Everything To Have On Your Dorm Room Bathroom Essentials List

This list will give you everything you need to have on your dorm room bathroom essentials list before move-in day! Whether your dorm has a communal or suite-style bathroom, you will need most of the items on this essentials list.

College dorm bathrooms are most likely going to be small and the last place you would want to share with anyone. The basics that you need for your college bathroom are pretty simple.

If you use it every day or every other day at home, then you will need to bring it. I’m talking about deodorant, toothbrush, makeup, or anything else you’d use. But this list gives you the utmost essentials for your bathroom in college.

This post is also part of my college essentials series where I give incoming students & freshmen lists of items they will most likely need to have in college.

How Do College Bathrooms Work?

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College bathrooms typical are small, so there is little room. Also, it’s rare that a college bathroom has a tub and most have showers.

Personally, my dorm complex had a suite-style bathroom, which meant that two bedrooms had to share one bathroom (I also got luckier by my roommate picking the only single bathroom on our side of the hall).

But I also stayed with a friend my sophomore year who lived in a dorm that had a communal hall bathroom. Both styles of bathrooms are similar and work the same.

Communal bathrooms tend to be several stalls with showers installed inside. Students sometimes have to wait if the stalls are full. Having a shower caddy will do you justice if your dorm has a hall communal bathroom because you will haul your items back and forth pretty much every day.

If you are fortunate enough, there might be a cleaning team that will come by weekly to clean your dorm’s bathroom. My college had that included with our dorm expenses.

Here is a list of things you need for college bathrooms as a freshman that I put together for you!

9 Dorm Room Bathroom Essentials You Need:

1. Towels

You’re probably wondering how many towels to bring to college? I recommend that you bring 3-4 towels per size. You do not want to bring that many towels but enough to have around in case something spills or when you forget to wash them. I had a couple of towel sets that I used and switched around. I recommend getting a nice pair of towels that will last a while. Basically have 3 small, medium, and large towels.

2. Shower Caddy

A mesh shower caddy is the way to go when it comes to dorm bathrooms. Those hard ones are a mess. I remember having one and I couldn’t bring it in my shower at all because of all the water that would get in it. The water from my shower would leak out when I would carry it out of the shower which later got all over our dorm’s floor. You should get a shower caddy that can hold shower gel, shampoo, condition, a comb, a face wash, and whatever else you think you need with you. I recommend this one from Amazon due to its large compartment and several other sections that can everything you need.

3. Shower Shoes

One of my top dorm must haves for freshmen is shower shoes. I did not know what these were before stepping on campus for my summer camp program for incoming freshmen. You do not know what gross germs are living and having a good time on the floor in those shared bathrooms. Shower shoes protect your feet from germs and fungi in the shower. I recommend some shower shoes that have holes, like the ones I recommended below, in them that get the water out, so your feet won’t start itching (which happened to me with my regular flip flops.)

4. Toliet Paper

Okay, some dorms provide toilet paper while others do not. I would still bring my own toilet paper because you don’t know until you get to your dorm AND I personally like more than 1 ply tissue paper. Despite my dorm provided toilet paper, my roommate and I had to buy some more. Every week we’d run out because the free 1-ply tissue wasn’t cutting it. Save yourself the trouble and get a pack of toilet paper for yourself.

Plus, you never know what will happen and just need toilet paper near.

5. Bathrobe

Next on the list, is one of the top communal bathroom essentials I can think of. This also fits for suite dorm bathrooms! You will need a robe for sure. Towels can do so much. I recommend having a robe because it’s hard changing in communal bathrooms and I personally did not like walking down a hallway with just a towel while trying to hold all of my stuff. Also, you won’t need to worry about the robe slipping or falling off at the worst time. Get a bathrobe. They will save you from a lot of hassle.

As I’m writing this, I’m also wearing a robe because they also serve as an alternative to a blanket.

6. Shower Rug

If you have a suite-style bathroom, then you will need a shower rug to avoid slipping on the floor. You do NOT want to slip in the bathroom. Trust me that almost happened to me several times. I recommend getting a shower rug, especially if your bathroom does not have a handle in your bathroom to help you stand. The floor in those bathrooms can get super cold. Find a slip-resistant shower rug to help you get in and out of the shower in peace.

Also, if you have a communal bathroom in your hall, it’s likely that you have a personal sink in your dorm. Get a shower rug as well to prevent water from getting on your floor.

7. Loofah

Get a few loofahs for your shower caddy. I didn’t use towels in the shower due to using them to wash my face. I also didn’t need to add to my laundry load. Also, remember to replace your loofah every 30 days. Loofahs work better with shower gel and exfoliate your skin. I recommend getting a set like this one due to not having the hassle of worrying about buying another one in a month. One thing you’ll learn about living on campus is that it is difficult to get off and it seems annoying just to get out for only a loofah.

8. Antibacterial Soap

You will need something to wash your hands, especially living in a dorm. Germs spread so fast in dorms. I personally got sick around 2 times a semester. Getting antibacterial soap is a necessity for college bathrooms. You can easily find some at the Dollar Tree or at Target. But if you like to buy things in bulk, here is a brand I recommend from Amazon:

9. Shower Cap

The final bathroom essential for college that you need is a shower cap. As someone with a lot of hair that hates humidity, I always needed a shower cap. Bring a shower cap to keep your hair from getting wet in the shower. Do not underestimate the need for a shower cap, especially if you have curly or natural hair. I use my shower cap daily.