16D OFF THE HILL
THE UNIVERSITY OF DALY KANSAS
HOUSING
MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2006
Handy items often forgotten
BY ADRIENNE BOMMARITO
Decorating a dorm room or apartment can be a hassle. With all the pressures and stress of moving, it's easy to forget to buy important items that will be missed later. After visiting stores around Lawrence, the following lists were compiled to help you remember all the necessities that are typically forgotten.
FOR YOUR DORM ROOM
FIRST AID KIT
Besides the items suggested for dorm rooms, such as carpet, rugs, desk, lamp, microwave and mini refrigerator, here are some much needed, but commonly missed, articles.
Freshman new exprieto students, cluding not having Mom around. A first aid kit consisting of bandages, burn cream
and gauze
pads will help keep cuts and burns clean and reduce infections and discomfort.
Price Range: $5 to $15 (depending on size and contents)
CABLEZIPPER
A cablezipper is used to connect all the cords from a computer. Instead of having long strands of annoyance, a cablezipper clasps all the cords together, making a neater and more organized desk. With the small space of a dorm room, there is no reason to clutter it up with computer cords.
Price Range: $10 to $20
Used for not-in-season clothing, the space bag vaccum seals its contents, then all
you have to do is roll it up and stow it. The vacuum seal allows a lot of material to be smooshed together for small storage space.
Price Range: $20 to $40
SLEEP MASK
A sleep mask is imperative for those students who can't sleep with a light on. When sharing a dorm room, there will be times when one roommate is studying late at night while the other is asleep. A sleep mask will help accommodate the roommates, so both are satisfied.
Price Range: $5 to $10
POSTER STICKIES
Instead of living in boredom with plain white walls, add some flavor with posters and pictures. However, to secure them to the wall, you will need poster stickies. Poster stickies will keep your decoration in place without damaging the wall or poster.
Price Range: $3 to $5
SURGE PROTECTOR
This item is good for protecting your computer if the electricity shuts off, and is a great investment, even for life after the dorms. Instead of plugging the computer cords directly into the wall, plug them into a surge protector and your technology will be safe.
Price Range: $20 to $30
BOOK LIGHT
Again, to avoid roommate disagreements, purchase a book light for late-night studying or reading. Book lights can be small enough to clip onto the book, allowing for easy reading wherever you are.
Price Range: $5 to $10
erators, mold and mildew and laundry bags. Satisfaction is guaranteed.
DORM ROOM ODOR ELIMINATOR
Found at Bed Bath and Beyond for $8.99,
the Gonzo Dorm Room Odor Eliminator is
definitely a must-have. It will eliminate odor
from left over food, athletic gear, refrig-
These reusable dryer balls soften fabrics while cutting drying time in half. The dryer balls will come in handy cost wise, and with a two-year life expectancy, it doesn't matter how often you dry your clothes.
DRYER BALLS
Price Range: $5 to $15
IRON AND BOARD
Two of the items many people forget about until they need a wrinkle-free shirt, an iron and board nearby will come in handy.
Price Range: Iron $20 and up, Board $10 and up
FOR YOUR APARTMENT
Besides items already purchased for the dorm room, and obvious items such as furniture and dishes needed for an apartment, here are some generally overlooked articles.
If you like toast, baggels or toaster pastries in the morning, or any time, this is a must-have for your kitchen. For a quick and easy breakfast or a late-night snack, a toaster
TOASTER
SHOWER CURTAIN AND HOOKS
will serve you well.
Price Range: $20 to $80
Although this may seem obvious, many people simply forget to buy one. A shower curtain will give you your privacy and keep your bathroom floor dry.
Price Range: Curtain $10 to $40, Hooks $2
to $10 for a set
VACUUM CLEANER
clean, a vacuum cleaner will be beneficial to tidy up after a late-night rendezvous. Food particles and mud will attempt to take over your apartment, but your handy vacuum cleaner will prevent that from happening.
Price Range: $30 and up
Now that you actually have an area to
BLENDER
Now that you have your own kitchen, a blender will be convenient for making smoothies and specialty drinks. Themed get-togethers, such as Fiesta Night, will need a blender for those oh-so-tasty margaritas.
Price Range: $20 to $100
VACUUM CLEANER
Now that you actually have an area to clean, a vacuum cleaner will be beneficial to tidy up after a late-night rendezvous. Food particles and mud will attempt to take over your apartment, but your handy vacuum cleaner will prevent that from happening.
Price Range: $30 and up
KITCHEN TRASH CAN
People remember to purchase a dorm room trash can during freshman year, but seem to forget to buy one for the kitchen when they move into a house or apartment. A kitchen trash can will be a convenience and will help keep your kitchen sanitary.
Price Range: $10 to $40
Having access to a kitchen is great because you can cook your own meals. But what about the cleaning? A dish scrubber comes in handy when washing the dishes by
DISH SCRUBBER
hand, or to pre-wash before putting them in the dishwasher.
Price Range: $3 to $6
CAN OPENER
Price Range: $2 to $5
While cooking in your own kitchen, a can opener will be needed to open canned food items such as corn or green beans. This is another item people often overlook.
BROOM
Price Range: $2 to $10
Unless you've hired a maid to clean your apartment, you will have to start doing it yourself. A broom is an easy way to clean up fallen particles from the floors of your kitchen and bathroom.
ICE-CUBE TRAYS
For a cold glass of water after hours of sweeping and vacuuming the apartment, icecube trays are a necessity.
Price Range: $2 to $7
COFFEE MAKER
Whether it's staying up late to study or waking up at the crack of dawn to start your day, a coffee maker is helpful for getting your daily doses of caffeine.
Price Range: $20 and up
Whether you are shopping as a freshman moving into the residence halls or as a first-time apartment leaser, don't forget these vital items that will help your school year be as smooth as possible.
Kansan staff writer Adrienne Bommarito can be reached at abommaroto@kansan.com
Edited by Dani Hurst
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