College Dorm Essentials

Presto kitchen kettle multi-cooker ™- The presto kitchen kettle multi-cooker ™ is fantastic! I was so glad that I had in my dorm because I wasn't a fan of the on campus dining options and this cooker is very user friendly. You will want to check with your resident assistant before operating it in your room to make sure it's allowed. It’s ideal for a dorm that doesn't have a stove top . I didn't enjoy walking to the community kitchen with all of my supplies and sometimes the stove was already being used. 

The Presto kitchen kettle multi-cooker™ is extremely versatile. You can boil pasta, rice, or easily steam a veggie. I have also used my presto multi-cooker ™ as a deep fryer by heating up some vegetable oil. The kettle comes with a basket so you can easily fry up your own french fries or onion rings! It features a non-stick surface both inside and out making clean-up a cinch. You can completely immerse the body of the cooker in a sink full of water as long as you remove the temperature dial, it is dish washer safe as well.  I love the temperature control dial because you can precisely adjust according to what you are cooking unlike the limited options on a crock pot. This was great for when I got tired of eating at the cafeteria every day. Presto ™ even sells a cook book of recipes for the multi cooker if you need some extra inspiration. My favorite recipe of all time to cook with my kettle  is a family recipe called Roast beef with noodles. 

Computer router- I went off to college without a router because our dorm had wireless Internet available for the residents. Unfortunately my room was a dead spot so if I needed to access the Internet I would have to go to the library across campus.  Personally I am more comfortable doing homework and studying in my room, so it was essential for me to get a router. Once I had a router I could study with privacy in the comfort of my own room and didn't have to walk to the library at night.  It also helps the speed of your Internet because everyone is trying to use the school’s wifi at the same time.

Memory foam mattress pad- Dorm room beds are uncomfortable! Most likely they are several years old and not the best quality. I had many restless nights until I invested in one of these and sleep is definitely essential to a college student. You don't want to be tossing and turning all night if you have to get up early for an exam. Check with your housing complex for the size of your bed because in my room I had a twin extra long mattress and bedding is a little harder to find for that size. Unfortunately I don't have a picture because I gave my mattress pad to a friend when I moved out of my dorm.

Mini refrigerator- I lived in a dorm with three other girls and we had a full sized refrigerator in our shared kitchen. With each of us having our own full set of groceries such as milk, eggs, and butter there usually wasn't much space for anything else. I decided to get my own mini refrigerator to store the food that wouldn't fit in the main fridge or that I didn't want to share.
I would highly recommend purchasing a mini fridge if you don't have a community fridge because you will need a place to store snacks and drinks. No one likes drinking a warm soda in the summer. The freezer is even big enough for a few small containers of ice cream for when you get a sweet tooth. My fiance likes to keep his next to his desk to store his favorite drinks.

Sentry Safe ™ - A small safe is great for storing any important documents such as: your social security card, car title, checkbook ect. Especially if you are sharing a room, you don’t want your roommates  to have access to your personal documents. The safe is fire proof and water proof to protect your valuables during  natural disasters. I love my Sentry Safe ™ because it's very easy to open and there is lots of space for all of your valuables. It features a carrying handle which makes it easy to move and it is small enough to store under your bed or in the closet. They are also very affordable. I highly recommend taking one of these with you to college.  

Brita Water filter ™ - I am a very big water drinker. I try to consume at least eight cups a day and for awhile I was purchasing disposable water bottles for use in my college dorm. This takes up a lot of valuable storage space in your already small room and all of those disposable bottle can start to add up in price. I suggest purchasing a reusable bottle and a Brita water filter™ . I personally don’t like drinking tap water, but didn't have space for all the disposable water bottles or a way to get to the store to purchase a new case every couple of weeks. The Brita water filter ™ filters water quickly and you will have the luxury of clear, clean water versus the hard water from the tap. The Brita water filter ™ has a percentage timer on lid to let you know when the filter needs replaced. My filter usually lasts about three months and they are quick and easy to change out.

Tide Pods ™ - Tide pods ™ were my life saver when I lived in a dorm and had to go to the laundry room to wash my clothes. You are already carrying a full basket of laundry, why make your life harder by carrying a full bottle of liquid detergent? I really struggled with carrying an over flowing basket and a heavy bottle of detergent across campus. And once I finally made it from my dorm to the laundry room I would have to unlock the door with my student ID and get in with all of my stuff before the door locked again. I never knew how much of the liquid to measure out and I always made a mess while pouring it from the cup.I wasted a lot of detergent with all of the spills and then I would have to wipe up the washer and floor. With Tide Pods ™ you can just take one with you, place it in the drum of the washer, load your clothes on top, and choose your settings. No measuring and no mess. The Tide Pods ™ are gel packs and are designed to dissolve in all temperatures. I also liked that I could take a few pods with me if I was doing multiple loads of laundry and hide them under the clothes in my basket. My community laundry room had a lot of thefts of laundry supplies so you would have to carry your detergent back to your room in between loads if you didn't want it to get stolen. Tide pods ™ are great because each individual pod contains detergent, stain remover, and fabric brighter. Just imagine how much easier it would be to carry a single tide pod as opposed to your liquid detergent, stain remover, and fabric brightener. Tide pods ™ come in an array of scents including: Spring Meadow, Mystic Forrest, Ocean Mist, and Free and Gentle.