The Ultimate College Essentials Checklist

Make sure you have everything you need to settle into the dorms this semester with Blain’s Farm & Fleet’s list of college essentials.

If you’re going off to college for the first time, it can be hard to know what you need to bring with you. Moving out of your parent’s house and going to a new school is a big transition.

You’ll want to make sure you arrive to campus armed with all the college essentials. This list will ensure that you have everything you need to succeed in the dorms and in class throughout the school year.

Clothing

A challenge that a lot of college students face is laundry. Whether you intend to do your own or bring a laundry basket full of dirty clothes to your parent’s house to wash every weekend, you don’t want to run out of clothes between washings.

This list is intended to give you ideas. Depending on where you’re going to school and the time of year, you may not need them all. Here are some college essential clothing pieces:

• Underwear – a few weeks’ worth, if you don’t plan on doing laundry every week
• Socks
• Clothes and shoes for the current season – and the one after, depending on what semester it is
• Raincoat and boots – in case of rain
• Winter coat or fall jacket – in case of a cold snap
• Hat and gloves or mittens – if you’re going to school somewhere cold
• Pajamas – you may want some long sleeves and some short sleeves
• Dress clothes (with shoes) – have at least one set for presentations and other formal events
• Bathing suit – if you plan on going swimming at all
• Bathrobe and flip flops/shower shoes – for the dorm showers
• Pair of running shoes – for sports, working out, or just walking around campus
• Pair of hiking boots or winter boots – for walking to class in snowy or icy conditions
• Belts

Personal Hygiene

An obvious but easy-to-forget part of the college essentials are personal care items. Regardless of gender, here are some personal care essentials:

• Toiletries bag – for carrying personal care items to and from the dorm showers
• Towels – a few for the shower, your face, hands, and the beach
• Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
• Lotion
• Face wash
• Toothbrush, dental floss, mouthwash, and toothpaste
• Hairbrush or comb
• Other hair products – styling gel, mousse, hairspray, etc.
• Antiperspirant or Deodorant
• Shaving Cream and Razor
• Nail clippers

Bedding

There are a lot of college essentials that can make you feel at home in your new dorm room. But none do it better than the right bedding. Here are a few of the bedding must-haves:

• Set of ear plugs – in case your room is facing a busy street, or your roommate snores
• Bed sheets and pillow cases – at least two sets
• Blankets – have a couple of them
• Pillows
• Mattress pad – the dorm beds can be hard

Basic Supplies

There are a lot of basic home supplies you will need for college. Many of them have to do with cleaning and school supplies for keeping in your backpack. The key ones are:

• First aid kit – for the paper cuts of studying and the scrapes of intramural sports
• Hand sanitizer – to keep in your backpack
• Surface spray or disinfectant wipes – good for flu season
• Air freshener
• Laundry detergent and stain remover
• Laundry bag or basket
• Dish soap and a dishpan
• Storage Bins and Organizers – to help maximize the small space
• Hangers
• Backpack
• Sticky notes
• Pens and pencils
• Notebooks
• Binders and folders
• Highlighters
• Permanent markers
• Stapler
• Calculator
• Vitamins
• Dinnerware – this includes a mug, glass, bowl, plate, spoon, knife, and fork that you can use to make your own food. Make sure they’re microwavable.
• Disposable plates and utensils – if there’s nowhere for you to wash your own dishes

Small Appliances and Electronics

Dorm rooms are small. But there are a few appliances small enough to fit in the space that will be lifesavers for you. In this day and age, the dorm room essentials always include machines and electronics. Here are a few that will make your life a lot easier:

• Laptop – don’t forget the power cable
• Cell phone charger
• Batteries – you never know when you might need them
• Microwave and mini fridge – the bread and butter of dorm living
• Small slow cooker, pizza cooker, or air fryer – to make some hot meals like back home
• USB flash drive – maybe two since they tend to get lost easily
• Alarm clock – to help you get to class on time
• Coffee maker – to help you get started in the morning
• Hand vacuum cleaner – to clean up around the room
• Headphones or earbuds – to listen to podcasts and online class lectures

It’s also important to remember to bring your ID, driver’s license, and debit or credit cards. If you are going to travel for spring break, you’ll also need your passport.

For more tips and advice, visit our Life Events Blog.