Lava lamp. Check. Life-size poster of John Stamos. Check. Six-month supply of Red Vines. Check.
If your back-to-school college shopping list looks something like the one above, you may still have some packing to do.
In addition to beaded curtains and blow-up furniture, back-to-school shopping lists should include linens, storage, kitchen items and other essentials. Whether this is your first, third or ninth year of college, you can deck out your dorm with everything you need to succeed with this complete back-to-school shopping list. Here’s what to buy for your dorm room.
[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]
Linens and laundry. Before choosing bedding, double-check mattress size with your school. College dorms often have extra-long twin beds that standard twin sheets may not fit. Extra-long twin bed mattresses are typically 39 inches by 80 inches.
— Two sets of extra-long twin sheets with pillow cases
— One extra-long twin comforter set
— Twin extra-long duvet cover
— Throw blanket
— Pillows
— Back study pillow
— Bedbug protective mattress cover
— Mattress pad
— Three sets of bath, hand and face towels
— Lint brush
— Clothes hangers
— Laundry bag
— Small sewing kit
— Laundry detergent
— Fabric softener
— Stain remover
— Ironing board
Cooking and eating. Find out what items are provided in the dorms before buying cooking gear. Your college dorm or common room might come equipped with a fridge, microwave or stovetop. Consider coordinating purchases with your roommate, so you don’t buy two of the same things unnecessarily.
— Minifridge
— Microwave
— Auto shut-off coffee maker
— Blender
— Microwaveable cookware
— Microwavable, nonbreakable dorm plates and bowls
— Eating utensils set with at least two sets of forks, knives and spoons
— Nonbreakable cups
— Coffee mugs
— Insulated travel mug
— Reusable water bottles
— Water filter pitcher
— Tupperware
— Freezer bags
— Can opener
— Strainer
— Cutting knife
— Measuring cup
— Measuring spoons
— Bag clips
— Coffee and coffee filters
Bathroom supplies. If you have an en suite bathroom, consider purchasing these essentials.
— Bath mat
— No-slip shower mat
— Shower curtain
— Shower rings
— Shower caddy
— Loofah
— Wash cloths
— Air freshener
— Toothbrush stand
— Hand soap
— Toilet paper
Storage and room essentials. Extra storage — particularly under-the-bed-storage — is handy in college dorms, where space is tight. Don’t expect to be provided with storage beyond a couple of dresser drawers.
— Desk lamp
— Light bulbs
— Batteries
— Extension cord
— Fan
— Wall hooks
— Shoe caddy
— Under-the-bed storage bins
— Bed risers
— Hanging storage for closet
— Mini dry-erase board
— Lap desk (for studying in bed)
— Adhesive strips for hanging posters, wall art, et cetera
— Thumb tacks
— Ear plugs
— Sleep mask
— Small tool kit
— Area rug
— Yoga mat
— Full-length mirror
— Posters and art
— Photos
Office supplies. Professors may give you a list of required supplies during your opening classes, but it’s advisable to come prepared with the basics.
— Desk drawer organizer
— Three-hole punch
— Stapler and staples
— Tape dispenser and tape
— Binders
— Notebooks
— Loose-leaf paper
— Page tabs
— Labels
— Printer paper
— Printer ink
— Index cards
— Folders
— Sticky notes
— Highlighters
— Pens
— Pencil case
— Pen/pencil holder
— Sharpies
— Colored pencils
— Pencil sharpeners
— White-out
— Paper clips
— Calculator
— Planner
— Stamps and envelopes
— Backpack or laptop bag
— Lunch box
[See: 11 Expenses Destroying Your Budget.]
Tech. It wasn’t so long ago that the fanciest electronics students carried were calculators. Today, tech is an integral part of learning. It’s an especially good idea to invest in a quality laptop, as you’ll be doing most of your notetaking, assignments, exams and communicating with teachers and fellow students digitally.
— Laptop
— Keyboard
— Wireless mouse
— Phone chargers
— HDMI cable
— Headphones
— Speakers
— Printer
— TV
Cleaning supplies. You will likely be responsible for cleaning your own dorm room, while common areas are taken care of by the school. If you have an en suite bathroom or kitchen, you can expect to be in charge of keeping these areas clean yourself.
— Rubber gloves
— Dish soap
— Sponges
— Dish towels
— Disinfecting wipes
— Broom and dustpan
— Mini-vacuum
— Trash bags
— Trash bin
— Paper towels
— Toilet brush
— Toilet cleaner
— Glass and window cleaner
— Multipurpose cleaner
Toiletries. Bring along enough toiletries to last throughout the first semester. You don’t want to be forced into buying a toothbrush, shampoo or other supplies at the campus store, where price markups are often high.
— Shampoo
— Conditioner
— Body wash
— Bar soap
— Facial cleanser
— Lotion
— Facial moisturizer
— Toothbrush
— Toothpaste
— Mouthwash
— Floss
— Tweezers
— Nail clippers
— Razors
— Shaving cream
— Deodorant
— Hairbrush
— Blow-dryer
— Hair gel or hairspray
— Sunscreen
— Chapstick
— Tissues
— Q-tips
— Cotton swabs
[See: Do’s and Don’ts of Shopping for Skin Care Products.]
Medical. It’s unlikely that you’ll have a medicine cabinet in your dorm’s bathroom, so build your own in a lightweight, plastic container for daily and emergency needs.
— Ibuprofen or aspirin
— Vitamins
— Antacid
— Cough drops
— Flu and cold medicine
— Prescriptions
— Insect repellent
— Aloe vera
— Bandages
— First-aid kit
Wardrobe and accessories. Of course, wardrobe essentials will vary depending on what part of the country you are located in. If space is an issue, remember that you may have the opportunity to bring additional cold-weather clothing with you after Thanksgiving break.
— Socks
— Underwear
— Pants
— Shirts
— Sweatpants and sweatshirt
— Formal apparel
— Job interview or business attire
— Light jacket
— Heavy coat
— Raincoat or poncho
— Gloves
— Hats
— Scarves
— Pajamas
— Bathrobe
— Slippers
— Shower shoes
— Sneakers
— Rain boots
— Snow boots
— Dress shoes
— Comfortable, everyday shoes
— Swimsuit
— Umbrella
— Luggage
As the adage goes, “He who fails to prepare prepares to fail.” To ensure a comfortable, productive and fun semester, make sure you’re equipped to handle anything college life might throw at you. But if you forget a couple of things, don’t worry too much — that’s what care packages are for.
More from U.S. News
Avoid These Common Pitfalls During the Back-to-School Shopping Trip
10 Things to Know Before You Shop for Back-to-School Supplies
The Ultimate Back-to-College Dorm Room Shopping List originally appeared on usnews.com
