Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
College Shopping List
43
items Things I recommend bringing to college, when you move out, or even just to have on hand wherever you are in life - dorm, health, organization, comfort, etc. Everyone's experience is different, but take a look through your big sister's recommendation...
Sections
6
Medicine Cabinet
Bathroom
For Your Dorm
Tech
Kitchen/Food
Misc.
Medicine Cabinet
Seriously, don't wait to get your flu shot until you catch a cold - be prepped and ready!
Free Flu Shots with Most Insurance – Schedule Your Flu Vaccine at CVS
This is the best sore throat syrup that has ever existed. A scoop in some hot water and it coats your throat with herbs and medicine. It's not delicious - still tastes like medicine, but not in a gross way.
NIN JIOM PEI PA KOA 150ML, Natural Herbal Syrup, Soothing Throat and Respiratory Support
Always good to have on hand before you need it.
Tylenol Extra Strength 500mg Rapid Release 100ct
A multivitamin a day is not only just a good practice to have, but whether this is your freshman or senior year, there's a lot of new stuff your immune system goes through and you gotta watch out for yourself!
DEVA Tiny Tablets Vegan Multivitamin 2-Pack
The second I hear a cough or sniffle in my vicinity, I'm popping one of these. Or every time I go on a plane.
Airborne Citrus Chewable Tablets 116ct Immune Support
You'll never need cold medicine until you are miserable and don't want to go to the store to buy some. It's just best to have some on hand.
Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil Cold & Flu 72ct
Bathroom
This is one of the most useful things I've ever bought. Dorm bathrooms are always humid and never quite dry and not needing to put your shower caddy on the floor is so helpful.
Mesh Shower Caddy Portable for Dorm Room
I trust that you probably have a face wash that you use already, but throwing this face bar in because it's amazing and lasts a very long time
JOESOEF Sulfur Acne Soap, Pharma Grade 100g
Not needing to put your toiletries bag on a counter/floor is actually life changing. Since this folds out as well, you don't have to have everything shoved in one pocket that you inevitably lose something important
HOTOR Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag Black
Dorm showers don't have the best water and your hair might need some extra help to stay clean and dandruff free
HEETA Scalp Massager Hair Growth Scrubber
I've had these shoes for over 10 years and I still love them. Slides are always more comfortable to shower in than flip flops
shevalues Quick Drying Shower Shoes with Arch Support
I love this makeup bag!!!! I always end up spreading my makeup all around me when I do it even if it's nicely organized. This way, once I'm done, I just fold it up and it's good to go!
Lay-n-Go Cosmo Drawstring Makeup Bag 20"
Getting dressed in a humid, tiny dorm shower can be a dangerous time - just get a robe to wear back to your room
Amazon Essentials Women's Lightweight Waffle Robe
Instead of listing a million different toiletries, here is a bundle
Convenience Kits Men’s Super Deluxe 16-Piece TSA Kit
You don't need to buy this set, but this is just a good visual reminder of the things that you'll need to bring in your toiletries. Honorable mention to a tongue scraper and floss.
Pack of 25 Basic Toiletry Kits, Travel Size
Do not take a loofah or wash cloth to college!! Get an African net spine. It dries super quickly and doesn't hold germs as much as a loofah does, it is easy to wash, and it's great for your skin
CORATED African Net Sponge Exfoliating Loofah
Wrinkly clothes just happen. This spray is an alternative to buying an iron and ironing board.
Cold Iron Wrinkle Release Spray 32oz Unscented
For Your Dorm
Most dorms are too small to have a bedside table. If you are sleeping on the bottom bunk, you can hook this onto the side of your bunk bed to hold what you would usually put on a bedside table
Bedside Caddy Hanging Organizer for Bunk Bed
Just a great alarm clock that wakes you up gradually and gently
Odokee Sunrise Alarm Clock & White Noise
Laundry baskets take up so much room! If you get a slim one like this, you can put it under your bed and just kick clothes into it when they are dirty
efluky Slim Collapsible Laundry Basket 48L
Top bunk bedside tray
BedShelfie Bedside Shelf Dorm Essential 2.0
No one wants to have the smelly dorm room 🤷
Muse Apothecary Linen Ritual Spray - Lavender
This one is definitely pricey, but it's genuinely the best pillow in existence.
Purple Harmony™ Pillow
Self explanatory, but this is one of the cuter clip lights I've seen
Smallish Shroommate Clip On Light 2.0 White
Again, pretty self explanatory. You don't have to just use this for clothes though, you can store snacks, shoes, bulky clothes, secrets, etc.
Yecaye Under Bed Storage 2 Pack with Wheels
If you love a very firm mattress, you're in luck and don't need this! If you are the majority of people, you likely won't think a dorm bed is comfy.
ELEMUSE 3 Inch Twin Dual Layer Memory Foam Topper
I like that this is a standing fan, but you can also hook it onto things
Levoit Tower Fan 20dB Quiet Desk Fan
A surge protector and a bit of an extension cord is so necessary bc why do these wall outlets always end up behind a heavy piece of furniture??
TESSAN Surge Protector Power Strip 900J 5Ft
You can use this for shoes or to keep socks together in the wasj
2 Pack Sneaker Dryer Bag 15.7x15.7 Inch White
You definitely don't need to buy full curtains for a bottom bunk - a tucked in blanket works just fine, but if you need pitch black to sleep, this could be huge for you
2 Pcs Blackout Bunk Bed Curtains 78.7x59"
Tech
Putting my phone on a phone stand helps so much with keeping me focused and not reaching for it every other minute like I do if its in my pocket or on my lap.
Nulaxy Aluminum Dual Folding Phone Stand
The best portable charger ever!! It has all three ports in one place and a built in wall charger. I hate having to chase down a charger to plug my backup charger into, so the built in charger is incredible. Its also so lightweight and slim.
VRURC 10000mAh Portable Charger USB C
A more effective and comfortable version of an earplug! They are really good as just a simple earplug, but you can also turn on sound dampening as well. If you need silence to sleep, study, or just to chill, these are great.
Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs - Reusable Sleep Protection
You're going to spend a lot of time looking at a screen. Do yourself a favor and get some blue light glasses to help with eye strain. They also double as a mental "on switch" with the physical act of putting glasses on helps your brain "lock in".
ANDWOOD Blue Light Blocking Cat Eye Glasses 2 Pack
Kitchen/Food
Don't get reusable plates. You'll hate washing them and it'll make eating more of a hastle.
Compostable 7" Paper Plates, 125-Pack, Biodegradable
I'm sure you have a waterbottle and are staying hydrated, but having some extra hydration packets on hand is great for if you're feeling sick, drinking, or just as a fun treat. Blue color only, obviously.
Gatorade Zero Sugar Powder Glacier Freeze
Wash your waterbottle. College is full of germs and we all need to be washing our waterbottles more often that we do. If you have a job in the cafeteria, pop that baby in the dishwasher!
Straw & Lid Cleaner Brush for Owala Bottles
Good for if you're feeling sick, good for if you're running late! Eating breakfast is so important to wake your body and brain up and keep you healthy, but sometimes early morning classes/jobs are hard to eat before. A quick bone broth packet in a mu...
Bare Bones Beef Bone Broth Instant Powder 16 Pack
Misc.
You'll probably be able to grab any of this stuff from your school doctor or even dorm head, but you dont want to be sharing nail clippers, tweezers, and stuff like that. Take a look at this list and figure out the items that you are chill getting fr...
First Aid Kit 276PCS Car Home Camping Red
Batteries are just a good thing to have on hand
Powermax 48 AAA Ultra Long Lasting Alkaline
You never need safety measures until you need them. Just be proactive and have some protective items with you at all times, especially if you're walking around campus during the day or at night.
POM Pepper Spray & Personal Alarm Kit
Along with not wanting to be the smelly room, no one wants to be the room that has gnats or flies. These dont smell and are CRAZY effective.
58 Pack Gnat Killer Sticky Traps for Plants
If you have a dry shampoo you love - great! If not, I really like non aerosol dry shampoo because is the best bang for your buck, its easy to travel with, and its more environmentally friendly.
I DEW CARE Tap Secret Mattifying Dry Shampoo Trio