7 Dorm Items I Regret Buying for My Daughter — and 15 I Didn't Expect She'd Need
Learn from my mistakes.
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If you're sending your kid off to college for the first time, you're likely overwhelmed trying to figure out what they actually need. Last summer, I got my college freshman all of the dorm room "essentials" — like a mattress topper, new bedding, storage containers and a laptop — but I also overbought many things that came home unused.
Even more surprising, the first couple months of school were filled with requests from my daughter for items that she still needed. To get a better understanding of what to buy (and what to skip) going into the new school year, I reached out to some of her friends and fellow moms of college kids.
My biggest takeaway, though? College kids can never have too many fans.
Things I Wish I Hadn't Bought
- A coffee maker. If your college kid can easily access coffee on campus without having to buy milk and such, they'll probably opt for that (I know my daughter did).
- Kitchen supplies. Unless your kid is living off campus or in a suite where they plan on making their own meals, they probably won't need a ton of dishes, cups or cookware.
- A mini fridge. Mini-fridges can be pricey and tough to store over summer breaks. I recommend renting one to save yourself the hassle.
- A large clothes-drying rack. For those with ample space, a clothes-drying rack can be useful — but the one I bought was too big for her dorm room and I brought it back home with me.
- Too many hard storage containers. Plastic bins are great for move-in and move-out, but so are collapsible totes (like these blue IKEA-style bags) — and they are easier to store during the school year, given their soft, flexible build.
- Smart home devices. I wanted to send my kid to school with an Alexa device, but her campus policy didn't allow for any additional smart devices, like lightbulbs or home assistants (according to her school, they can drain the shared dorm Wi-Fi).
- Too much decor. I spent a lot of money buying art and matching items at HomeGoods, and much of it got replaced throughout the year as my daughter found items that spoke to her personally.
The Surprising Things She Actually Needed
Why it's worth it: If you end up skipping the coffee maker, you might want to invest in a to-go coffee tumbler that they can take to the cafeteria for refills. Just make sure to write their name on the bottom with a Sharpie so it won't get mixed up with others on campus.
Why we like this one: When the slider of this tumbler is locked correctly, it's leakproof, according to our testers at the GH Institute. They also determined that the double-insulated construction can keep warm liquid hot for nearly six hours.
Why it's worth it: I purchased my kid a small clip-on fan for her bed, but a bigger one was needed. The older dorms in her building get super warm on the upper floors — even in the middle of winter.
Why we like this one: This fan is from Good Housekeeping Home Renovation Award-winning brand, Dreo. I have it in my living room right now and love that it oscillates in multiple different directions.
This specific model also glows an assortment of LED colors, per the brand — so college kids can add some ambiance to their room without hanging up string lights.
Why it's worth it: If your college kid has classes across campus during a rainstorm, they'll need an umbrella.
Why we like this one: This lightweight option from Sy Compact is our best value umbrella, so it won't be too upsetting if it gets misplaced. Plus, our team was impressed by the automatic button that opens and closes the canopy.
Why it's worth it: Given the state of her room at home, I wasn't expecting my kid to go through as many cleaning supplies as she did — but products like Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and a Swiffer Sweeper were essential.
Why we like this one: There are fancier mops and brooms out there, but I like this one because it's compact. Our cleaning pros like the Swiffer Sweeper because the dry version picks up fine dust particles while the wet version makes quick work of sticky floor messes.
Why it's worth it: Dorm space is usually limited, so adding furniture is not always feasible — but if they've got a bit of extra room, a bedside table for storage is nice to have. It's a great place to keep an alarm clock, chargers and a water bottle.
Why we like this one: It's our best nightstand for dorm rooms because it doesn't have a very big footprint — but it does have a spot for books and a drawer to keep smaller items.
Tile Life360 Mate Bluetooth Tracker
Why it's worth it: College kids are usually walking across campus for classes and to hang out with friends, which makes it easy for them to lose things along the way (like keys, ID cards, water bottles and more).
Why we like this one: While our experts say you can't go wrong with either Tile or AirTags, I love that this Tile already comes with a spot to attach it to a keychain (unlike AirTags which require you to add on a hanger).
RELATED: AirTag vs. Tile: A Comparison Guide
Why it's worth it: Most of my daughter's requests were for food (a sentiment I heard from a lot of fellow moms). While her dining plan covers meals, she was after easy snacks and candy.
Why we like this one: This care package has all my daughter's favorite snacks — an assortment of salty and sweet items — which also helps prevent money being spent at the vending machine.
Command Assorted Strips and Hangers
Why it's worth it: Already added these to your list? Add more; they'll probably need way more than you think. Also, if they want to hang up twinkle lights, these small hooks are key.
Why we like this one: These hooks will allow college kids to hang up art (and even towels!) without putting holes in the walls.
RELATED: How to Hang Art Without Nails
Why it's worth it: This item stays at home but allows college kids to connect with what they miss most: the family pet. My daughter desperately wanted to see our cat — and with the help of the Furbo 360, she and her friends gleefully talked to him and give him treats from an app on her phone.
Why we like this one: Our experts love the Furbo 360, which can move full circle while dispensing treats for cats and dogs. According to our testing, it even has night vision and two-way audio.
RELATED: Best Pet Cameras, Tested & Reviewed
Afloia 2-in-1 HEPA Air Purifier with Humidifier
Why it's worth it: Director of Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab Dan DiClerico says, "Dorm rooms and their surrounding communal spaces tend to be filled with indoor air pollutants, everything from mold and mildew to dust mites and cockroach allergens."
An air purifier can help clear the air of those contaminants, while the humidifier feature of this two-in-one can help combat dryness when the dorm's heating system starts up during the winter months.
Why we like this one: This was picked by our Lab pros as the best value model for a combo air purifier and humidifier. It's ideal for dorms because it's versatile and doesn't take up a lot of space.
RELATED: Best Air Purifier and Humidifier Combos, According to Our Testing
Johnson & Johnson All-Purpose Portable Compact First Aid Kit
Why it's worth it: Sure, there's likely a health center on campus — but accidents happen, like blisters. Make sure they've got their own stash of bandaids.
Why we like this one: Our best value first aid kit has a variety of items (like bandaids, Neosporin, hand-cleaning wipes and more) —and it's all compact in a storage case.
RELATED: 7 Best First Aid Kits
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Why it's worth it: For my daughter to really "lock in" at the library, she likes the over-the-ear headphones to block out distractions, thanks to the noise-cancelling feature.
Why we like this one: Our experts call these the best overall noise cancelling headphones, so if these can't drown out college gossip and loud roommates what can? I've personally tested them and think they are comfortable enough for long work sessions or loud commutes.
RELATED: Best Noise Cancelling Headphones, Tested by Experts
Why it's worth it: Heading to a dorm means doing their own laundry — and the college kid in your life will probably need plenty of detergent to get them through a semester.
Why we like this one: This detergent has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, and is good for kids (like mine!) who have are sensitive to other brands.
The Container Store 4-Tier Shoe Rack with Adjustable Bars
Why it's worth it: My Vans- and Crocs-collecting kid struggled all freshman year to find space for her beloved footwear. And while we'd opted for an over-the-door model, it didn't really work with her closet, as it kept the older doors from completely shutting properly.
Why we like this one: This shoe rack is the one our experts named the best value, and I've already added it to the cart for her sophomore year. It's slim and short enough to tuck into the back of her closet while still letting her bring multiple pairs of shoes to school.
Why it's worth it: Most dorms don't have room for fancy countertop ice makers, but your kid might still want a way to chill their sodas or coffee during study sessions.
Why we like this one: Our best-value ice cube trays are streamlined and easy to stack. Along with lids, these have grooves between the cube molds to help prevent spills from overfilling.
RELATED: Best Ice Cube Trays
Angel Madison is a commerce editor at Hearst Magazines, writing for brands like Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, House Beautiful, Oprah Daily, Men’s Health, and Women's Health. She’s been testing products for several years and is an expert at scouting deals and finding the perfect gifts. Angel covers many topics, but she specializes in plus-size fashion, Lego, trending products, toys, parenting, fitness, home, and tech. She has previously worked in parenting and entertainment and has vast knowledge in the teen, pop culture, and kid spaces.
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