Here’s What NOT to Pack for College

Don’t make these shopping mistakes. These are the items you can leave off your college student’s packing list.

July 25, 2022

By: Amanda Mushro

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Photo By: Ariel Skelley

Items Your College Student Won't Need — And What to Get Instead

Before your teen heads off to college, you’ll want to make sure they have everything they need to to start the school year off right. However, their dorm room can only hold so much stuff. Pretty soon, your college student will find out that with limited room, some of the items they thought they needed were a waste of time, space, and money. So, before you start buying items for their dorms, here’s what NOT to buy along with the items you should purchase instead.

Skip Bulky Luggage and Get Moving Bags

These bags are super versatile and they easily fold up for storage until needed. Between move-in day, breaks at home, and move-out day, these bags will come in handy.

BUY IT: Amazon, $38.95

Skip Tons of Decorative Pillows and Get a "Husband Pillow"

Their bed will be small and too many decorative pillows will just get in the way — and end up on the floor. Instead, grab a "husband pillow," so they can read and study in bed.

BUY IT: Amazon, $37.99

Skip Plastic Shower Caddy and Get a Mesh Caddy

The plastic caddy will get gross and moldy pretty quickly. Plus, they can be bulky and hard to store. A mesh caddy can hold more items and it’ll dry quickly, so they’ll never have to worry about mold and mildew.

BUY IT: Amazon, $12.99

Skip a Brand New Mattress and Add a Mattress Topper

While you want a great mattress for your college student to sleep on at night, the unusual dimensions of the XL twin mattress makes it almost impossible to reuse. Instead, add a great mattress topper to soften up the bed and make it a cozy place to sleep.

BUY IT: Amazon, $74.99

Skip a Box Fan and Get a Clip-On

For a hot dorm room, you would think a box fan would be an asset. However, it brings us back to the space issue. Instead of a giant fan, grab one that clips to their bed or desk, so they’ll have a cool breeze when they sleep or study.

BUY IT: Amazon, $23.99

Skip Multiple Sets of Sheets and Towels and Get One Great Set of Each

Limited closet space means you’ll want to eliminate the extra sets of anything. Your college student will only need one set of sheets and towels and when they do laundry, they can toss those items in. Make sure their sheets are super soft and the towels are super cozy.

BUY IT: Amazon, $34.97 (Set of Sheets)

BUY IT: Amazon, $30.95 (Set of Towels)

Skip the Iron and Ironing Board and Get a Steamer

There’s a good chance an iron and ironing board will never see the light of day once they enter your college student’s dorm room. However, a small steamer will take up less space and it can get all of the wrinkles out of your teen's clothes.

BUY IT: Amazon, $25.49

Skip the TV and Get a Tablet

With so many streaming services, your college student can watch shows on a tablet instead of hauling a TV into their dorm room.

BUY IT: Amazon, $309.00

Skip Bulky Storage Cubes and Use the Space Under the Bed

There are so many storage solutions that can be used in a dorm, but sometimes the space under the bed is ignored. Grab a container that can be used under the bed and save space on the dorm room floor.

BUY IT: Amazon, $30.99

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: How to Make a Dorm Room Feel Like Home, The Coolest Backpacks for the New School Year, 10 Dorm Essentials That’ll Simplify College Life

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