Halls of residence must haves.

[livingonhomemadesoup]

DD heading to uni next week, I've bought all the kitchen bits and pieces I think she'll need and things for her room. Anyone got any "must haves" or "wish I'd known" purchases??
Someone mentioned a mattress topper to me yesterday which I thought might be a good idea.
Thank you

@SmileyHappyPeopleInTheSun wow -thanks! I had no idea such things even existed (not a camping person).

Fairy lights
A small lamp

Some places ban fairy lights!

£30 buys you plenty of tumble dryer time.

It was £5 on app to wash and dry a load - at DD1 uni facilities - and she is using the dryer for second year.

Though you can buy cheap ones in supermarket for under a £10 - it just transport and storage that meant we needed a foldable one and she has some items that don't tumble dry well.

I've bought some for DD but I have also bought some mesh laundry bags to put them in (the ones for underwear etc). That way they can't get lost in the machine and damage anything.

They seem to have been essential kit in all halls dcs have been in, but check before you go obvs

This is an excellent list of things you might not think of immediately!

thespike.substack.com/p/undergraduate-2024

We are not either - we don't drive so needed to get creative.

If anyone does need to send stuff up later - or back and forth these people were really good - very good tracking service and no problems either end.

https://www.mybaggage.com/?d=l

Those under shelf baskets are good . If they are going to be used to store small things use half a box to line them .

www.amazon.co.uk/ASTOTSELL-Hanging-Organiser-Storage-Bathroom/dp/B07FS3117W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=169820929828&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Bwftm5rzs_3V3h8jMUTAIffZ2qDpOLkGb-qBk1tuOgn6aLwJpRxKL0YdkVAEUFEryRxDRd1_VOxiZhHVM8pJCrzvaqJkl3Ws9Fwu880KWwwbjHNAZ01hUPTou0abzY1m-uS_PcMutUOnqYnZ6AhOzZE8-l7h3r7qAPSi53_vKH52yPAUr4_0AlTvrW3nPyk5uFhKrSHzenqwzfaCrH-jOQ.Xrl8aLuFUu0GCDz1Mu9JxActeucVeUkes3sj5snw1b4&dib_tag=se&gad_source=1&hvadid=697066345137&hvdev=m&hvexpln=70&hvlocphy=1006912&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=12809976557076158225--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12809976557076158225&hvtargid=kwd-3081541417&hydadcr=26163_2651814&keywords=undershelf+storage+basket&qid=1725628465&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Dd's halls laundry room said no laundry powder/liquid or liquid softener, they expect them all to use pods, which we had bought anyway.
She also would hang things on hangers in her shower room to dry as no room for an airer.
We managed to get there and forgotten hangers, no stores anywhere near had any left, so hangers.
We bought a little set of bathroom shelves as there was no where to put stuff like loo roll and make up in the bathroom
she got a white one

We did a mix:
Home comforts: a new fluffy rug (easy to roll up) to go over spartan or depressingly stained flooring, a fleecy throw (she feels the cold), her own teapot.
Practical: laundry bag for the long journey down to the washers & dryers, a rack that can hang over the radiator so she could dry her towels in her room, counter top electric wok and a rice cooker (Halls kitchens not always very good)
HTH

A sock peg hanger - can hang on curtain rail or or off door frame and hang small items of clothing on as well as underwear. Doesn't take up much space and coming in v handy for finishing off items that are damp from tumble dryer or can't go in.

Amazon do a metal which doesn't cost much, is surprisingly strong and has proven worth its weight in gold!

Fab ideas here, thank you. Mini fridges/kettles etc in bedrooms is banned

Sorry but the bloody electric rice cookers/woks/slow cookers were a fucking nightmare and took up all the counter space in dds halls.

A collander and a cheese grater. Used extensively throughout uni and my 20 year old ikea collander is still going strong!

I'd also take some big quick dry towels as I hate the smell of damp towels.

Coat hangers
Blu tack
A couple of blankets
Rug
Umbrella
Decent boots (I went to uni in a rather wet city).

Basic pack of meds and comforts to cope with freshers flu/covid. Coloured plates, glasses etc cos everyone has same ones from Ikea and they go awol quickly. Sliders/flipflops for communal areas and dressing gown if sharing bathrooms. Toothmug and bathmat.

A tin of home made cookies to share. Great ice breaker with hall floor mates.

for a shared kitchen her own washing up bowl where she can place her dirty saucepans etc after cooking a meal so that she can wash them at her leisure. Nothing worse than cooking a meal and then feeling obliged to wash up before you have eaten nobody will get annoyed if you stack all your dirties in your own bowl as they won’t be in anyone else’s way when they want to cook

I can't think of anything particular that I needed when I was in halls. I was lucky to have a large walk in closet in my room so storage wasn't an issue.

Those cheap plastic stackable drawers came in handy, and I'd agree with getting a decent clothes airer if she's allowed one.

One thing that did help was my cutlery, crockery and pans were very clearly all part of matching sets which made it really easy to know what was mine and keep hold of it for the year. Don't underestimate in halls how easily other people will casually assume ownership of your stuff!

In case of homesickness/emergency envelope
Shove £20 in or a voucher, a little note and something else she likes

Post is also great. Nothing better than if you feel a bit low to open up a parcel even if it's a magazine/hot chocolate/face mask

A small fridge, stops the buggers thieving your milk.

Their own Amazon Prime account.

They can get caught in the pipe and cause a blockage, but the easy solution is to pop them into a delicates wash bag along with any bras etc

these weren’t allowed for my DD.

These won’t be allowed.