This post is sponsored by eBay and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make eyeliner wings & pretty things possible!
Though this area of college housing is often overlooked, it’s one of the most important ones. Sophomore year my dorm kitchen was the hot spot for all of my best studying and productive moments. Junior year the dorm kitchen was always full of life and it was the hotspot for socializing. Plus, sometimes we even cooked in there. I also may or may not have set some food on fire in there but that’s beside the point.
The perfect dorm kitchen can be achieved when you know the right items and the right systems to bring to the table.
1. Create a Weekly Cleaning Schedule
After making the schedule, it’s important to universally define “cleaning.” Will the person whose week it is just take out the trash and recyclables? Will they also clean all of the counter tops and sweep the kitchen? In my house, we broke up the duties into pairs. If it was the pair’s week, one of them took out the trash and the other took out the recyclables before sliding it to the next duo. This kept things fair and simple.
Quick tip? Use a piece of paper with names and a paper clip for a simple cleaning schedule. The paper clip can move to show whose turn it is.
2. Clean Out Expired Foods
Keep track of when foods expire! I always did this with a magnetic notepad stuck to the side of my fridge. I wrote down all sorts of items and then wrote the date they expired. I also sent a message to my housemates offering to share when I had a lot of something expiring soon that I know I couldn’t finish myself (ie: a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk!)
Also, speak up! If your housemate has expired food lying around (especially smelly expired food), let them know. If you’re close enough with them and their food clearly moldy or rotten, toss it. Not everyone will agree with that roommate advice but you don’t want a smelly kitchen and, is Karen really going to eat a rotten piece of tuna she left in the fridge for two weeks?
3. Split the Costs (& the Space)
This is always wise to do in the beginning of the year. A shared Google Doc is the easiest way to do this. Split up small appliances and other items to share. View them as investments — the item you buy now can easily go to your future post-grad apartment or next year’s dorm kitchen.
Ensure you don’t have doubles or triples of appliances or other large items. Remember, even if your kitchen is nice, space is limited. On that same note, ensure you’re splitting cabinet space and fridge space fairly. No one should be monopolizing an entire shelf on the fridge unless there’s room to do so. Decide how cabinet space and fridge space will be split ASAP. Definitely take note of my Tips for Living with Multiple Roommates.
4. Buy the Essentials
There are so many dorm kitchen essentials, but the costs can be cut when you divide them up as I mentioned before. The cost can also be cut when you use affordable websites, like eBay to shop. Here are some of my most-used essentials:
This is college — a lot of your meals will probably be using the microwave. I love using it to cook oatmeal and frozen veggies.
Keurig Single Cup Coffee Maker
Major heads up! Most colleges only allow single cup coffee makers in the dorms. I have been using my single cup Keurig since freshman year and I don’t know what I would’ve done without it.
Farberware New Traditions Speckled Aluminum Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware Set
This is such an amazing deal and this is by far the most important dorm kitchen essential. This is extra important if you plan on sharing with housemates — this set comes with a lot of pans and pots of all sizes. I bought them for half price and free shipping. Did you know that 67% of items ship free on eBay?
Plus, how cute is this design? These can be used to cook everything from scrambled eggs to pasta to stir fry. I’m also happy that this set can come with me to my first apartment post-grad!
2 Letters Shaped Ice Cube Silicone Trays
Ice cube trays are essential, so you might as well make them more fun by having one with fun shapes? Pro tip: When you’re hosting a party or big get together, start making and storing ice in a bag in your freezer so when guests arrive there will be plenty of ice for cold drinks!
Guy Fieri 12-Piece Stamped Knife Set
The set of knives I own is my favorite and most useful college kitchen buy. Plus, a knife block allows your set to take up minimal counter space.
Measuring cups are ridiculously helpful and I’ve had them with me since freshman year.
I also recommend having a cupcake pan, cookie sheets, a set of mixing bowls, dish drying rack, toaster oven, whisk, silverware and cutting boards. All of these things can totally be found on the eBay back to college landing page.
5. Decorate
Remember, your kitchen is still a part of your home. I loved adding DIY alphabet magnets on my fridge. We also hung seasonal banners above our kitchen window and string lights in December. We always had decorative dish towels and pot holders, too. Plus, we hung canvases my mom painted that had coffee, tea and cupcakes around the kitchen.
6. Make it Clear What’s Shared (& What’s Not)
My housemates and I were fairly close last year so we shared appliances, plates, silverware, etc. Not all housemates are comfortable with this. My other friend’s housemates didn’t share anything with each other. Typically, the only items we didn’t share with each other was food and our personal coffee mugs. Establish the sharing guidelines early to avoid any miscommunication or hurt feelings.
7. Leave a Food Sharing Space
In my two years with a dorm kitchen and all different housemates, we’ve always had a designated area to share food and snacks. Food about to expire? Made extra muffins? Mom sent you a snack you don’t like? Designate a certain area in the kitchen for “up for grabs” food. Leave a nice little note and boom! Less food will go to waste.
8. Do a Monthly Deep Clean
Find a day where everyone is free and have the whole house clean the kitchen together. Last year, my housemates and I typically ate breakfast together on Sunday and then divvied up the jobs and cleaned the kitchen. We always played “It’s A Hard Knock Life” from the Annie soundtrack as per my request. It’s so refreshing having a nice, clean kitchen!
When it comes to deep cleaning remember to wash cabinet handles, sweep the floors, clean out the fridge and freezer, wipe down appliances and clean the stove tops.
9. Keep it Simple
If something isn’t absolutely essential, don’t bring it. Or, if you can purchase multi-use appliances versus single-use ones, it’ll save you a lot of space and money.
10. Stock Up on Certain Items
There were quite a few items my housemates and I always ran out of and needed to stock up on in bulk. I recommend you and your housemates do the same by stocking up on the following:
- Paper towels
- Napkins
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Hand Soap
- Kitchen Sponges
- Dish Soap
- Trash Bags
- Foil
- Storage Bags & Sandwich Bags
Plus, eBay has a huge back to college checklist with some more ideas for items to stock up on and purchase!
What are some of your dorm kitchen essentials?
I’m so bad about keeping expired food in my fridge, haha! It’s gross but I just forget about it! When i used to live with two roommates it was so frustrating to keep our food separate! I’m so glad I live alone now and can eat everything in the kitchen, haha! Great post!
Same! That sounds lovely, I always hated having to check everything with everyone to remember if it was mine or not haha