A Healthier Way to Move into a Dorm

This is more important than anything else in this article, for it will save a lot of time and potentially money throughout the semester. The resident assistant or dorm manager will allow you to see the room before you move in, and it is crucial that you inspect everything from top to bottom and make sure that he/she takes note on the condition of the room before you finalize occupancy of the room. Scrutinize everything!

Things to look for where applicable:

Worn or water-damaged ceiling,

Run each faucet and check for hot/cold water as well as the condition of the drains,

Electrical sockets that are not covered or are loose,

Stains on the carpet, tile, or furniture,

Rust on any of the plumbing or around any sinks, toilets, or showers,

Cracked or broken windows or mirrors,

Open and close each door (including closet doors and sliding doors) to ensure they close/lock properly,

Check the refrigerator/freezer for any odors or signs that they are not working properly,

Look at the knobs on the stove to make sure the numbers have not been rubbed off, and that they turn properly and securely, also check safely with your hand high off the stove to see if the coils and oven are working by turning them on and off one by one.

Take note of any bugs you may find as well

Be sure to make your own personal notes on the condition of the dorm, and keep a copy for yourself safely tucked away. At the end of occupancy the dorm management will want to inspect your dorm, and you do not want to be held financially responsible for any wear or damages that you did not cause.

This is also the perfect time to place maintenance or repair requests to the dorm staff. (Before you move in is preferable!)

Clean the entire dorm before you move your first box in

Use bleach on all tile and bathroom surfaces. Scrub the bathtub, sinks, and toilets with bleach aided cleaners. Scrub all counter surfaces and pantry shelves especially. It is very important to clean the shelves in the pantry since you will likely not have many opportunities to do it again once you are using them to store food. It is best to not have any of your personal belongings in the dorm until you have thoroughly cleaned the entire place. Remember that you likely do not know what kind of person lived there before you, so try to imagine a vey unkempt and unhealthy person living in their own filth and then just sweeping all of the visible garbage into trash bags before they moved out.

Use bug spray at all possible entrances

Spray under the doors to the dorm and across each window seal. You will want to do this regularly throughout your occupancy. It may not keep out all bugs, but it will act as an extra repellant against a lot of them. Do not get any of the spray in the electrical socket, but carefully spray around them (this is one way roaches get in).

Do not be afraid to complain about your neighbors

If you walk through the building and smell something foul coming from another person's room, do not be afraid to make management aware of it. All it takes is for one dorm to get a bug infestation and it will spread to all the other dorms around it.

Following this guide should make your start in dorm living much healthier and happier in the long run. Hopefully all of the advice here was helpful.