{"id":4331,"date":"2022-08-23T15:42:05","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T14:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/?p=4331"},"modified":"2022-08-23T16:07:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T15:07:24","slug":"small-essentials-to-bring-to-uni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/2022\/08\/23\/small-essentials-to-bring-to-uni\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Essentials to Bring to Uni"},"content":{"rendered":"

Post written by Georgia Harris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019ve already started your uni shopping, or you\u2019ve waited to get your results before embarking upon IKEA, don\u2019t forget to get these less obvious items that you might struggle without.<\/p>\n

First Aid Kit<\/u><\/p>\n

If you move in with a mini first aid kit, your future self will thank you immensely \u2013 especially if it means you don\u2019t have to drag yourself to a supermarket on a Sunday morning while hungover or suffering from Freshers\u2019 Flu!<\/p>\n

I have a little box filled with paracetamol, plasters, nail scissors, Savlon, throat lozenges and sanitary products \u2013 I just restock an item when it\u2019s running low, and it means I\u2019m always prepared in case I feel ill.<\/p>\n

IKEA Bags<\/u><\/p>\n

All hail the IKEA bag<\/a>. They\u2019re great for packing your things to take to and from uni because they fit so much in; 2 bags will fit all my clothes, towels, and shoes. Throughout the year you can also use one as a laundry basket for easy transportation of your clothes to the laundry room, and you can use them to separate your recycling. And they\u2019re only 75p each! Bargain.<\/p>\n

Old Trainers for Nightclubbing<\/u><\/p>\n

Thankfully, wearing high heels to nightclubs is no longer a social expectation. You won\u2019t want to wear your best trainers either, though: club floors are sticky, and there\u2019s a high risk of drink spillage (you won\u2019t want to spend your night trying to get cola off your lovely new white shoes). I have a comfy pair of old trainers that I wear on nights out, which means I can go out without worrying too much about other people\u2019s drinks overflowing.<\/p>\n

Small Bin (and Bin Liners) for your Room<\/u><\/p>\n

It\u2019s unlikely that your bedroom will have a bin in it, so it\u2019s a good idea to get one (instead of relying on the busy bins in communal areas). I recommend getting one with handles and a lid so it\u2019s easy to transport, and lining it with a bin bag will make emptying it much easier.<\/p>\n

Extension Lead<\/u><\/p>\n

You won\u2019t know how many plug sockets are in your room until you move in, so it\u2019s worth being prepared. You could get an extension lead with USB ports, like this one<\/a> for \u00a313 from IKEA.<\/p>\n

Reed Diffusers & Plug-In Air Fresheners<\/u><\/p>\n

You won\u2019t be allowed candles in your uni room, but that doesn\u2019t mean your room can\u2019t smell lovely! Reed diffusers<\/a> and plug-in air fresheners<\/a> are cheap and last for a long time (you just rotate the reed diffuser\u2019s sticks once a week); after a long day at university, you\u2019ll love coming back to a nice-smelling room.<\/p>\n

Dishmatic<\/u><\/p>\n

Revolutionary. To use a Dishmatic<\/a>, you attach a washing-up sponge to one\u00a0end of the handle and put washing-up liquid into the handle by unscrewing the lid, so when you\u2019re washing dishes the washing-up liquid comes through the sponge. If, like me, you hate touching leftover food while you\u2019re washing dishes, this will change your life. It\u2019s easy to use,\u00a0cheap and\u00a0helps your washing-up liquid last longer: you can\u2019t go wrong.<\/p>\n

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Cleaning Supplies<\/u><\/p>\n

If you go to uni with cleaning supplies, you\u2019ll be more likely to clean! Ensure you bring anti-bacterial surface cleaner spray (this can be used on surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom and bedroom), bleach spray for cleaning your sink and shower (if you have an en suite bathroom) and glass cleaner (if you have glass in your room, like mirrors or framed photos): anti-bacterial wipes are also very useful. It\u2019s also handy to have a small dustpan and brush in your room, and don\u2019t forget kitchen roll.<\/p>\n

Shared Bathroom Bits<\/u><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have an en suite bathroom and will instead share a bathroom with your flatmates, it\u2019s a good idea to have a small basket to keep your shower bits in, so your arms aren\u2019t full while walking to and from the bathroom. This basket from IKEA<\/a> has suction cups, so it will stick to the wall while you\u2019re in the shower. You might also want to bring some flip flops or sliders for walking to and from the showers.<\/p>\n

Personal Touches<\/u><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important that your uni room feels like your own, and you can accomplish this however you want! Print off some pictures, get some plants (real or fake), and a lamp or some fairy lights to put your stamp on your new home. Command hooks and strips are good for putting things on walls, but if you\u2019re still a bit nervous about doing that (as I was) you can use Blu Tack to put pictures and posters on your wardrobe or dresser; framing pictures and standing them up on surfaces around your room is also a good method of personalisation without risking your deposit.<\/p>\n

Other Important Bits!<\/u><\/p>\n

Here are a couple of other little (potentially forgettable) things that you\u2019ll need: your flatmates will thank you!<\/p>\n