get the correct size. Get two sets of sheets, so you can have one on your bed when you're washing the other. You also want to have a comforter if the room gets cold. Even though I'm in LA and I go to USC, I still use my comforter because it gets pretty cold with air conditioning and during the wintertime. You're also going to need pillows. I also recommend that you get a memory foam mattress topper because the beds in dorms are hard. The last thing you're going to need for your bed is a mattress cover. It prevents bedbugs, allergies, etc., from creeping in.

Decor

Next are general decor items. Items like decorative pillows, tapestries to cover your walls (college walls are so boring), and a wall clock are great aesthetics. You're also going to want a rug, especially since many floors in college are hardwoods. Additionally, I have a mirror with a light around it. This helps me get ready when my roommate is sleeping and can't turn the big light on. That's a must, especially if you put on makeup in the morning. My next recommendation is a desk lamp. A desk lamp is awesome if you are working during the night time and don't want to have the big light. Once again, you have to be considerate of your roommates.

Laundry

The next category I have here is laundry. If you do not know how to do laundry, get your mom to teach you before you get to college. I recommend getting Tide pods because it makes laundry so much easier and cleaner. I throw a couple of them in the washer, and I'm good, depending on the load size. You can get them in bulk on Amazon. It should last you the whole full year. Then you're going to need a laundry basket because, most likely, you're going to have to leave your dorm to go to the laundry room. I had one basket for white towels and sheets, and then I have one for colors. I also have an iron and an ironing mat. You never know when you're going to need an iron, especially if you're not a big iron person. But if you go to career fairs, have interviews, or special events on campus, you're going to need to iron your clothes. You don't necessarily have to get an ironing board. They have ironing mats, and I use my bed surface. And if you're against ironing, you can bring de-wrinkle spray.

Cleaning supplies

So the least favorite category is cleaning supplies. You're going to need cleaning supplies to make sure your room is tidy. A mini vacuum or a hand-vacuum is a must. My roommates used to have a mini vacuum, which was so convenient. Even though most dorms have community vacuums, ours was always clogged or didn't work. They have cheap ones for $20 on Amazon. The next essential product is Lysol wipes. Lysol wipes are the GOAT when it comes to these wiping surfaces, like your desk, bathroom, and doorknobs. You can't bring candles in dorms, but you can get scented products to make your room smell good. Lastly, I have a broom. If you don't get a vacuum, get a broom or Swifter.

Electronics

The next category is electronics. In your dorm, there's going to be a lot of electronics that you might need. Maybe you can talk with your roommates to see if you can work it out. One person gets some items or partially split them up. I had a printer in my room, and I got one for about $40 on sale. It saved my life when I forget to print documents before class. Sometimes the community printers at the library have long lines, or they're don't work. Get some ink for the printer also well. I have some suggestions for printers under $50 on the list. I also have a Bluetooth speaker. I'm obsessed with music, and I listen to it all the time. I have one by JBL. Some people use Beats Pill, but I recommend the JBL one.

Shower and Toiletries

Next, we have the shower and toiletries category. Whether you have a community bathroom or your own bathroom, there are certain things that you're just going to need. A shower caddy to carry your items like shampoo, body washes, and shower towels is a must-have. For shower shoes, you're just going to need flip flops or slides. I also suggest purchasing a robe.

Food and Appliances

The next category is food and appliances. The first appliance is a mini-fridge. My freshman dorm came with a mini-fridge and microwave. But my sophomore dorm did not. Find out if you have a microwave because that is going to save your life. Next is a Brita water filter. Brita water filters are great because you can refill them and put them in your mini-fridge. You won't have to walk to the water fountain or buy bottles of water all the time. The next item I have is a Keurig. If you're a coffee drinker or tea drinker and want to save money by not going to Starbucks every day, invest in a Keurig. Also, have forks, spoons, knives, bowls, plates handy. You can buy reusable plastic ones that you can wash and use for the year. And lastly, a coffee mug when you're drinking your coffee.

Miscellaneous

The last category is the miscellaneous section. You're going to need organizational bens, and you're going to need hangers and Command strips for hanging things up. And the last section is transportation. This doesn't necessarily fit in with your dorm. But depending on how large your campus is, you might want to invest in a skateboard, penny board, or bicycle. And that completes my college dorm essentials list. Make sure you look at the links down below for the complete list. Thanks for watching! Bye.