College packing tips

It's that time of the year again and college students are moving into their dorms. As a student leaving home for the first time you may not know exactly what to pack and where to start the moving process. Well, one very important thing you should consider is asking your parents, siblings, or friends who are/have already been in college to give you some advice and help. We will also look into some of the most important college packing tips.

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Planning and making checklists once you start getting ready for the move or before buying anything is highly recommended. It will give you a sense of relief and following a plan makes everything a little stress-free.

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‍Wash and pack clothes before you go

‍Having clean clothes when you get to your college dorm is the best thing you could do for yourself. It will make things easier for you before you settle and get familiar with where the laundromat is. This is especially important to note if this is your first year of college. You may not know where everything is or you may not know how to get around doing laundry and other stuff so having clean and ironed clothes is a good idea.

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‍Label all boxes

‍Once you start packing, make sure you have enough supplies, and markers or labels for your boxes. This will make things easier when unpacking. Don’t mix up items in all boxes, pack clothes and utensils in separate boxes, etc.

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‍Take all cleaning items

‍Like you would clean your bedroom at home, you'll also be responsible for cleaning your dorm room. Buy cleaning products to last you for at least the first 2 months. If you aren’t sure what to buy, ask your parents or a friend for help. If you can get a small vacuum in addition to your cleaning supplies, that would be great.

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‍Use storage bins

‍If you’d rather not use boxes for packing or if you have storage bins at home that aren't used, take them and pack your clothes in them. The good thing about this is you can use the storage bins to store non-perishables, clothes, or other things once you're in your dorm. This is a great way to reuse and save some money. If you don’t have enough space in your dorm room though. You could use boxes while packing and throw them in the recycling bin.

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‍Use clothes and socks to cushion items in boxes

If you need cushioning for your items, you can use socks, jackets, and other clothing for cushioning. This saves you a lot of money and you get to literally “kill 2 birds with 1 stone” so use this hack.

Also, don’t pack clothes you haven’t worn in a long time because you probably won’t wear them again, so save yourself space. Only pack seasonal clothes so you don’t get overwhelmed. When you go home for holidays you can take more clothes for the current season or as needed.

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‍Pack toiletries

‍Don’t forget this important thing to take with you. Pack your toiletries like shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, etc. Toiletries don’t come free in your dorm so make sure you are stocked up. Pack enough to last for at least the first 2-3 months.

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‍Laundry supplies

‍Like toiletries, you need laundry supplies so you can do your laundry. Dorms don't offer laundry supplies and though they may be sold on campus, it’s better to bring your own. As much as you are going to pack clean clothes, you still need to pack detergent.

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‍Shower shoes

‍This is mostly a hygiene issue. You don't want to end up with athlete's feet and other viruses, fungi, or bacteria from the shower as public showers harbor lots of germs. Always prepare yourself as you’ll be sharing showers with other students. Buy shoes that you’ll only use in the shower. Keep this in a separate space in your dorm room so you don’t get it mixed up with other shoes.

‍PRO TIP: Make sure to wash your shower shoes at least once a week.

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Food

‍Stock up on food. Buy food that you enjoy and not food that you have no idea how to prepare. Also, avoid buying too much food. If you already have a refrigerator, make sure you buy food that will be enough for you. Note that you'll have a roommate so make space for them too.

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‍Mini tool kit

‍Buy yourself a small basic tool kit to have handy. You never know when you might need it. This is great if something breaks and isn’t complicated to fix and you could do it yourself. Also, tool kits are great if you have any items to assemble.

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‍Water bottle

‍Always, always have a water bottle with you. Buy 2 so you have an extra in case you lose 1. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Having a water bottle with you will help encourage drinking water.

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‍Kitchenware

‍Take a few kitchenware items with you. This is not provided so have enough for you and your roommate. Don’t buy too much though as your dorm isn’t big enough to store extra cutlery and utensils.

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‍In Summary

‍Going to college is both fun and challenging. There’s a lot that goes into the packing and eventually moving in. You may be assigned a roommate to share your dorm room with and will most probably meet or at least be in contact with your roommate before both of you move in. This is a great way to make friends. Talk to your roommate about what you’re bringing and what they are planning on bringing so you don’t bring the same stuff and maybe you can share items.

Ask your roommate if they’re planning on bringing any big items like a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, TV, etc. If at any point you forget something from home, you can ask your parents to ship it to you.

Take this experience in and have fun during the process. Remember that this is the first step to being independent. Ask for help and make friends. Make your dorm room a home. Personalize it to your (and your roommate's) comfort.

Capital city movers can help with your move to your dorm. We offer a wide variety of services. Call us at (718) 619 4881 for a FREE QUOTE and visit our website for more information.