This post is all about the dorm room cleaning supplies you need as a college student to keep your space spotless!
Staying in college dorms means you’ll have to do a lot of cleaning! Cleaning can be a tedious task, though, especially if you don’t have the right products to make sure your dorm is actually clean (and a solid cleaning schedule to follow)!
So if you’re ready to take on the cleaning tasks for your dorm but you’re not sure exactly what supplies you’d need, then this list will help you gather all the essentials to make you clean your dorm with confidence!
17 Dorm Cleaning Supplies Every Student Needs
This list of dorm cleaning supplies will help you know exactly what you need to clean everything in your dorm, including your dorm room, bathroom, and kitchen!
1. Cleaning caddy
If you’re going to buy all your essential dorm cleaning supplies, you should probably have something to store them in. This is where a cleaning caddy comes in handy!
Having a cleaning caddy to put all of your cleaning supplies inside will not only be convenient for keeping everything in one place, but will make cleaning so easy for you! As you’ll have everything in one place, you can carry everything where you need to, all at the same time!
This is especially convenient if you live in a college apartment where you’ll be cleaning more than one room (e.g., your dorm room, bathroom, etc).
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2. Vacuum
Your dorm room will inevitably get messy, especially the floor! So, having a vacuum is one of the most important dorm room cleaning supplies to have! Depending on your preference, you can get a cordless vacuum or a handheld vacuum.
When I was in college, I bought a cordless vacuum for my dorm room, as I feel like they’re more powerful for floor cleaning.
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3. Mop/Swiffer
Both mops and Swiffers are great dorm room cleaning supplies to have, but whichever you decide to pick is entirely down to your preference!
Mops (especially spin mops) generally get more dirt off the floor. Plus, they’re a single investment in comparison to Swiffers, where you’d have to keep buying new pads. On the other hand, a Swiffer is much easier to have than a mop, as you can use it to clean up small spills quickly.
Additionally, Swiffers take up less space, are more convenient, and are lighter than mops.
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4. Broom and dustpan
As convenient as vacuums are, sometimes there will be some spots in your room that your vacuum can’t reach. This is where a broom and dustpan would come in handy.
Not only will you be able to sweep any area of your room, but you can also do it quickly instead of dragging your vacuum for a clean-up that won’t take more than a minute!
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5. Windex
Windex is generally used as a glass cleaner. So it’s perfect for cleaning your window. But it’s also perfect for cleaning mirrors and faucets!
When I was at college, I always used a regular cleaning spray to wipe my mirrors (even though I’d hate the results) until my college roommate introduced me to using Windex instead. It leaves no streaks, removes all the dust, and will give your mirror a shiny, clean finish!
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6. Microfiber and glass cloths
Microfiber and glass cloths are the absolute non-negotiable dorm cleaning supplies! They’re great for cleaning, dusting, and generally wiping down any surface in your dorm room!
Although both are similar, they have different functions. The material of microfiber cloths means they are generally best to use for wiping down, cleaning, and dusting surfaces. Meanwhile, the material of glass cloths means that when cleaning windows, mirrors, and faucets, they won’t leave streaks or lint.
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7. Sponges
Sponges are the best for cleaning pots, pans, and utensils. If you live in a college apartment and have your own kitchen, then this is an absolute essential to have in your dorm!
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8. Dish soap
If you’re using a sponge, you’re most likely going to need a cleaning substance to use it with: dish soap. Dish soap is essential for washing your dishes and keeping them clean!
But not only are they great for washing dishes, they’re also great to use as a mopping solution to mop the floor! To create a mopping solution, mix ¼ cup of mild dish soap and 3 cups of warm water. This may not sound like much, but it goes a long way and does the job to keep your floors clean!
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9. Magic erasers
Magic erasers truly are magic! If you have stains or scuff marks that you can’t get out, I can assure you that a Magic Eraser can get them out for you! They’re also great for getting rid of soap scum, calcium scale and mineral build up in the bathroom!
Best of all, they’re super easy to use! Grab a Magic Eraser, damp it with water, squeeze out the excess water, then rub the area you want to clean. You’ll find that your Magic Eraser will actually erase dirt, dust, and scum!
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10. Duster
All of the surfaces in your dorm will inevitably get dusty at some point, especially the surfaces above your height! So, make sure you’re prepared to get rid of this dust by having a duster!
If you have allergies, then this is such an essential dorm cleaning supply as it will help reduce sneezing, itchy eyes, and a stuffy nose!
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11. Disinfecting wipes
Disinfecting wipes are the perfect dorm cleaning supplies to have for disinfecting surfaces such as desks, shelves, your toilet, and any high touch areas (door knob, faucets, light switches, etc).
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12. Toilet brush
No one likes a smelly toilet. And no one likes a dirty toilet either! There will be so many instances where you go to the toilet and you leave a mess, even after flushing!
In these instances, it’s important to keep your toilet bowl clean by cleaning it with a toilet brush. This is guaranteed to remove the dirt and make your toilet look clean!
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13. Tide Pods
Tide Pods (or any laundry pods) are great to have for doing your laundry in college. They won’t take up much space in your dorm and are effective in keeping your clothes smelling fresh and clean!
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14. Dryer sheets
After doing your laundry in the washer, you’re gonna want to put them in the dryer next (unless you have a drying rack). If you’re using a dryer, then it’s highly recommended to use dryer sheets.
These will make your clothes feel softer, smell nicer, and reduce static cling. Since the washers and dryers at the laundromats in college can sometimes make your clothes smell, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So use a dryer sheet to make sure your clothes smell nice and fresh!
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15. Reusable gloves
When it comes to cleaning your dorm, you’re gonna have to get serious about cleaning everything. And since you’ll be using chemical products, it’s important that your hands are protected from irritation.
So, get yourself some reusable gloves that you can wear every time you’re cleaning your dorm. As a germaphobe, I hate touching dust and dirt with my bare hands, so I always wear my yellow reusable gloves whenever I clean.
These kinds of gloves are so much better than disposable gloves, as they’re thicker and better for the environment!
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16. Trash bags
If you have a bin in your dorm, make sure to contain your trash and waste by using trash bags! This is important for making sure that your trash bin doesn’t constantly get dirty from waste, especially wet waste like food scraps.
If you can get your hands on scented trash bags, these will help to contain the odor of your trash and keep your room smelling fresh! And ultimately, it’s way easier to throw away your trash if you put all of your waste in a trash bag!
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17. Disinfectant and bleach spray
When you’re cleaning your dorm bathroom or kitchen, using disinfectant/all-purpose cleaner and bleach spray is a must! This will keep your toilet, bathtub or shower, kitchen tabletops, and sinks super clean!
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18. Air freshener
To keep your dorm consistently smelling lush, get yourself an air freshener that you can use to spray in the room! Personally, I’d recommend using different types of air fresheners for different rooms in your dorm.
For example, I’ve used a plug-in air freshener for my dorm room as it helps to keep it constantly smelling amazing. But for the bathroom, I’ve used an air freshener spray instead, as it’s mainly used after people do their business in the toilet.
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This post showed you 18 dorm cleaning supplies every college student needs to maintain a spotless space!
Like this post? You may like more of our dorm room tips and guides:
- The Ultimate Dorm Room Cleaning Schedule That Will Make Cleaning Easy and Less Boring
- 15 Genius Dorm Bathroom Ideas That Will Transform Your Space and Keep It Neat
- 20 Forgotten Dorm Room Essentials Every Freshman Needs
- 20 Genius Dorm Room Storage Hacks You Need to Know for College
- The Ultimate College Dorm Packing List for Freshman Year
