Dorm items your college freshman didn't use

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine definitely used the box of condoms I sent him up with, and probably many more after that. Better than a baby in nine months.

Glad they were used vs going without

Are you sure he wasn’t supplying them to others, though? Rather than using them all himself

[Anonymous]

Summary: It totally depends on the kid and the dorm they live in. Start with only the bare basics and have Amazon deliver anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:storage ottoman/cubes like this
https://www.amazon.com/SONGMICS-Folding-Storage-Ottoman-ULSF028G01/dp/B09ZY77T8D/ref=asc_df_B09ZY77T8D/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693770001584&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15946500683365930915&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007569&hvtargid=pla-2043623406192&psc=1&mcid=fa2939a497b53ee382217897b5622aa3&gad_source=1

Didn't even take it out of the box.

One thing I was surprised that they DID use? A little stick vacuum! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bissell-3-in-1-Lightweight-Corded-Stick-Vacuum-2030/55566580?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=1825&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227755566580_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-2225087348827:pla-394283752452&wl5=9007569&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=55566580&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVIqJ93dx8hz-B40oBfHuG28wbasWhywaiyEZCL5znNI4yBU25GNJsxoCQk8QAvD_BwE
All three of my kids actually vacuumed!

The kids use the storage ottomans to hide booze during dorm inspections and to get up onto raised beds. My kids all used the ottomans.

Yup! During "dorm inspections", the officials cannot open anything that is not "school property". So storage ottomans are perfect for that

When I was in college the rule was that they could not look under any sheets (could only visually inspect), so people would just throw their blanket over their illegal microwave. The college bought us beer three nights a week so we didn’t really bother hiding alcohol. Until their lawyers told them they could lose all federal funding if they kept doing that. Sad days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:storage ottoman/cubes like this
https://www.amazon.com/SONGMICS-Folding-Storage-Ottoman-ULSF028G01/dp/B09ZY77T8D/ref=asc_df_B09ZY77T8D/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693770001584&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15946500683365930915&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007569&hvtargid=pla-2043623406192&psc=1&mcid=fa2939a497b53ee382217897b5622aa3&gad_source=1

Didn't even take it out of the box.

One thing I was surprised that they DID use? A little stick vacuum! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bissell-3-in-1-Lightweight-Corded-Stick-Vacuum-2030/55566580?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=1825&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227755566580_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-2225087348827:pla-394283752452&wl5=9007569&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=55566580&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVIqJ93dx8hz-B40oBfHuG28wbasWhywaiyEZCL5znNI4yBU25GNJsxoCQk8QAvD_BwE
All three of my kids actually vacuumed!

The kids use the storage ottomans to hide booze during dorm inspections and to get up onto raised beds. My kids all used the ottomans.

Yup! During "dorm inspections", the officials cannot open anything that is not "school property". So storage ottomans are perfect for that

When I was in college the rule was that they could not look under any sheets (could only visually inspect), so people would just throw their blanket over their illegal microwave. The college bought us beer three nights a week so we didn’t really bother hiding alcohol. Until their lawyers told them they could lose all federal funding if they kept doing that. Sad days.

What school?

[Anonymous]

So glad I went to a school that didn't have "dorm inspections" or RAs and treated us like adults (so we just...acted like adults). People rise to expectations.

[Anonymous]

Didn't use extra set of sheets, shower caddy, desk light, rug got really dirty and they tossed it out because it wasn't washable.

[Anonymous]

We never had dorm inspections at my college in the 90s. Are they common now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summary: It totally depends on the kid and the dorm they live in. Start with only the bare basics and have Amazon deliver anything else.

I agree not to go overboard, but at my DC's school the mail room/Amazon lockers were absolutely slammed the first month or so, and I wouldn't count on your kid being able to get anything they need quickly. If you're driving them to school, it worked well for us to move in and then make a Target run for the additional things they needed (as I recall -- more power strips, bean bag chair, shelving and stool to access the lofted bed). This worked because DC was in a big city with about 5 Targets within driving distance. I've heard the stores in the small college towns get really picked over quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extra set of sheets.

This. Dd didn't use the extra set of sheets in 4 years.

+2 Most kids wash the sheets and put them back on the bed. It's not like you can be sleeping while you are washing your sheets anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extra set of sheets.

This. Dd didn't use the extra set of sheets in 4 years.

+2 Most kids wash the sheets and put them back on the bed. It's not like you can be sleeping while you are washing your sheets anyway.

Most kids don’t wash the sheets at all. Let’s be honest here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:storage ottoman/cubes like this
https://www.amazon.com/SONGMICS-Folding-Storage-Ottoman-ULSF028G01/dp/B09ZY77T8D/ref=asc_df_B09ZY77T8D/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693770001584&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15946500683365930915&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007569&hvtargid=pla-2043623406192&psc=1&mcid=fa2939a497b53ee382217897b5622aa3&gad_source=1

Didn't even take it out of the box.

One thing I was surprised that they DID use? A little stick vacuum! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bissell-3-in-1-Lightweight-Corded-Stick-Vacuum-2030/55566580?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=1825&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227755566580_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-2225087348827:pla-394283752452&wl5=9007569&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=55566580&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVIqJ93dx8hz-B40oBfHuG28wbasWhywaiyEZCL5znNI4yBU25GNJsxoCQk8QAvD_BwE
All three of my kids actually vacuumed!

The kids use the storage ottomans to hide booze during dorm inspections and to get up onto raised beds. My kids all used the ottomans.

Yup! During "dorm inspections", the officials cannot open anything that is not "school property". So storage ottomans are perfect for that

When I was in college the rule was that they could not look under any sheets (could only visually inspect), so people would just throw their blanket over their illegal microwave. The college bought us beer three nights a week so we didn’t really bother hiding alcohol. Until their lawyers told them they could lose all federal funding if they kept doing that. Sad days.

Our rule was they couldn't pull back the closet "drape"/covering. So when inspections were scheduled, you put the microwave in your closet (and under a blanket for extra safety). Alcohol flowed freely at "wed night dorm munchies" so while you were supposed to be 21+, nobody was, as most people lived off campus by senior year and many by junior year. So most in dorms were underaged

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Summary: It totally depends on the kid and the dorm they live in. Start with only the bare basics and have Amazon deliver anything else.

I agree not to go overboard, but at my DC's school the mail room/Amazon lockers were absolutely slammed the first month or so, and I wouldn't count on your kid being able to get anything they need quickly. If you're driving them to school, it worked well for us to move in and then make a Target run for the additional things they needed (as I recall -- more power strips, bean bag chair, shelving and stool to access the lofted bed). This worked because DC was in a big city with about 5 Targets within driving distance. I've heard the stores in the small college towns get really picked over quickly.

+1 agreed, and also at my DC's college, all packages were sent to a central mail room, NOT the dorm itself. And for DC, said mail room happened to be a bit of a haul from his dorm. Fine for smaller stuff, but it would not have worked well to ship something like a mini fridge or an area rug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Summary: It totally depends on the kid and the dorm they live in. Start with only the bare basics and have Amazon deliver anything else.

I agree not to go overboard, but at my DC's school the mail room/Amazon lockers were absolutely slammed the first month or so, and I wouldn't count on your kid being able to get anything they need quickly. If you're driving them to school, it worked well for us to move in and then make a Target run for the additional things they needed (as I recall -- more power strips, bean bag chair, shelving and stool to access the lofted bed). This worked because DC was in a big city with about 5 Targets within driving distance. I've heard the stores in the small college towns get really picked over quickly.

+1 agreed, and also at my DC's college, all packages were sent to a central mail room, NOT the dorm itself. And for DC, said mail room happened to be a bit of a haul from his dorm. Fine for smaller stuff, but it would not have worked well to ship something like a mini fridge or an area rug.

Shipping things that were needed right away was not an option or anything big. There was one central mail receiving location for several dorms - whatever we sent - he had to wait to be notified - find time between classes to pick it up then bring it back to his dorm. We brought what we could, purchased bigger items during move in and then only sent smaller things mid-way through the semester. But less is more in all cases - dorm rooms are not big, they will acquire more clothing through the year and it forces them to do laundry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:coffee maker, cleaning supplies, door stop

This is the most Boomer list of college “supplies” I have ever seen. Coffee maker and door stop? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Summary: It totally depends on the kid and the dorm they live in. Start with only the bare basics and have Amazon deliver anything else.

I agree not to go overboard, but at my DC's school the mail room/Amazon lockers were absolutely slammed the first month or so, and I wouldn't count on your kid being able to get anything they need quickly. If you're driving them to school, it worked well for us to move in and then make a Target run for the additional things they needed (as I recall -- more power strips, bean bag chair, shelving and stool to access the lofted bed). This worked because DC was in a big city with about 5 Targets within driving distance. I've heard the stores in the small college towns get really picked over quickly.

I once accidentally went to the College Park IKEA on UMD’s move-in weekend. Now I always check the school calendar before I go to IKEA in August.