College Move-In Day Tips & Tricks

Move-in day is such a busy and exciting time for students and parents. By senior year you will have all the tips and tricks down pat, but your first year can be overwhelming figuring out where to start. This is what I recommend to help you with the move-in day!

1. Pack cleaning supplies for the day of

When you move into your dorm room you have to remember that many people have been living in the room before you using the same drawers, sleeping on the same mattress, etc. I am glad I came prepared with Clorax wipes to wipe down everything and ensure it was clean before moving my stuff in. I also purchased marble contact paper that I cut and put at the bottom of my dresser drawers to keep everything looking aesthetic and spotless!

2. Leave out your move-in day outfit

You will want to start thinking about what clothes you want to take with you and begin packing them well before the day you have to move. That being said it can be easy to forget that you need to save one outfit to wear the day you move in. This should be something you want to keep with you at college, so remember to put that to the side so you don’t have to go digging through bins you already packed to find an outfit.

3. Pack your bedding supplies last

This is one of the most helpful tips I have learned over the years for move-in day. I always pack my sheets, mattress topper, and other bedding essentials last in my car. This is then one of the first things you take out when you are moving into your dorm. That way you can make your bed and have it all set up to then be a place where you can put other things you have to unpack. It's easier to have that space available to use to lay things out while you are unpacking rather than everything piled on the floor!

4. Pack makeup and other breakable items in an ottoman

Most students bring some sort of storage ottoman when they move in. This is great to use as a seat, a way to step up onto your bed, or for extra storage space! I get worried about some of my breakable items getting destroyed or broken when traveling for hours in my car and then moving into my dorm every year. Packing them tightly into this storage ottoman is great as they stay nice and safe in there and won’t be able to break. Sometimes I use bubble wrap to protect these items in there as well.