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THE PROBLEM: There's a shared bathroom in your dorm and you have to carry a lot of shampoo, conditioner, soap, and other shower supplies back-and-forth.
1. THE PRODUCT: A mesh caddy that'll fit the shower essentials you need. It has nine compartments you can fill with containers, shavers, toothbrushes, and beauty goods. There's even a handle, so you can carry it from your room to the dorm bathroom without dropping anything.
Even if you only share a bathroom with a small number of people, this shower caddy is also helpful for keeping all your stuff together and in one place.
Promising review: "I'm going to be a freshman in college this year and we all know that communal bathrooms are dreaded, so I started to look around for a caddy. I came across quite a few but THIS IS AMAZING and it fits so much!!! This fits EVERYTHING and I still have leftover space! If you are going into college and need a shower caddy look no further!! This one is amazing 10/10 would recommend. SUPER STURDY!!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 14 colors and a 2-pack).
THE PROBLEM: Walking barefoot to the bathroom isn't an option and you need a shoe that's comfy *and* waterproof.
2. THE PRODUCT: Affordable slides with a comfort footbed that'll feel like soft pillows on your feet. Reviewers swear by these because they're cushy, very durable, and do double duty as an everyday shoe. They're also waterproof, making them great for dorm shower trips!
Promising review: "Got these for my daughter to use at her college dorm for trips to the bathroom/shower area. She has a very small foot and these fit nicely. She really likes the light blue color and the comfort. She wears them to the shower area and does not slip with them either. We are going to order some additional pairs." —Ann W.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in women's sizes 6–11 and in 42 colors).
THE PROBLEM: You want to watch your fave Netflix or Hulu show, but you have to use your laptop to complete an assignment at the same time.
3. THE PRODUCT: A 32-inch smart-TV because it'll make streaming your favorite TV shows and movies so easy (no laptop required). An Alexa-enabled voice remote lets you use your voice to browse titles and launch apps like Hulu and Netflix, while a Fire TV setup gives you access to thousands of TV episodes and movies *plus* live TV.
Reviewers also love this smart TV because it takes up minimal space in a dorm and fits on a desk or dresser.
Promising review: "Got this for my college-aged daughter who needed a TV for her dorm room. Not only a good TV, but being Fire compatible, it saved a few dollars from having to buy a Fire Stick. She can watch movies on Prime, as well as Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. She has only good things to say about it." —Coach
Get it from Amazon for $119.99.
THE PROBLEM: And speaking of laptops, it would be so nice to study and video chat your besties from bed without moving to a desk, because you're so comfy already.
4. THE PRODUCT: A lap desk so you don't have to get up from your comfy spot on the bed or couch: it fits any laptop up to 17 inches, comes with a built-in mouse pad and a cushy wrist pad, plus a lil' spot for your phone.
Promising review: "I love everything about this. I currently just started back in the college world and this thing has been a life saver! I can now sit in my giant chair with a blanket and this on my lap. It holds everything! Including my book! So much easier and better for my neck!" —Ashley LeMay
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
THE PROBLEM: The closet in your dorm is SO DARN SMALL and there isn't enough room for accessories, shoes, and clothes.
5. THE PRODUCT: A hanging closet organizer with removable soft drawers that'll be perf for everything you wear. Piles of jeans? Check. Underwear? Check. Your go-to college tees and matching sweatpants? Yep, those too!
This organizer can hold up to 30 pounds of stuff. It comes with six shelves, two underwear organizers, a bra organizer, socks organizer, and shirts organizer, plus three side pockets for small things like sunglasses. Just attach it to a closet rod, place your things inside, and you'll instantly have more space.
Promising reviews: "This is great for organizing and fitting more stuff into my closet at my dorm room! It was pretty sturdy at least enough to hold all my clothes!" —Madi Peterson
"This closet organizer is the best one I've ever seen or used? It is incredibly sturdy I have mine on one of those cheap clothing racks from Walmart and it stays put. Everything was super easy to put together. Doesn't require very much effort. I love how the drawers are different sizes and the one for socks is great! If you need some more space and better organization in your room or closet I would definitely recommend purchasing this organizer. Definitely worth the money!" —Lauren Cole
Get it from Amazon for $35.99.
THE PROBLEM: You've maxed out all the space in your dresser and closet, but want to use that awkward area under your bed to store shoes, towels, and more random stuff.
6. THE PRODUCT: Bed risers that'll give you additional storage in your dorm. Slip them under your bed frame and you'll finally have more room for the things you couldn't cram into a drawer or stack on a shelf.
It comes with four small risers and four large risers: use the small risers to raise your bed frame 3 inches, the large risers to raise your bed 5 inches, or combine both riser sizes to raise your bed 8 inches.
Promising review: "I bought these for my daughter to increase under-bed storage at her college apartment. It turns out she only needed the 5" risers. They were tall enough for her to store her luggage and other items under her bed but not so tall as to raise the bed way above her nightstand. They were the perfect size. We're going to use the 3" on our bed to increase storage space there. My daughter's bed is very stable on her hardwood floors. I thought we might have to buy an additional product to keep the risers from slipping, but that wasn't necessary as they are staying in place." —Monique
Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in three colors).
THE PROBLEM: Bulky bins don't fit under your bed and you need another storage solution for your never-ending shoe collection and loungewear.
7. THE PRODUCT: Underbed storage bags to take the stress out of cleaning up your dorm room. Each of these can fit accessories, pairs of sneakers, and even bulky sweatshirts! Instead of throwing everything in a big garbage bag, you can stash them away in these compact containers.
This set comes with three large storage bags! If you're looking for a shoe-friendly under-the-bed organizer, this one can fit up to 12 pairs!
Promising review: "One thing I can say is, it’s definitely worth the price! I was able to fit trash bags full of clothes into the storage bags, which really tidied up my closet. The storage bags can store away more than just clothes, and folds away nice and neatly when you’re not using it. These storage bags are very useful at home, and will be with me when I go back to college. These bags will definitely make moving back into my dorm much easier in the fall." —Greg Hammond
Get a 3-pack from Amazon for $23.88+ (available in two colors and more sizes).
THE PROBLEM: Your dorm room has basically, like, zero outlets for your laptop, tablet, phone chargers, and video game consoles — and you need to share them with a roommate or two.
8. THE PRODUCT: A six-outlet wall charger for your dorm that's lacking in outlets. It comes with two USB fast-charging ports, six spots for your gadgets, *and* a small night light. You and your roomies will have enough space to plug in your devices and some brightness when you need it.
Promising reviews: "This saved the day when we moved our daughter in to her from room. She needed many outlets and only had two. These are sleek, low profile, and get the job done!" —Lindsey
"Love this. I have many items to plug in now that I have to office at home. There’s plenty of room to plug in two laptops, a computer, a monitor, and my Alexa safely. It’s a little bulkier than I was expecting but that is due to the room your items will need." —Jennifer
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
THE PROBLEM: A bulky power strip is getting in the way of your dorm bed or desk and you'd really like it to *poof* disappear.
9. THE PRODUCT: A thin socket cover with an attached power strip, because with it, you can *finally* push your dorm furniture against a wall without creating an awkward gap or blocking a valuable outlet. If you're done dealing with a bulky plug or power strip, this small tech accessory can help.
Promising review: "This product is awesome! We bought one in the office to stop a nearby chair from continuously hitting the outlet plugs. It solved the problem right away. So we ordered three more to use anywhere there is bulk on the wall. It saves space, makes arranging furniture and desks easy, it's clean looking. Someone is a genius. Thanks so much!" —Jay
Get it from Amazon for $23.95+ (available in seven sizes).
THE PROBLEM: You'd like to take a nap or rest, but there's so much noise on campus — dorm doors opening and closing, students coming back from class, and street traffic. 😑
10. THE PRODUCT: A white noise machine because footsteps, sirens, and your roommate's late-night convos shouldn't get in the way of a good night's sleep. This compact device comes with 24 soothing sounds that'll help you catch up on ZZZs whenever you need to.
This gadget has 24 different sounds: seven fan sounds, seven white noise sounds, and 10 classical sounds. You can relax in bed listening to anything from ocean waves to a clock ticking, even if your dorm faces another building or a busy street.
There is also a sleep timer you can set to 30, 60, or 90 minutes if you want to take short naps or get ready for bed a little earlier. Plug it in, set the timer, and you can *finally* tune out annoying noise. The sound machine also remembers your last timer, sound, and volume settings when you turn it on again.
Promising review: "Does it’s job! I use it for my college dorm style apartment and it helps drown out my three suitemates, closing and opening of doors, people outside, etc." —Lexi
Get it from Amazon for $35.97.
THE PROBLEM: There's too much light in your room and you can't fall asleep during the day or at night. Plus, your roommate needs to stay up late with a lamp on to study.
11. THE PRODUCT: A Bluetooth-enabled eye mask, so you can listen to music and drift off to dreamland at the same time. It helps block light from electronics and your environment, plus comes with built-in headphones so you can relax with a podcast or Spotify playlist.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this sleep mask because I hate falling asleep in a quiet room. At the same time, I share a dorm room, so I try to be respectful of my roommate. This helps immensely. Not only can I fall asleep listening to relaxing music, I can also sleep while he studies, because the mask blocks out light super well. It's padded around the eyes and nose. It was odd to get used to at first, but I really enjoy it. The only problem I have is that, with time, the indents where your eyes align started to curve inward, making the mask press against my lids uncomfortably. With a bit of adjustment, it is remedied, though. Overall, a great buy that I use almost nightly." —Storm
Get it from Amazon for $22.58+ (available in five colors).
THE PROBLEM: You and your roomie's electronics are also too bright and contributing to your "I can't sleep" dilemma.
12. THE PRODUCT: A few sheets of LED-dimming stickers if lights from your router, TV, and other devices are keeping you up. These small adhesives dim 50%–80% of light from gadgets, so you can check if they're still working without an annoying glare. If you want your room to be darker, they'll help so much when it's time for bed.
Promising review: "This is the best thing you never knew you needed. I own a digital clock with the numbers displayed in red LED light, and every night I've blocked the light with a cover so it doesn't shine in my eyes as I sleep. Silly I know, but I like my room pitch black and cavelike. On a whim I bought this product. OH MY GOD! Game changer!! For the first night EVER I didn't have to cover the clock display before I went to bed! Also the product is easy to remove and doesn't leave a sticky residue at all, which can't be said for most tapes." —Amazon Customer
Get a sheet of over 100 dimming stickers (in multiple sizes and shapes) from Amazon for $3.89.
THE PROBLEM: Your room keys are always missing and you need a safe spot for them that's not a desk chair or jacket pocket.
13. THE PRODUCT: A TikTok famous cloud magnetic key holder to place on the wall near your bed, desk, or door. It can hold up to three key rings and it'll look so cute in your dorm!
Check it out on TikTok here.
Promising review: "I bought this product almost 2 years ago for my college apartment and it's the best thing I ever bought! Perfect place to hang my keys up when I get home and I never lose them! It also looks very cute and simple. The adhesive is really strong and the magnet in it super strong as well. It holds up my apartment keys, my car keys, and my boyfriend's heavy Audi keys perfectly fine. Love it." —Meghan Consadene
Get it from Amazon for $7.98.
THE PROBLEM: You have a large load of dirty clothes and need to bring them to a laundry room, which requires you to walk and/or take an elevator to get there.
14. THE PRODUCT: A backpack laundry bag that'll make traveling from your dorm to the laundry center less of a project. With a front pocket for detergent and dryer sheets and a spacious interior pocket that'll securely hold clothes, you'll be good to go when it's laundry day.
Promising review: "I think that this was one of the best purchases I made for college. But this could be used for any sort of having to transport laundry to a different location than just your dorm room or your apartment. It has lasted me two years and has carried and fit about two weeks' worth of laundry without dropping or ripping. I also enjoyed having the pocket in the front to store laundry detergent pods as well as dryer sheets and other laundry-related items in order to be hands-free to push elevator buttons, open doors, or carry my phone among other things. Great buy!" —Nitya
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 11 colors).
THE PROBLEM: And bringing a bulky detergent container is a pain, because it's very heavy and sometimes leaks everywhere.
15. THE PRODUCT: Plastic-free laundry detergent sheets because they'll be so much easier to carry — just slide them in a laundry bag pocket when you need to make a trip. An added bonus? They're dissolvable, liquid-free, and don't make a mess. Place one inside a washing machine, load up your clothes, and that's it.
Promising review: "We love this product! Very little scent, gets our clothes clean, completely dilutes. No big boxes or bottles. Nothing to measure, so son will have no problem learning to do his own laundry when college starts." —TJ's Mom
Get an 114-pack from Amazon for $22.59+ (available in two scents).
THE PROBLEM: You need to quickly clean your dorm suite before hosting a study session or game night with friends.
16. THE PRODUCT: A cleaning paste that's popular on TikTok and will save you so much time — it'll tackle stubborn stains on your bathroom sink, shower tiles, and more messy surfaces in your living space. No more scrubbing and wiping for hours when you have a busy schedule.
This all-purpose vegan paste is great for removing rust, hard-water stains, grease, and more messes around home! To use, just apply it to a surface with a damp cloth, gently rub it in, rinse it off with water, and polish the area with a dry cloth.
Promising review: "I bought this product to help me clean my dorm bathroom, including shower, sink, and toilet. I had my boyfriend bring his drill and clipped on a brush head just for efficiency but a hand brush will do just fine. I definitely recommend for any bathroom. As a college student and move-in day having started or near, I 10/10 recommend because we all know how mucky dorm showers can be." —Angela
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
THE PROBLEM: And you don't have room for a big broom or vacuum, but need to get rid of crumbs, dirt, and hair on the floor.
17. THE PRODUCT: A handheld vacuum cleaner with strong suction and a crevice tool for super tight spaces around your dorm suite. It not only picks up debris from hard-to-reach areas, but it's also cordless and can easily be stored on a closet shelf.
This small vacuum has a wide mouth design for large debris and strong suction for crumbs and dust. A crevice tool makes clearing up nooks and crannies around your living space a breeze, while an upholstery brush gets to work on dirty carpets.
Promising review: "I got this to use in my dorm to pick up hair, crumbs, eraser shavings, and it works very well, it sucks everything up." —lyla
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
THE PROBLEM: Everyone in your dorm suite has similar phone chargers and keeps taking yours by accident.
18. THE PRODUCT: A cool charging cable tag because it'll let everyone know which Android or iPhone charging cable is yours and (hopefully) prevent your roommates from "borrowing it" indefinitely.
Delightful Luna is an Etsy shop based in North Carolina. They sell cool 3D-printed accessories, including magnets, keychains, and pen caps.
Promising review: "They are perfect! Now my bf won’t steal my charger anymore. They clip so well!" —Etsy Customer
Get it from Delightful Luna on Etsy for $5.50 (available in two charger types and 16 colors).
THE PROBLEM: Your dorm bed isn't comfy at all and you're constantly tossing and turning, even though you have good pillows and sheets.
19. THE PRODUCT: A super cushy gel-infused memory foam mattress topper that's basically what sweet dreams are made of: If your dorm bed feels like an uncomfortable rock, plush memory foam and temperature-regulating gel beads will prevent you from feeling too achy or hot while you sleep.
Promising reviews: "I bought this mattress topper for my daughter to use at college, and she loves it! I originally got her a cheaper/thinner one, but it wasn’t working out. She started experiencing back pain and was having trouble sleeping (college dorm beds are the worst). As soon as she started using this topper she said she felt a tremendous difference; back pain eased up, and sleeping better. Only wish I would have gotten this for her from the beginning instead of opting for a cheaper version." —Joann A.
"I’m in LOOOOOVE with the topper like it makes such a huge difference. I don’t know why I didn’t get this sooner. For the past 2 quarters, I’d always wake up with back and shoulder aches from the hard rock of a college bed I was provided, but now? Omg. Squishy comfortable back savior. Also no weird smell and it unwrinkled in like 15-20 mins after opening. Thank you." —Tina
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in sizes twin–California king, including Twin XL, and two thicknesses).
THE PROBLEM: You don't have room for a nightstand for small essentials, like your glasses, Kindle, and TV remote. (Or your bed's lofted or the top bunk.)
20. THE PRODUCT: A bedside caddy to stash anything from tech devices to water bottles. No more getting out of bed to grab that *one* thing you need when you can just reach for it right under you.
This bedside caddy comes with four, five, or six storage pockets!
Promising review: "Purchased as an added accessory for my son, as he is off to college. He told me it's perfect because he has the top bunk bed. It's convenient as he doesn't have to constantly get down to get his phone, charger, wallet, or water. He just has it on bed and doesn't worry about his things falling." —Selina
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 14 styles).
THE PROBLEM: You love, love, love coffee, but don't have access to a kitchen or the time to stop by Starbucks before class.
21. THE PRODUCT: A mini Keurig so you can make a fresh cup of coffee or tea in your dorm room and avoid waiting in line at your campus cafe. This coffee maker takes up minimal space (it's 4.5 inches wide!) and easily fits on a nightstand, dresser, or desk.
This coffee maker brews coffee for 6- to 12-ounce cups and fits travel mugs up to 7 inches tall. It makes coffee lightning fast: all you have to do is add fresh water to the reservoir, pop in a K-Cup, and you'll get a hot coffee to sip on in your room *or* on the go in minutes.
Promising review: "This Keurig was the perfect size for my son's dorm room. Great for making coffee, tea, or just hot water for some ramen noodles. I've been a Keurig owner since they first launched and never had any complaints. Take care of the unit, and it will last a long time." —Mark P
Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in six colors).
THE PROBLEM: The dining hall is closed and you're in the mood for a late-night snack and beverage.
22. THE PRODUCT: A retro-looking compact fridge for food and drinks. Stash yogurts, veggies, fruits, water bottles, juice containers, and more goods in this cutie that'll add a pop of color to your living space.
This small fridge comes with removable glass shelves, multiple sections and side compartments, and a chiller compartment on top that can be set between 27 degrees Fahrenheit and 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
Promising review: "I'm very happy with the retro blue fridge so far! It looks so cute and chic in my bedroom and doesn't take up too much space. I'm using it for beverages and snacks. Once plugged in, It took about 24 hours to get really cold and it a great temperature for bottled water. it's a nice machine. The freezer is very small and cold. Has a tiny drip tray underneath. I'm not planning on cooking frozen food in my bedroom, so it's fine. You can fit a little ice cream in there still." —Jeanette Wells-lipton
Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
THE PROBLEM: You're sitting at your dorm desk for long periods of time and can't comfortably type on a laptop. Hi there, achy neck.
23. THE PRODUCT: A laptop stand so you can bring your computer up to eye level and avoid slouching in a chair for hours. Get everything done without dealing with annoying back and neck pain afterward.
This stand accommodates laptops from 10" to 15.6" and you can easily take it apart if you need to bring it to another location. It pairs best with a keyboard and mouse — get a highly-rated wireless set from Amazon for $34.99.
Promising review: "I am a college student, I got this product for my desk and I love it! Not only does it give me more room on my desk, it also helps my neck, rather than stare down for hours I can look straight which really does make a huge difference. This product also holds my laptop very securely." —Jillian
Get it from Amazon for $23.77+ (available in nine colors).
THE PROBLEM: And your laptop keys are currently covered with food crumbs and eraser shavings, but you have no easy way to clean them up.
24. THE PRODUCT: A double-sided laptop cleaner that'll sweep up gross debris lodged in your laptop. It'll quickly clean between keys, so you're not disgusted by the sight of chip crumbs or baby hairs while you're typing at your desk.
This cleaner has two sides: a microfiber pad that removes fingerprints from your laptop screen and a gray brush that'll remove crumbs, hair, and more debris from your laptop keyboard.
Promising review: "Purchased for my granddaughters who are in college. They love it! They use it all the time on their screens, keyboards, and cellphones. Would purchase again!" —cookie007
Get it from Amazon for $11.95.
THE PROBLEM: It's too noisy in your dorm space to concentrate. There's loud talking, you can hear footsteps, and someone somewhere is blasting music on repeat.
25. THE PRODUCT: Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds because you can easily tune out your roomie's conversations and campus noise. You won't have to be like "sorry can you please repeat that again?" whenever you're FaceTiming or attending a virtual study session.
Listen to music, podcasts, and calls for up to nine hours at a time! Plus, they make it easy to be hands free while you're working on assignments.
If you'd specifically like a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, definitely check out these top-rated ones!
Promising review: "I loved the sound. These headphones place heavy emphasis on the most important part of the headphones, the sound. The bass is perfect for my music, but doesn’t drown out the vocals at all. The fit is perfect for my daily life in college, with a lot of walking. Noise is filtered a little by the seal of the headphones in your ear, but I don’t really care for active noise cancellation so I'm good with that. Overall these headphones are amazing for their price." —Nathaniel
Get them from Amazon for $199.95+ (available in four colors).
You, getting all your laundry done, having snacks on standby when the dining hall is closed, and popping in your wireless earbuds to tune out annoying campus noise:
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