12 Cleaning Supplies You Need In a College Dorm

[dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]s a college student, you are going to NEED cleaning supplies. Whether you realize it or not, your dorm is going to get dusty and dirty. If you are planning on having friends come stay with you in college, or simply want to be able to invite guests to your dorm at any time, you should keep this list of cleaning supplies in your room that can help clean any dirty college disaster. Pregames, hangovers, study sessions, movie nights with friends, and any other big dorm room event is guaranteed to leave spills, dirt, and multiple other messes in your room. By proactively cleaning, and having the materials to clean afterward, your room can stay sparkling and shining.

1. Clorox Wipes

This much-needed cleaning supply is essential to keep all of your surfaces clean and disinfected. Clorox wipes are easy to use because you just tear them out of the container and wipe away the mess. When you are a college student, you do not have time to deep clean your dorm often, so grabbing a wipe and swiping it across the dirty surface is a simple solution to your problem. It is perfect for the Sunday after a long weekend of partying when you stumble across a sticky mess that you did not notice on your desk the night before.

2. Lysol

Lysol is essential when it comes to cleaning supplies in general, but it is especially one for a college dorm. When many people share the same space or floor, it is easy to pick up germs, lice, or any other unwanted sicknesses that you can combat just by simply spraying Lysol. You can use it to spray your carpets in the hallway and in the dorm. Along with this, there are different types of Lysol you can purchase that are specialized to be used on pillows, pillowcases, and bedding to prevent lice or any other bacteria from forming in your bed.

3. Swiffer Wet Wipes

When staying in a dorm, it is difficult to own a mop and a bucket, so to save space, you can purchase a Swiffer and some wet wipes. Simply attach the wet wipe to the Swiffer and clean your floor as if it were a mop. After using the wipe, you detach it and throw it away. This is much easier and faster than pouring floor cleaner into a bucket and filling it up with water. You also do not have to pour out the dirty water and rinse a bucket. This is perfect for a college student living in a dorm!

4. Swiffer Dry Wipes

Another cleaning supply similar to the Swiffer wet wipes is the dry wipes. These wipes can be used to dry the floor after you use the wet ones. They also act as a broom and a dustpan because it picks up any dust, dirt, or hair that is left on the ground. The dry wipes are perfect for the dorm because they do not take up as much space as a broom and dustpan would. It is used the same way as the wet wipes, just attach the dry wipe and sweep!

5. Windex

Windex is commonly used for windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces; however, it can be used as a multipurpose spray to clean every nook and cranny of your dorm. This cleaning supply is essential because halfway through the semester, your windows and mirrors will become dusty and accumulate fingerprints. With a bottle of Windex and some paper towels or a rag, you can easily combat this dirtying of your dorm.

6. Hand Soap

In order to keep yourself clean, you must keep hand soap in your arsenal of cleaning supplies. This way, you do not track bacteria into your room and prevent yourself from getting sick. Living in a dorm is an easy way to become ill because everyone on your floor shares the same bathroom as you. Also, if you are living with a roommate, they can spread their germs quickly throughout your dorm, so make sure you wash your hands regularly!

7. Paper Towels

Paper towels are the most important cleaning supply in the dorm, especially for spills. For example, if someone tips over a drink during a party, all you have to do is tear off a few paper towels and throw them on the ground to soak up the mess. This is a quick and effective way to rid of a mess for the time being until you can clean your floor better later on.

8. Pledge Dust Spray

Pledge dust spray is an allergen and dust eliminator. This cleaning supply works well to clean the dust particles off of any surface in your dorm. It is especially essential if you tend to be allergic to certain things that could linger in your room. Unlike Windex, this can be used on absolutely any surface to disinfect it. 

9. Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is a common disinfectant that should be in every dorm on every campus. However, using hand sanitizer often is not recommended because it can kill helpful bacteria on your hands that are needed to keep your immune system strong and healthy to fight off the negative and harmful bacteria that might infect you. This cleaning supply is a quick fix to dirty hands when out and about on campus, especially if a virus is spreading!

10. Dish Soap

Dish soap is a much-needed cleaning supply in the college dorm. If you are lucky enough to have a mini kitchen in your residence, this is especially important for you. Paper or plastic bowls, plates, and cups can become an unnecessary expense and unsustainable if you use them regularly. It is important that you have dish soap to wash your bowls, cups, and silverware because just rinsing them off with hot water is NOT enough to disinfect. Make sure you clean your dishes almost immediately after you use them because you might get distracted and forget about the mess, only to leave it sitting on your desk like an accent piece.

11. Rags

If you want to be sustainable, rags are a better alternative cleaning supply to paper towels. This will also save you some money because you do not have to go out and buy another roll. Simply toss the rags into your hamper and wash them with your dirty laundry. You can also use them in the shower, too, so that they are multipurpose. It is beneficial if you have a few rags lying around because when a mess is made, you can grab it and wipe it up.

12. Room Spray

Room spray is an important addition to your arsenal of cleaning supplies because it is easy to stink up your dorm. If you walk everywhere on campus, you are bound to sweat and accumulate some unwanted smells that will linger in your room. Spritz your spray around your room for a delightful aroma that will have any welcomed visitors excited to sniff and stay. This cleaning supply can also aid the stench of dirty laundry that you have not had time to wash yet.

What are your go-to dorm cleaning supplies? Let us know in the comment section below!