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Apr 11, 2024

25 Products To Solve Common Dorm Problems

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Essential tiny closet organizers, an under-$100 TV, and a laundry bag backpack because carrying a month of dirty clothes across campus is no joke.

BuzzFeed Staff

BuzzFeed Staff

Even if you only share a bathroom with a small number of people, this shower caddy is also helpful for keeping all your stuff together and in one place.

Promising review: "I'm going to be a freshman in college this year and we all know that communal bathrooms are dreaded, so I started to look around for a caddy. I came across quite a few but THIS IS AMAZING and it fits so much!!! This fits EVERYTHING and I still have leftover space! If you are going into college and need a shower caddy look no further!! This one is amazing 10/10 would recommend. SUPER STURDY!!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $6.69+ (available in 8 colors and 2 styles).

Promising review: "Got these for my daughter to use at her college dorm for trips to the bathroom/shower area. She has a very small foot and these fit nicely. She really likes the light blue color and the comfort. She wears them to the shower area and does not slip with them either. We are going to order some additional pairs." —Ann W.

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in women's sizes 6–11 and in 42 colors).

That 32-inch size means it won't take up very much space at all, and will fit neatly on a desk or dresser!

Promising review: "Purchased as a gift for my daughter for college.

Nice little smart TV, very lightweight and easy to move around which is great for students who will be moving frequently. Comes preinstalled with popular streaming apps, Alexa on the remote for voice control, casting from your phone, it can connect to a computer/laptop via an HDMI cable for presentations or as a large computer monitor. It also has a digital tuner so she should be able to receive local live channels.

It is only capable of 720p resolution. It should be 1080p at the bare minimum, but with the screen size it and her viewing habits it shouldn't be too noticeable." —Adam Horton

Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (also available in 1080p from another listing for $109.99).

Promising review: "I love everything about this. I currently just started back in the college world and this thing has been a life saver! I can now sit in my giant chair with a blanket and this on my lap. It holds everything! Including my book! So much easier and better for my neck!" —Ashley LeMay

Get it from Amazon for $49.99.

It's designed to hold up to 30 pounds and attaches to the closet rod, so you don't have to worry about stuffing it full. It comes with *deep breath* six shelves, two underwear organizers, a bra organizer, socks organizer, a shirts organizer, and three side pockets for small things like sunglasses.

Promising reviews: "This is great for organizing and fitting more stuff into my closet at my dorm room! It was pretty sturdy at least enough to hold all my clothes!" —Madi Peterson

"This closet organizer is the best one I've ever seen or used? It is incredibly sturdy I have mine on one of those cheap clothing racks from Walmart and it stays put. Everything was super easy to put together. Doesn't require very much effort. I love how the drawers are different sizes and the one for socks is great! If you need some more space and better organization in your room or closet I would definitely recommend purchasing this organizer. Definitely worth the money!" —Lauren Cole

Get it from Amazon for $35.99.

The kit comes with small 3-inch risers and medium 5-inch risers that you can either use individually or stack up together for that 8-inch lift!

Promising review: "I bought these for my daughter to increase under-bed storage at her college apartment. It turns out she only needed the 5" risers. They were tall enough for her to store her luggage and other items under her bed but not so tall as to raise the bed way above her nightstand. They were the perfect size. We're going to use the 3-inch on our bed to increase storage space there. My daughter's bed is very stable on her hardwood floors. I thought we might have to buy an additional product to keep the risers from slipping, but that wasn't necessary as they are staying in place." —Monique

Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in three colors).

This set comes with three large storage bags! If you're looking for a shoe-friendly under-the-bed organizer, this one can fit up to 12 pairs!

Promising review: "One thing I can say is, it’s definitely worth the price! I was able to fit trash bags full of clothes into the storage bags, which really tidied up my closet. The storage bags can store away more than just clothes, and folds away nice and neatly when you’re not using it. These storage bags are very useful at home, and will be with me when I go back to college. These bags will definitely make moving back into my dorm much easier in the fall." —Greg Hammond

Get a 3-pack from Amazon for $23.88+ (available in two colors and more sizes).

Promising reviews: "This saved the day when we moved our daughter in to her dorm room. She needed many outlets and only had two. These are sleek, low profile, and get the job done!" —Lindsey

"Love this. I have many items to plug in now that I have to office at home. There’s plenty of room to plug in two laptops, a computer, a monitor, and my Alexa safely. It’s a little bulkier than I was expecting but that is due to the room your items will need." —Jennifer

Get it from Amazon for $17.97.

Promising review: "This product is awesome! We bought one in the office to stop a nearby chair from continuously hitting the outlet plugs. It solved the problem right away. So we ordered three more to use anywhere there is bulk on the wall. It saves space, makes arranging furniture and desks easy, it's clean looking. Someone is a genius. Thanks so much!" —Jay

Get it from Amazon for $23.95+ (available in seven sizes).

You can choose between seven fan sounds, seven white noise sounds, and 10 classic nature sounds like ocean waves, a campfire, or a thunderstorm. And if you (or your roommate) don't want it playing all night, there's a sleep timer you can set that'll turn it off after 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Each time you go to use it, it remembers your last timer, sound, and volume settings, too!

Promising review: "Does its job! I use it for my college dorm style apartment and it helps drown out my three suitemates, closing and opening of doors, people outside, etc." —Lexi

Get it from Amazon for $35.97.

Promising review: "I absolutely love this sleep mask because I hate falling asleep in a quiet room. At the same time, I share a dorm room, so I try to be respectful of my roommate. This helps immensely. Not only can I fall asleep listening to relaxing music, I can also sleep while he studies, because the mask blocks out light super well. It's padded around the eyes and nose. It was odd to get used to at first, but I really enjoy it. The only problem I have is that, with time, the indents where your eyes align started to curve inward, making the mask press against my lids uncomfortably. With a bit of adjustment, it is remedied, though. Overall, a great buy that I use almost nightly." —Storm

Get it from Amazon for $22.58+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "This is the best thing you never knew you needed. I own a digital clock with the numbers displayed in red LED light, and every night I've blocked the light with a cover so it doesn't shine in my eyes as I sleep. Silly I know, but I like my room pitch black and cavelike. On a whim I bought this product. OH MY GOD! Game changer!! For the first night EVER I didn't have to cover the clock display before I went to bed! Also the product is easy to remove and doesn't leave a sticky residue at all, which can't be said for most tapes." —Amazon Customer

Get a sheet of over 100 dimming stickers (in multiple sizes and shapes) from Amazon for $1.49.

It can hold up to three key rings! Check it out on TikTok here.

Promising review: "I bought this product almost two years ago for my college apartment and it's the best thing I ever bought! Perfect place to hang my keys up when I get home and I never lose them! It also looks very cute and simple. The adhesive is really strong and the magnet in it super strong as well. It holds up my apartment keys, my car keys, and my boyfriend's heavy Audi keys perfectly fine. Love it." —Meghan Consadene

Get it from Amazon for $7.98.

Besides pollen and smells, this helps remove bacteria, dust, smoke, and pet dander from the air! It has four fan speeds you can set, or put it in auto mode. There's also a sleep mode, so it doesn't get to loud while you're dozing.

Get it from our Goodful shop for $149.99.

Promising review: "I think that this was one of the best purchases I made for college. But this could be used for any sort of having to transport laundry to a different location than just your dorm room or your apartment. It has lasted me two years and has carried and fit about two weeks' worth of laundry without dropping or ripping. I also enjoyed having the pocket in the front to store laundry detergent pods as well as dryer sheets and other laundry-related items in order to be hands-free to push elevator buttons, open doors, or carry my phone among other things. Great buy!" —Nitya

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 13 colors).

I've been using this brand for the past several years, and love it! Besides being super lightweight and easy to carry around, it takes up almost no storage space, and doesn't require a giant plastic bottle, which cuts down on waste. It smells great, but doesn't leave a super strong smell on clothes. And like I said above, it still gets clothes just as squeaky-clean as regular detergents do!

Promising review: "We love this product! Very little scent, gets our clothes clean, completely dilutes. No big boxes or bottles. Nothing to measure, so son will have no problem learning to do his own laundry when college starts." —TJ's Mom

Get an 114-pack from Amazon for $22.59+ (available in two scents and unscented).

This all-purpose vegan paste is great for removing rust, hard-water stains, grease, and more messes around home! To use, just apply it to a surface with a damp cloth, gently rub it in, rinse it off with water, and polish the area with a dry cloth.

Promising review: "I bought this product to help me clean my dorm bathroom, including shower, sink, and toilet. I had my boyfriend bring his drill and clipped on a brush head just for efficiency but a hand brush will do just fine. I definitely recommend for any bathroom. As a college student and move-in day having started or near, I 10/10 recommend because we all know how mucky dorm showers can be." —Angela

Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

It comes with an optional wall mount, a charger, a crevice tool for tight fit spaces, and an upholstery brush for furniture and small rugs.

Promising review: "I got this to use in my dorm to pick up hair, crumbs, eraser shavings, and it works very well, it sucks everything up." —lyla

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

Delightful Luna is an Etsy shop based in North Carolina that specializes in personalized 3D-printed things, like keychains and magnets.

Promising review: "They are perfect! Now my bf won’t steal my charger anymore. They clip so well!" —Etsy Customer

Get it from Delightful Luna on Etsy for $5.50 (available in two charger types and 16 colors).

If you want more options, check out these roundups of the best mattress toppers and best firm mattress toppers.

Promising reviews: "I bought this mattress topper for my daughter to use at college, and she loves it! I originally got her a cheaper/thinner one, but it wasn’t working out. She started experiencing back pain and was having trouble sleeping (college dorm beds are the worst). As soon as she started using this topper she said she felt a tremendous difference; back pain eased up, and sleeping better. Only wish I would have gotten this for her from the beginning instead of opting for a cheaper version." —Joann A.

"I’m in LOOOOOVE with the topper like it makes such a huge difference. I don’t know why I didn’t get this sooner. For the past two quarters, I’d always wake up with back and shoulder aches from the hard rock of a college bed I was provided, but now? Omg. Squishy comfortable back savior. Also no weird smell and it unwrinkled in like 15–20 minutes after opening. Thank you." —Tina

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in sizes twin–California king, including Twin XL, and two thicknesses).

This bedside caddy comes with four, five, or six storage pockets!

Promising review: "Purchased as an added accessory for my son, as he is off to college. He told me it's perfect because he has the top bunk bed. It's convenient as he doesn't have to constantly get down to get his phone, charger, wallet, or water. He just has it on bed and doesn't worry about his things falling." —Selina

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 4 colors and 3 styles).

You can brew either a 6- or a 12-oz cup, and it'll fit a travel mugh up to 7 inches tall. Like all Keurigs, you simply add water, put in a K-Cup, and press the button. Boom, coffee is made!

Promising review: "This Keurig was the perfect size for my son's dorm room. Great for making coffee, tea, or just hot water for some ramen noodles. I've been a Keurig owner since they first launched and never had any complaints. Take care of the unit, and it will last a long time." —Mark P

Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in six colors).

It comes complete with removable glass shelves, convenient compartments in the door to maximize storage, and a lil bit of freezer space in the top perfect for stashing ice cream bars and popsicles.

Promising review: "I'm very happy with the retro blue fridge so far! It looks so cute and chic in my bedroom and doesn't take up too much space. I'm using it for beverages and snacks. Once plugged in, It took about 24 hours to get really cold and it a great temperature for bottled water. it's a nice machine. The freezer is very small and cold. Has a tiny drip tray underneath. I'm not planning on cooking frozen food in my bedroom, so it's fine. You can fit a little ice cream in there still." —Jeanette Wells-lipton

Get it from Amazon for $259.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

It works with laptops from 10" to 15.6", and comes apart easily for toting it to another location, like the library. You will need a keyboard and mouse to comfortably use it though — get a highly-rated wireless set from Amazon for $34.99.

Promising review: "I am a college student, I got this product for my desk and I love it! Not only does it give me more room on my desk, it also helps my neck, rather than stare down for hours I can look straight which really does make a huge difference. This product also holds my laptop very securely." —Jillian

Get it from Amazon for $23.77+ (available in nine colors).

Promising review: "Purchased for my granddaughters who are in college. They love it! They use it all the time on their screens, keyboards, and cellphones. Would purchase again!" —cookie007

Get it from Amazon for $11.95.

Listen to music, podcasts, and calls for up to nine hours at a time! Plus, they make it easy to be hands free while you're working on assignments.

If you'd specifically like a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, definitely check out these top-rated ones!

Promising review: "I loved the sound. These headphones place heavy emphasis on the most important part of the headphones, the sound. The bass is perfect for my music, but doesn’t drown out the vocals at all. The fit is perfect for my daily life in college, with a lot of walking. Noise is filtered a little by the seal of the headphones in your ear, but I don’t really care for active noise cancellation so I'm good with that. Overall these headphones are amazing for their price." —Nathaniel

Get them from Amazon for $159.95+ (available in two colors).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.