Congratulations, you made it through room selection! But now the school year is approaching, and you don’t know whether or not you should bring a full-size vacuum, who is responsible for the Keurig, or if you should bring your whole mug collection. Worry not, with this guide on how to manage moving into a suite, you will get a list of things you may or may not need, as well as a downloadable spreadsheet to help you and your friends figure out who is doing what, a shopping list for those items you may need to restock every once in a while, and a chore chart template!
1.) Brita and Brita Filters
Some people find that at college the water is not to their liking. While all schools follow strict guidelines for their tap water, you may find it useful to purchase a Brita. A Brita is a portable water filtering pitcher that is easy to use, and it is also easy to change the filter, which you should do every once in a while. While I personally don’t mind drinking the tap water, I do have friends that swear by their Brita’s, so it’s up to you if that’s something you want to bring!
2.) Coffee pot/Keurig/Tea Kettle
Depending on your dorm set-up you may have a stove or may be reliant on electric appliances. Whatever the case, make sure you have the equipment you need to stay hydrated (read: caffeinated). For those of you like myself, that do not have a stove but are avid tea drinkers, I would recommend getting an electric tea kettle! You can find a relatively inexpensive one (under $20) with retailers like Target and Amazon. Not to mention, you could also make simple soups with boiled water! One final note is that no matter which appliance you have, make sure everyone in your room knows how to use it and clean it. I would recommend a ‘you use you clean’ policy for anything like this, including dishes!
3.) Trash Cans
Easy to overlook, trash cans for the common space/kitchen and bathrooms are a must! It would be so annoying to have to go to your bedroom every time you needed to throw something out, so make sure someone brings a trashcan (and trash bags!) I would recommend putting the trashcans on a chore chart, just so nothing is sitting there for too long, especially if food is being thrown out!
4.) Microwave/Fridge
Some schools offer a rental program for microwaves and mini-fridges, but sometimes people prefer to bring their own. Because these are likely to be shared, unless someone had one from a previous year or had one passed down, I would recommend splitting the cost. It is also important to share cleaning of both, because no one wants someone else’s expired food taking up room! This is definitely something for the chore chart!
5.) Dish stuff
Yay, you finally have a sink in your room to wash your dishes! But wait, what dishes will I have?! As dishes are something that you may want to share or keep separate, this is very important to discuss with everyone. Make sure to remember silverware and cups or mugs too! It may be helpful to have one person bring all the plates and silverware, while everyone individually brings mugs – just figure out what works for you, and likewise figure out if everyone will clean their own dishes or if it will be a chore for one person. It is also important to remember a drying rack, dish soap, and a sponge or brush to help you scrub, so make sure to coordinate that as well!
6.) Hand Soap and Hand Sanitizer
This one is pretty simple! I would recommend hand soap at each sink (including the kitchen sink), and to have a large communal bottle of hand sanitizer in the common room so that it is available to everyone, including visitors! Just remember to restock as needed.
7.) Couch covers
Couch covers are a great idea for a communal space because they are easy to clean! They keep the furniture safe, and can simply be washed in a washing machine when dirty, which is something that cannot be said for a couch cushion. Basic couch covers can go for under $20, so they are pretty budget friendly, especially if everyone chips in!
8.) Bath Mats
Unless you are planning on wearing flip-flops in the shower, a bath mat is something that your bathroom needs! This is an easy one because anyone can bring a bath mat, and if it needs cleaning, it can just be thrown in with the next person washing their sheets! I would recommend each bathroom having two bathmats, in case one is in the laundry when someone needs to shower. It is a simple rotation, and the clean one can be hung in the bathroom or folded on the back of the toilet until it is needed!
9.) Vacuum(s)
Freshman year, my roommate and I had a small hand-held vacuum and kept our floor clean with that, but in a suite (mine will have 8 people), it may be more realistic to get a full sized vacuum. This is something to discuss with your roommates, so one person isn’t responsible for buying the vacuum and microwave, while someone else is solely responsible for stocking up on dish soap. If someone has an extra vacuum in their house, great, but if not, this might be one to split the cost of. It also makes sense for someone to bring a handheld vacuum too though, just in case you spill crumbs on the couch or your bed!
10.) Iron (and ironing board) or Steamer
For those of us that do not like walking around in wrinkled clothing, an iron or steamer could be a lifesaver. Both electric irons and portable steamers sell for under $20, and both are user friendly! I would consider whether you’d have an an ironing board or open space to lay an item on (for ironing) versus just holding a hanger up (for a steamer). Personally, I prefer a steamer, but to each their own!
11.) Toilet Paper and Paper Towels
Simple enough, but a word of advice – ALWAYS have extra. You do NOT want to run out of toilet paper, so I would recommend always putting it on your shopping list, so it become a habit to think about before going to the grocery store or campus mini-mart.
12.) Cleaning supplies
This is a rather long list, but it includes sanitizing (Lysol/Clorox) wipes, a toilet brush, sponges, and bleach or a cleaning spray for the sink, toilet, and shower. Some of this stuff can be shared if your room has multiple bathrooms, but make sure to coordinate who is bringing what, and make sure to restock every once in a while! Also, MAKE SURE to keep the toilet sponge separate from the sink and shower sponges! I would recommend color coordinating!
13.) Coat hooks
One great part about a suite or apartment is that there is a coat closet, but it may also be useful to hang coat hooks near the door, so your main winter coat is always easy to access. Personally I keep my giant coat on a hook, while I’ll keep my lighter coats in my own room or in the coat closet, just so I won’t have to rifle through six other black coats in a dark closet while making sure to not knock over the vacuum when I’m running late!
14.) TV or Projector
While a TV is more of a luxury item, if you plan on having friends over or planning movie nights, it may be a must. This is definitely something to check in with your roommates about, so that everyone can chip in if needed. A great alternative is a projector, so if you usually stream, you don’t have to worry about connecting to a TV provider. It is also useful because no one wants someone knocking their TV over by accident, and a projector may be easier to put away when not in use.
In case you want to stay extra-organized, here is my spreadsheet template to help with who’s bringing what. Just share it with everyone and have them fill out their name. Delete what you don’t want, add more rows if necessary, and make sure each bathroom has everything it needs! I also included the beginning of a shopping list so you would remember to restock, as well as a chore chart example and template to help you and your roommates stay organized. The chore chart is set for 8 people automatically, but just make a copy and then adjust to your number of roommates and your room’s necessary chores as needed!
Packing/Organizing Spreadsheet
Restock Shopping List
Chore Chart Example
Chore Chart Template
Leann I Am 