The BEST cleaning products you need for your dorm room ASAP.
Close quarters means lots of germs, dirt, and messes all crammed into one tiny dorm room. Keeping your room clean is the best way to stay healthy this school year. Not to mention, all of your friends will be super impressed when they come over and there isn’t over flowing trash or crumbs all over the floor.
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Swiffer Wet & Dry Mop
If you have any hard-surface floors, you NEED to keep them clean! Nothing is more of a turn off than going over to a friend’s place only to leave with socks that are black on the bottom from the dirty floors.
I had this in college and it was PERFECT. Dorm rooms are small so the floor space isn’t huge anyway. Also, it’s inexpensive, compact, and duel purpose.
Vacuum
You don’t need anything crazy, but definitely do not forget to bring a vacuum. Your friends, your roommates, and you are all going to walk in your dorm room with their shoes on. Or with their slippers that also are worn down to the caf…
Not to mention all the snacks that will find themselves all over the floor or the salt you’ll track in if you’re in a state that snows. Everyone on your floor will be knocking on your door to borrow it. Trust me… because I was that person who would bring a snack in exchange for borrowing my neighbor’s vacuum!
Trash Can
Speaking of snacks, you’re going to need to a place to put the remains. A trash can isn’t necessarily cleaning supplies, but you’re definitely going to need at least one to keep your room and/or bathroom clean. So, it deserves an honorable mention here.
Always go for a trash can with a lid (unless it’s under your desk). Especially in a small room, you’re going to need to mask any trash-smells as best you can.
Glass Cleaner
One of the most shocking things I’ve ever learned in my 20’s is how dirty glass gets. When I washed the windows in my dorm room for the first time, my paper towel looked like I had wiped the floor with it… WTF!
The windows might look clean, but trust me, they are deceiving! Especially if they are near a register or vent, dust is constantly getting blown around. Plus, who the heck knows the last time anyone cleaned the windows and mirrors in your dorm before you got there…
Duster
Dorm rooms get dusty SO FAST. Two or more people crammed into one tiny room just amplifies the accumulation of dust. I love this product because you’re able to get into all the nooks and crannies. And there’s a lot of those in dorm rooms!
Paper Towel
You’re going to spill stuff and you’re going to need to clean stuff up. Paper towel is one product I definitely don’t opt for the cheapest version. You’ll end up saving space in your dorm room because you’ll need to use less sheets to get the job done.
I highly recommend Bounty or Kirkland brand paper towel.
All-Purpose Cleaner
I LOVE Method cleaning products, especially their all-purpose spray! It smells amazing and it does a great job for maintenance cleaning. I use this on a daily/weekly basis. The lavender scent is my all-time favorite.
Cleaning level: 1
Lysol Aerosol Spray or Lysol Wipes
Having disinfecting supplies is super important when you live in a compact space. You are going to get a cold or the flu at some point. And when one of you gets it, you’re both bound to get it.
I prefer aerosol spray because it takes longer to dry (AKA better disinfecting power). Every week I will hit all of the most touched places with aerosol disinfecting spray to keep bugs at bay.
Cleaning level: 2
Bleach
If you are lucky enough to have a bathroom in your suite, you’re DEFINITELY going to want some bleach. Unfortunately, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets sick.
When you or one of your suite-mates comes home with the raging stomach flu or a massive hang over, make sure you have bleach on hand to disinfect the bathroom.
I’m not a huge fan of using bleach because I always get it on myself and I don’t care for the smell. HOWEVER, I always keep bleach on hand for killing the nastiest bugs. It’s the most effect method to kill the stomach flu. Plus, the Clorox spray bleach doesn’t smell too bleach-y.
Cleaning level: 3 (MAX!)
Rubber Gloves
This goes hand in hand with bleach. If your roommate comes home and is so hung over or sick that they miss the toilet… yeah you know where I’m going…
You never know what you might need to clean up. Better safe than sorry and just pick up some disposable gloves so you aren’t gagging more than necessary.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
If you have a bathroom, you can’t forget this one! Did you know, mold can actually grow in your toilet? Yeah, gross. I didn’t know that until recently. Make sure to clean your toilet on a weekly basis!
Typically I don’t like to buy single use products. However, this is one instance where I recommend getting a single use system. Especially since you will be moving several times during college. This way you won’t have to either save your toilet brush or throw it away every few months.
If you don’t want a single use system, the BEST toilet bowl cleaners are The Works and SnoBowl. I always buy The Works from the Dollar Tree for only $1! I’ve tried Scrubbing Bubbles, but I don’t think it does as good of a job IMO.
This post has been all about the best cleaning products you NEED for your dorm room. Want more inspiration and tips like this? You will LOVE this:
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