Essential Items for Every College Student's Dorm Tool Kit

Do you know someone that is headed off to college soon and will be living in the dorms? Here are a few things that every college dorm student should have in their tool kit. They make great going away gifts.

The first time I lived I a dorm I learned a lot. Here are the things I wish I had taken with me the first time...

Screwdriver ~
The beds in the dorms have usually been around long enough to loosen up. You will want to tighten up all the screws before you lay down and try to get comfortable. You will probably also want to tighten things that you don't want to wait for maintenance to get around to coming up to do. When thousands of people move in all at once there's a lot for the maintenance staff to do. Sometimes it's faster just to have your own screwdriver.

Caulk ~
Whether you defy the rules and put nails and screws in the wall, or whether you accidentally ding one of your walls and cause a little gouge, caulk is the way to cover it up. Keep from loosing your security deposit by wiping a little caulk into those little holes and then rubbing over them with a damp finger. It will be just like it never happened.

Duct Tape ~
Never go anywhere without duct tape. Not college, not your first apartment, don't even get into your car. It's good for a million things that you won't realize you need it for until you don't have it. Remember, if it moves and it shouldn't; use duct tape. If doesn't move and it should; use WD-40. (Put WD-40 on your list of things to take too!)

Allen Wrench Set ~
If you are planning on adding any of the put-it-together furniture from your local discount store to your dorm room, you will find that almost all of it requires an Allen wrench to put it together. Unfortunately, the manufacturers never put an Allen wrench in the box, so you will need to provide your own. Allen wrench sets are inexpensive but they are hard to find when thousands of people all move in all at once and realize they need one, so make sure you get one before you leave home.

Extension Cords ~
You will undoubtedly be told not to permanently install extension cords in your dorm room. However, this doesn't mean you can't use them for short-term use as long as you unplug them as soon as you are done with them. There are two kinds of extension cords. One simply adds length; it has one plug on each end, you plug it into the wall and you can be some number of feet away and still be able to plug in your appliances. This simply makes it more convenient to have your appliances where you want them instead of having to put them right next to where the plug happens to be.

The other kind of extension cord actually gives you extra outlets. You plug in one cord and on the other end you get three outlets, (or six outlets, or sometimes even eight). These are the ones that your dorm owners will really frown on because if you plug in all eight of those holes (or even six or three of them), you can potentially overload the power supply and cause a fire. No matter which kind of extension cord you use they can be very handy in the right situation. Just be sure to unplug them before you leave your room.

These are the things that I would pack for myself if I were leaving to live in the dorms today. I hope my advice has helped you be more prepared for your first day in the dorms as well.

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