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

a door stop, as most? bedroom doors are fire doors so close, it meant that my son could prop the door open to invite chat from other residents passing by.
over the door coat hooks

I still have my clothes airer that came to uni with me 20 years ago! It’s on its last legs, but it has done well as it’s been in near constant use since.

Drawing pins to put photos or pictures up. Both my DC weren’t allowed blue tack on their walls.

I have 3 DC with experience of 5 different unis. The majority of these didnt allow door stops, fridges or electrical cooking devices like Air fryers and George Foreman grills, due to fire regs.
They also banned clothes airers as they cause damp and anything that damages walls (potentially command hooks, even drawing pins and blue tac).

Mine liked those scented tumble drying sheets, in stuffy wardrobes and drawers and tucked behind a radiator to make the room smell better.

They were allowed to make holes in the walls with pins instead? I do agree that blue tack is likely to be "banned" because it leaves marks.

Thinking about it, a pin board held up with command strips is probably a good idea.

"Her nearest supermarket is a Tesco so have swopped some of my old Tesco bags for life for new ones for her."

This made me laugh, do people actually only use branded bags for the supermarket they're shopping in? 🤣

Most things on this thread you won't need. Airers, kettles, rice cookers, electric woks, colour catchers - all likely to be banned.

"Drawing pins to put photos or pictures up. Both my DC weren’t allowed blue tack on their walls."

They're also not allowed to stab holes in the walls 🤣

What I meant was that they had a pin board already attached to the wall in the room and had to use that.

Most things on this thread you won't need. Airers, kettles, rice cookers, electric woks, colour catchers - all likely to be banned.

The airer was a suggestion from DD1 first halls - they had list of prohibited items and suggestions of what was needed.

Can't remember if it was in a sent e-mail or on their website - but clearly there is variation between different halls so worth checking to see if there is a FAQ list or information some where.

Before leaving DD1 we got some shopping ( supermarkets were fully geared up for students) and got her a big box of laundry pods - rather than powder and she said that had been a good idea as she saw so many struggling with big boxes of powder. Durable Laundry Bags with zips were also useful - also doubled as storage.

If you look online at the halls she's going into, there should be a list of items already in the room so you don't need to buy.
Dd's said, they had a bin in the ensuite bathroom and one under the desk, also said iron, ironing board, mop, bucket, broom and dustpan/brush in the communal kitchen.
When we got there they was an airer in the kitchen broom closet, but she didn't use it. The bed had a washable mattress protector, but we added another as we had brought one with us.

Check and double check what is on their halls' banned list.

The items were removed on the spot checks (which are much more regular than you think!) and you had to go to the main accommodation office to claim them back and explain yourself.

Any tape, blu tack, holes in walls, or command strips meant a charge was made for repainting. A notice board is provided to pin or tape things on.

Doors were all official fire doors which MUST NOT be propped open.

Dd said she soon got used to the rules, they all just met up in the kitchens anyhow.

It prepped them for private rental with the 200 thousand rules...

Important thing to remember is that it all comes home with them. You need to keep it for next year. It takes up a lot of space.

Unikitout.com provides all the things that are required (for a price) and delivers it to the halls of residence. Great if you are overseas. However, if you check their site, they have a list of things which most students claim they need.
i would also add toilet brush, toilet paper and mat if they have an en suite, extension leads, rug, wastebasket, airer, wash basket, spare passport photos for passes, first aid kit, desk lamp, command strip hooks and some alcohol.

Buy secondhand when you get there. Unis have piles of stuff left by previous cohorts that are cleared from rooms and sold for charity. DD got a substantial wooden airer that the whole flat used for £5. She then left it when she moved out.

Since the only supermarket nearby is Tesco it made sense to give her Tesco bags as they will replace them when they wear out. AFAIK Tesco won't replace bags from other supermarkets.

My grandmother bought me a v large cup which also doubled as a bowl & it came with a matching plate & honestly it sticks in my mind how handy it was & made me happy every time i used it. That & a TV 😀

Yes, I posted this recently. York uni. I hope other unis do the same.

Have been watching this thread for ideas. Thought I'd been fairly organised and not gone OTT. Read the small print of the halls and they now have induction hobs 🤦

Since the only supermarket nearby is Tesco it made sense to give her Tesco bags as they will replace them when they wear out. AFAIK Tesco won't replace bags from other supermarkets.

She's got new bags for life, being concerned about what she will do if they wear out seems unnecessary.

For a start she will probably get a dozen tote bags in freshers week but even if she doesn't she would probably work out her different options if her bags for life wear out.

Banning airers is so pointless. They're still going to have to dry their clothes in the bedroom somehow. Not everything goes in the tumble dryer.

"Banning airers is so pointless. They're still going to have to dry their clothes in the bedroom somehow. Not everything goes in the tumble dryer."

When you're a student it does. Bags for life wearing out? She'll just buy a new one!

Honestly, the way things are these days there is nothing you can't get at a days notice. Let her work out the bigger stuff when she gets there.

Cutlery, cup, pots, pans, tv, stationary, nice bedding, washing up bowl and a laundry bag. That's fine to begin with

Why on earth would they need a TV? They just stream stuff on a laptop/ipad.

"Why on earth would they need a TV? They just stream stuff on a laptop/ipad."

If they prefer that and yes probably most do. Nephew prefers tv because his laptop gets hot and it's smaller

Door stop. As soon as they arrive suggest they prop the door open so anyone walking down the corridor can stick their head in and say hi

Definitely a (potentially hypoallergenic) mattress protector - my son is allergic to dust mites and I found out in his first year!

Also a new personal pillow or a pillow protector.

Whatever they need to make their favorite hot drink.