About a week after I moved into my freshman dorm, my room mate and I were sleeping in our room when two drunk boys opened the door. They told us they had lived in the room the year before, that one had puked in our bed and that a pack of beer had exploded in the fridge.

Well then.

Beyond this being pretty dang creepy in retrospect, this event taught me an important lesson. Dorms are disgusting. And all sorts of bad decisions will be made there. One bad decision? Not locking our doors. Another? Shelling out so much money on junk to fill up the room.

Dorm rooms seem like the perfect time to just buy whatever junk is available- your tenure there is so short, why waste money? The problem with this is that it makes a ton of waste you will have to confront later. Instead, a greener, waste-free approach to setting up your dorm room can do you lots of good, keep chemicals out of your body, and save money!

If you are looking for information on green options, I have answers for literally everything on your list. Here are some other resources:

If you want to read the first half of this dorm shopping list, check here.

If you need green options for the basics, check here.

If you want to find greener options for all of your class needs, notebooks, etc- we have you covered there too!

So if you really want to have a green dorm room (for yourself, or your kid) you have to do more than buying a few greenwashed cleaners from Target. These are key ways to switch your approach to have a greener (and happier life:

Use What You Have

You already have shelves! You have blankets! You have a lamp! Skip the nonsense and just use those. You don't need a weird shrine to your youth at home (trust me, I had one). Your new home is temporary for sure, but you can still bring home with you. Anything you don't buy is a win for the environment, and on that note...

Get it Used

Happily accept hand me downs. Ask around on Buy Nothing. Go to the Goodwill or thrift shop near campus (it is a GOLDMINE. Trust me. I have just saved you hundreds of dollars. You can use that money for late night pizza or less debt! Either way, better investment). Start thinking of buying new as a last resort and it will change so much.

Buy What is Made to Last

There is this weird assumption that because you are moving into a space for a short time, all the stuff in it should be short-lived too. I don't get it. If you buy a crappy blanket that will last you one year for 10 bucks, you still have to spend 10 bucks again the neck year. It adds up fast. Where you have to buy something new, consider it an early investment in your adult life, and get something worth keeping.

This is great for the world for a couple of reasons. First, it keeps you away from crappy plastic junk that will leech into our water and our bodies. It also means you will create way less waste in our lifetime, which is what our environment desperately needs. Third, if you buy junk, you can assume the people who made it were treated like junk. If you believe in the humanity of other people, you have to care how the person who made your stuff is treated. No more Made in Poverty stuff. Shop things that were manufactured nearby and were made to last. No research needed- I will point you to it.

Now what all do you actually need for college? I went 14 (!!) years ago, so I cannot remember what all we bought. So I thought this one from Honestly Haley covered all the bases. I left a few out that seemed crazy to me. This is everything we are going to try to cover. If you missed the first part, you can check it out here.

Big Things- TV, Microwave, Printer, Fan, Rug, Coffee Maker, Vaccuum

Bathroom- Shower Caddy, Washclothes, Scrubbies, Shower Shoes, Robe, Towels, Toiletries

Bedroom- Blankets, Sheets (2 sets), Mattress Pad, Bed Risers, Lamp, Trash Can, Pillows, Hangers

Decorations and Storage- Drawers, Command Strips, Corkboard, Ottoman, Hamper, Mirror, Photos, Poster

Kitchen- Travel Mug, Reusable Water Bottle, Silverware, Can Opener, Dish Towel, Pot Holders, Tupperware, Plates, Bowls, Mugs, Ziploc Bags

Electronics- Headphones, Cell Phone Charger, Computer Charger, Flash Drive, Surge Protectors, Extension Cord

Cleaning and Laundry- Dish Soap, Cleaning Wipes, Paper Towels, Trash Bags, Lint Roller, Air Freshener, Landry Basket, Detergent, Stain Remover

Other- Batteries, Flashlight, Duct Tape, Umbrella, Games, Playing Cards, Travel Bag

I use affiliate links for Amazon and Etsy, so I make a tiny cut if you buy things from there. That said, don't buy stuff off Amazon where you can. Instead, think about local businesses you can try to support instead.

Ok, let's get to filling up that dorm!

Bedroom

Blankets

Our Pick- Start with what you already have! There are probably enough blankets at your house that you can bring some with you without freezing your family. You will get a lot of mail about the size of the beds in dorms. It matters for sheets, but not really about blankets. Save money, and then your dorm room will smell a little bit like home.

American Made Dorm and Home makes all of their blankets and sheets in the US and the company actually started specifically for dorm rooms. If you aren't sure where to start, this is the site.

Other Options- If you need some blankets, consider asking for a really good one like one from Faribault or  Woolrich as a birthday or holiday gift. These are the kind of blankets you keep for life, maybe one of the first items you take with you from place to place.

Sheets (2 sets)

Our Pick- Find them used! A whole class of freshmen bought these sheets last year, and a bunch of them are moving to apartments (and normally shaped beds) this fall. Check Craig's List, Buy Nothing, or the thrift shops near the college. Wash the heck out of it, and you are good to go.

Other Options-American Made Dorm and Home is woman-owned, American-made, and has everything you need. Not the cheapest (and it is so tricky because you know you will only use them a few years), but if you buy something that will last, you can pass it on at least?

Mattress Pad

Our Pick- A mattress pad might be the best gift you can give a college student (or yourself); it allows for better sleep and puts another layer between them and the last person's cooties. You can also find quite a few made in America ones. Exceptional Sheets has one made in the USA from bamboo, so that might be your best option.

Other Options-There are other options as well, but I recommend looking for things that aren't made with polyurethane. We need less synthetic junk in our lives, and honestly, these literally smell. Instead, here is another bamboo option and a viscose one (viscose is better, but still not great).

Bed Risers

Our Pick - This seems like something you should be able to rent or find used. I mean, someone else has finished using them, right? Go ask the front desk at Goodwill. If not, you can get these gems from CPCustomWoodworking. Or if you are inspired, this looks like something you could make yourself.

Other Options- Ok, if these are mostly plastic, why do they not make 100% post-consumer recycled ones? Why is this not a thing (yet)? I found a few Made in America ones (Greenco), but really, you want to avoid fresh plastic when you don't need it.

from Scholastic Electric

Lamp

Our Pick- Used! I know we have a couple of lamps sitting around at our house that we never actually use. I think that is true of everyone. Check around before you would ever buy something new, and save money. It's a lamp, so be sure to bring a lightbulb and plug it in if you are going to take it home from a garage sale or Goodwill.

Other Options- Ok, you may think there aren't that many options out there, but you would be a FOOL! So many options! Here are a few of my favorites. They aren't that cheap. If you want cheap, get it secondhand. If you want cheap and stylish, get on Etsy.  If you want cheap and can't find one on in your local thrift shop, ebay has thousands (literally). If it's not amazing, why buy it new?

If you want awesome table lamp you will keep forever, I recommend Scholastic Electric. They make their lighting in the United States, and I will lust after their lamps until I reach peak fanciness and buy one. If you have  hit peak fanciness at 18, God bless you. Buy one of these lamps, but tie them down with something.

You can find other amazingness on Etsy. Vintage is great. I also love the Edison lamps, which seem like what actual future scientists would study by. I love these ones from Urban Edison (they even have desk organizer ones). So much cooler than anything at Target. If that isn't your style, Nino Shea Designs lamps are really unique and stylish.

 Trash Can

Our Pick- Is there a garbage can in your room at your parent's home? DONE. When you come back for weekends, holidays, and laundry, you can toss your trash in another room. 0 dollars spent. If you shared a room with a sibling, just screw them and take it anyway.

If you need a basic liner to bring, I have tons of advice on that too- check here!

Other Options- All plastic trash cans should be made out of recycled plastic. How is this not a thing already?!? Since that is so not the case, my best advice is to get a small Behrens trash can. They look like the kind of thing that is easy to clean, pack stuff in to, and bring it on to whatever your next chapter will be.

 Pillows

Our Pick- Bring pillows from home! How many adults don't have a bunch of pillows hanging around in a linen closet somewhere. Start by using what you already have.

Other Options-Ok, I'm going to be totally honest right now. We got our pillows at Target. The Boy just bought some new ones when we had an overload of visitors, and they are terrible. I don't blame Target; I blame him. But the truth of the matter is that this is not something you want to get secondhand (blech) or buy online (or ask my husband for help with). You need to feel it to know what you are getting. If there are ones with "made in America" (or where ever you are) on it, start there. Otherwise, not a lot of winning here.

Hangers

Our Pick- Take. Some. From. Home. Your clothes will go with you, so why not bring the hangers they used to hang on? What else will they hold- air?

You can get these used! Skip those cheapy plastic ones unless you can find them in a thrift shop. Ask your neighbors if they have any to gift you, and I guarantee someone will be more than happy to offload some of theirs (seriously, I have given hangers away multiple times). Free is better than cheap.

Other Options- Honey Can Do sells recycled hangers. Still plastic, and it would be hard to track them down in a real store, but better than fresh plastic to hold clothes?

Decorations and Storage

Who doesn't love a new space to make into their own! It's exciting! But you can make it you without making tons of waste and related nonsense.

My best advice for decor for your dorm decor? A potted plant! Get something green that grows. It prevents depression and promotes purpose and happiness. It also cleans the air and keeps things smelling better. If you are scared of it start with some succulents. But buying something to grow!

Drawers

Our Pick- Make sure you won't already have what you need there. Lots of those rooms actually have a lot of drawers. If you don't have enough, check secondhand! Ask your neighbors on Buy Nothing or check out local thrift shops. You don't have to turn it into a family heirloom, so just pick something that makes sense/ fits. If it isn't your style, why not paint it?

Other Options- When in doubt, get wood. Even the classic Ikea square shelves and cubes is preferable to the plastic drawers. There are too much plastic in the world; strategize to not add more.

Command Strips

Our Pick- Command strips! I mean, no way around this one. I will point out they sell refills, so never throw the plastic parts away!

Corkboard

Our Pick- When are you going to college? 1993? You don't need a corkboard.

If your room has one, cool. Otherwise, this is easily skipable (though it is preferable to white boards, which are plastic). If you just love the warmth cork board brings to a room, or you enjoy making mood boards, or you haven't heard of the internet yet, or you just want to spite me, this one is made of 60% post-consumer material. So it's your winner, for sure.

Other Options- Maybe Goodwill? Otherwise, clearly this one shaped like a bear.

from WildflowerandIvy

Ottoman

Our Pick- Again, who buys this for a dorm room? If we are just talking storage you can sit on, my pick are these adorable storage cubes from Sprout Furniture. They have other storage options as well, so poke around this store. Also pretty great (and maybe a little more typical to the task) are the soft cubes from HingeNHook. They are made from recycled materials and look like exactly what people would want (and not just now, also once you are over the cutesy pattern phase).

 I also like the Fas Projects reclaimed cubes, though they are a little expensive for a dorm room. My last favorite is from WildflowerandIvy, so simple that maybe you could be inspired to make one yourself, but also perfect for the task at hand.

Other Options- You can find some pretty basic soft cubes on Amazon, but if you care about the environment, Smith and Oliver is the big winner. Made in America (local to us, choose something local to you) and they use green foam. Still pretty cheap too, relatively speaking.

Posters and Pictures

from ParadigmArt

Our Pick- You can find every kind of poster on Etsy, so look up what you like or what will make your room seem like home. The best part about it is that you are supporting an actual real person artist!  Here are a few I like that are very cost-effective-

Amy Lighthall
Bugsy and Sprite
Simple Serene 
Adamrablais 
JordanGraceOwens
WunderkammerStudio

Other Options- Print out some pictures from Artifact Uprising- they use all recycled paper and their prints looks beautiful. Paper Culture makes beautiful recycled prints as well.

Rug

Our Pick- Definitely get one! It can really make those spaces more homey. Nothing is more institutional than stepping out of bed onto cold tile. If you can find a secondhand store, buying one secondhand (or asking on Buy Nothing) makes tons of sense and saves oodles of money. Better to buy something like that then a cheap rug for Walmart. If you have to buy a new cheap rug every year, you have not saved money. Buy one secondhand rug that has already stood the test of time.

Other Options- My other suggestion is to get a rug made of recycled materials. You can find tons of braided rag rugs that are colorful and interesting, but also don't add to the waste in the world. I love these chindi rugs that use recycled fabrics as well.

If you want something really, really hardy, you can find tons of indoor/outdoor rugs made from recycled water bottles. They aren't the softest thing ever, but you can find every design imaginable, it will stand up to all sorts of wear, and you are keeping plastic out of the landfill! Win all around.

Mirrors

Our Pick- Your room doesn't have a mirror? All the ones at my college had more than one! Obviously, this is another spot to just buy secondhand. Our goodwill has a bunch.

Other Options- I found a few things online that are made in America, but they are mostly pretty expensive. The only thing I can find that potentially fulfills a need is this over the door hanging mirror. More expensive than the one at Walmart, but this company manufactures ethically and makes more jobs!

Kitchen

In most cases, college freshmen aren't moving into places with kitchens. But they might. And either way, they need a handful of kitcheny things. So we will look at the best places to get your cereal bowls. Who can guess what I am going to say!?!?

Travel Mug

Our Pick- Ok! I don't understand the big deal about hot drinks, so I know very little about this, but these are the outstanding recommendations from my friends. I did the research, none are manufactured here. But the good news is that anything reusable, especially when it comes to coffee cups, is infinitely better than using disposables. Your generation has to be better than disposables. So here are their picks:

Thermos mugs and Contigo mugs got the most praise. People love them. Seems like you can't go wrong there (I just wish they were manufactured nearby).

One of my other friends suggested a Zojirushi travel mug. And he is just the kind of person who would know what is actually the best. This article agrees with him as well. And it isn't all that much more than most of the suggestions, so

Last great suggestion is ecocoffee cups, which feel like regular cups but are made of bamboo and no plastic. So you get to feel like you are carrying a normal cup.

Other Options- I love the look of this Miir insulated tumbler, and some of the money made goes toward clean water projects. Tupkee glass tumblers are completely plastic-free (so way better for your body).  People swear by their Yeti tumblers, though they are more expensive (and maybe a little big for carrying around campus. Kleen Kanteen makes kickass water bottles, and I hear their hot drink containers are also great (I believe it).

Reusable Water Bottle

Our Pick- There are tons of great ones out there. If I had to choose a top three, I would point to Lifefactory glass bottles, Liberty Bottleworks metal bottles, or Nalgene plastic bottles (if you want plastic). All are excellent. All are easy to clean. All are endlessly reusable.

Other Options-Kleen Kanteen bottles are part of the zero waste uniform. I'll be honest, they are awesome, but they aren't made in the US.

Water Filter

Our Pick- Do NOT buy a Brita pitcher new. There is a secondhand store near your campus that has a ton of them. I promise. If you do want to buy something new, SOMA water pitchers have a slightly nicer aesthetic, are made in the US, and use less toxic materials. And they basically cost the same.

Other Options- Aquagear's filters are made in the US (but not their pitcher, from what I can tell. I do love that they are totally recyclable! A Maeva pitcher is made in Germany under stricter labor regulations (not to mention better regulations for the chemicals in their plastic). Still a long trip for your stuff to travel, but might be healthier once it gets there.

Silverware

Our Pick- Do not get plastic nonsense! That stuff will be destroyed before you graduate. If someone offered you a pile of garbage for a dollar, would you think it was a deal? That's plastic silverware. Get it used. Dorm rooms are not Downton Abbey; buy a three dollar bag of real (but unmatched) silverware at any thrift store and you will be set. It is cheaper than anything at Target, and you are keeping things out of landfills. Seriously, this is a no brainer.

Other Options- Most silverware is now made out of the United States (and potentially in poverty) but Liberty Tabletop still makes theirs in the US. Great silverware and I highly recommend it for wedding registries... but you aren't there yet. You have a lot of spoons left to lose. So really, goodwill.

Can Opener

Our Pick- When you put "Made in the US" into Amazon, this can opener comes up every time. It is really really made in America. It does have great reviews (over a thousand 5 stars!), so you can count on it to open your can.

Other Options- Used! Ok, this one is so easy too, but if you are nervous about it working, EZ Duz It also makes their can opener in the US. Also, don't get an electric one unless you open a hell of a lot of cans. You can handle it, I promise.

Dish Towels

Our Pick- You only need one or two of these, so it might be another place to look in your own family's kitchen. If not, I highly recommend unpaper towels- you can find great ones on Etsy. Check here: Marley'sMonsters , fandcsewing, ThisJoyfulHomeetc, generationMe, TheEcotopia, and CreeksideKid. If you don't want snaps or fuss, these ones from Juniperseed.

Other Options- We don't use a dish brush or cloth specifically for dishes, but I think it is a good idea, and you have lots of options:

- Redecker wood brushes have replacable heads, so it creates even less waste.
- Full Circle also sells  a wide variety of dish brushes with bamboo instead of plastic. Poke around, because this is their specialty and they have LOTS.

For dish cloths, Etsy has about a million sweet and homemade options, but you can find a few modern things too. My biggest advice is to skip microfiber- it sounds great but is sending billions of tiny plastic threads into the water.

Pot Holders

Forgive my impertinence, but what are you using this potholder for? To get things out of the microwave? Just skip it!

Our Pick- Take one of your parents, We all have more than we need.

Other Options- Make one. Or buy one from someone who made it. if you don't have any local craft fairs coming up, but one of the 20,000 from Etsy.

 Tupperware

Our Pick- I have a whole post you can read on this, but here is the short version. Never waste your money on plastic tupperware. Instead, you can save money by reusing food containers you are already using (like yogurt containers). This is the simplest solution, and we use it a lot. The rest of your tupperware should avoid plastic as much as possible; I highly recommend Pyrex or Anchor Hocking. One of these sets will last you a long time.

Other Options- Want to really look like a zero waste pro? Use mason jars, they are cheap, come in about a million sizes, and will keep working for you forever. The classic Ball Jar comes in so many shapes and sizes (even colors) that you can find what works for you

 Plates

Our Pick- Prepare to be surprised- get it used! I used my grandparents old set of Corelle plates as my first apartment plates. I loved those plates, and they were still pretty vintage and cute. And they cost 0 dollars. If you don't have any hand me downs, you can find old corelle plates at just about every secondhand store, and they will last you as long as you will have them.

Other Options- Do not buy plastic plates! The bright colors or polka dots ones at Walmart are cute, but they are also terrible for you. If you need new, get  Corelle - they are sturdy and will last you a long, long time. Used Corelle is even better- you can find over 100 sets on Ebay if you can't find them at your local thrift shops.

Bowls

Our Pick- Ok, now my best advice is to get Pyrex or Anchor Hocking instead of tupperware and then use them for your bowls too. Anything you can simplify is a good thing. You only have so much space.

Next best is getting them secondhand. Yes I use this answer a lot, but that's because it is true. If you can get basic bowls secondhand for 3 dollars, why buy cheap, chemical-laden bowls from Target? Stop at Goodwill first, save money, and keep plastic away from your food and your body.

Other Options- No plastic. That business does not belong in your microwave. If you need sturdy, Corelle could be a great option (just make sure you get one of the American-made sets; they are owned by an Asian company now).

Bennington Potters from Vermont makes two lines of dishes that look pretty sturdy too? Or you could get camping bowls/ mugs that will have a use later in life? So many choices that are better than Target plastic neon plates.

Mugs

Our Pick- Goodwill. Find me a goodwill that isn't overflowing with mugs, I dare you. Take some of your parents' or siblings' rejects. No one in the world, for any reason, needs to buy a set of plain mugs. Enough mugs will come to you. Ask on Buy Nothing. Seriously, do not buy a new mug unless you are a fool.

Other Options- SERIOUSLY, go to a thrift shop. Never, ever buy a new mug unless it is exceptionally cute and from Etsy. And really, that shiz is never as cute as people think. No other option for you. Secondhand mugs.

from Blue Avocado

Ziploc Bags

Our Pick- Get something reusable! One reusable bag could keep hundreds of plastic bags out of the landfill. I like these ones from Blue Avocado, but you could also look into reZip or Planetwise as well. Our bags are from Full Circle, and they work great! If you are looking for sandwich bags, there are tons of options on Etsy; check out BeegoHandmade, Bagitconcious, and MediaMenagerie.

Other Options- If you are going to use ziploc bags, then reuse them. Unless you are putting raw meat or knives in them, you can rinse them out and reuse them many times. It's a simple way to start cutting down your plastic use and save money.

Electronics

Oy, Electronics. We all know this is a particularly crappy area if you want to buy things made out of clean or recycled materials, if you want to minimize your waste, or if you want to buy things that were made domestically. Just a lose on every front...

Or is it?

Ok, it mostly is, but there are a few bright spots, so let's be excited about that instead of bummed that most things suck.

Extension Cords

Our Pick-  These Flexy extension cords are made in America, and their design lends itself to the cramped dorm spaces. Perfect fit if you ask me!




Other than this, keep an eye out for secondhand electronics (especially phones, because someone
"needs" the newest thing every time. But the real key here is to make what you have LAST. If you make every phone last an extra year, you could cut multiple phones from the landfill.


Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.

When you leave for college, you are faced with the longest "Back to School" Shopping List of your life. There is so much stuff, that I can't think of one college freshman who didn't have at least a run or two to Walmart or Target to get all the things they forgot. Better go get that lamp. It's just part of the rite of passage.

Because it's your (or your child's) first time out on your/their own, it makes sense to lean on the cheap side. They are moving into a space they will definitely leave in months (and will likely smell weird in no time), so why spend too much gussing it up? I don't disagree (I certainly don't have much left from my college dorm ten years later), but buying a bunch of Made in Poverty junk comes at a big environmental cost:

This stuff isn't built to last. It's essentially landfill-filler already.

- This stuff has traveled a long way. When your stuff travels (way further than you do), it has numerous negative environmental effects. These items increase your carbon footprint exponentially. Think about how much more gas it takes to travel half way around the world vs. one state away. Now multiply that by everything on your list.

- This stuff comes with baggage. Labor baggage. If you are a Christian or an American who believes in the worker, buying this stuff directly undermines your morals. So often, way too often, "Made in Elsewhere" and a cheap price means "made by someone treated very, very badly." That's why it is so cheap. You can make things a lot cheaper if you barely pay the person who made it.

- This stuff is made of environmentally-stinky (that's a scientific term) materials. If the idea is to make it as cheaply as possible, it doesn't get cheaper than plastic. The problem is, plastic essentially lasts forever and is made of petrochemicals. Plastic is filling our landfills and our water, and it will outlive us all. No one in college now will see those things decompose. They say we are the plastic generation, but we don't have to be.

So yuck, that really expensive Target run might be tempting, but I think we can do better!

So, the three steps to take for a more Environmentally Conscious Dorm Room (that your room mate won't even suspect is any different)-

1. Use what you already have

Oh, you need to bring blankets with you to college? Let me make a wild guess you already have some at home. Or a garbage can. Or a rug or coffee maker your parents are ready to part with. You can save so much money by just going with what you already have. Newness feels appropriate because everything is so new, but a little of the familiar can save you a lot of money. And when you are home, you can throw your garbage away in another room. It doesn't have to be a perfectly-kept monument to you, that stuff can move on with you.

Use what the room already has too- the college wants to overcharge you for a mini-fridge? Well, what are you going to do with the one you buy? Take the options that leave you with the least new baggage, and just rent the dang fridge.

2. Get it Used!! 

Just stop at consignment stores first.

You know what happened last year? And the year before that? People moved into dorm rooms or their first apartments using stuff they weren't going to want 12 months later. If you are in a college town, shop at Goodwill before you stop at Walmart- you can probably find almost everything on that last minute list, for way cheap, and you are saving so much from landfills.

Also, look into whether your college's area has a Buy Nothing. We live by a small college, and I have given college kids so much of our old stuff to get them started on their first apartments. I know the town I went to college in - State College PA- has it's own Buy Nothing as well. Buy Nothing is a goldmine for college students. You should have to join your local one when you move in to your dorm (just go with a friend to pick things up).

3. Get it Local, Recycled, or Made in America

 This is where things stop being cheap or free and start getting expensive. Don't stress. Maybe you can't switch everything over, and that is ok. The idea isn't to do everything perfectly, but always try to do a little bit better. I will try to find you the best/ most affordable options so you don't have to search for every little thing, and you can get the things that work for you! Prioritize what will travel with you through places.

I found so many lists to follow online, but I thought this one from Honestly Haley covered all the bases. I left a few out that seemed crazy to me. So this is everything we are going to try to cover in two parts:

Big Things- TV, Microwave, Printer, Fan, Rug, Coffee Maker, Vaccuum
Bathroom- Shower Caddy, Washclothes, Scrubbies, Shower Shoes, Robe, Towels, Toiletries
Bedroom- Blankets, Sheets (2 sets), Mattress Pad, Bed Risers, Lamp, Trash Can, Pillows
Decorations and Storage- Drawers, Command Strips, Corkboard, Ottoman, Hangers, Hamper, Mirror, Photos, Poster
Kitchen- Travel Mug, Reusable Water Bottle, Silverware, Can Opener, Dish Towel, Pot Holders, Tupperware, Plates, Bowls, Mugs, Ziploc Bags
Electronics- Headphones, Cell Phone Charger, Computer Charger, Flash Drive, Surge Protectors, Extension Cord
Cleaning and Laundry- Dish Soap, Cleaning Wipes, Paper Towels, Trash Bags, Lint Roller, Air Freshener, Landry Basket, Detergent, Stain Remover
Other- Batteries, Flashlight, Duct Tape, Umbrella, Games, Playing Cards, Travel Bag

Oy, it's a lot. We will split it into two parts, so check part 2 if you can't find something. Let's do this, people!

Big Things

Our Pick- There is only one option that makes any sense, environmentally or otherwise. Take a used TV with you. Get a super cheap used TV from Goodwill or Buy Nothing. Do not bring an expensive new television with you- you are asking for it to get stolen or destroyed. Even if you get an apartment, you will have so many people go through your space. Our Goodwill always has little tvs. Are they amazing?? No. But they will do the trick. Anything more than this is a fool's game.


Our Pick- Some colleges will rent these out, and I really think that is probably your best option if you want to be eco-friendly. The same microwave will get lots of use, and less will end up in a landfill.

Other Options- Some family member (or Buy Nothing neighbor) has a microwave sitting in their basement or you can get one for cheap at Goodwill. I would start there. No microwaves that I know of are still made in the States, but I think this is still an easy one to start off with a used one. You will use it less than you (or your parents) expect.

Our Pick- First, I am not confident you actually need a printer in your room anymore. Even when I was in school, it was easy to send myself a file and print it in a computer room before heading to class. By the time I was finished at Grad school, lots of faculty were accepting assignments by email. Even if you do pay for printing, it would probably add up to less than a printer. File this under "wait and see."

Other Options-  If you do have a printer, you can definitely go eco-friendly on the paper by only buying recycled paper. Buying in larger quantities will also save on money and packaging. You have so many options here- Printworks sells paper made in the US that is 100% recycled. Staples and Boise Aspen have great recycled printer paper options as well. Right now, our tree consumption is way too fast, so if you want to still have clean air when you retire, it's time to switch over to recycled paper permanently.

Our Pick- Holmes sells a well-reviewed, made in the USA, and 100% recycled fan. So why are we buying any other fans? This is one of my favorite things.

Other Options- I can't find anything as great as that fan, but I do have a couple Made in America options. Air King  and Lasko are made in America (with "globally-sourced" components).

Rugs

Our Pick- We bought a rug from Walmart for our dorm room, and it was so poorly made it didn't stand up to much wear. It didn't even make it through the college years with me. Go find one used. You can find so many cute little rugs in consignment stores, but usually at a cheap price so you save money. You could even try used furniture stores- they always seem to have oodles of rugs.

Other Options- If you want to buy a new rug, check out braided rugs and rag rugs on Etsy (60,000 options). They are super hearty, so they should last a long time, maybe even making it to future apartments .Even better, you can find rugs like these from Rag Rug Road that are made of recycled fabric! Score! You can also try Cotton Craft for gorgeous braided and recycled rugs (more expensive, but if it lasts, then it might be worth it). We still love these rugs because you can wash them.

If you need a rug pad, try this one from Gorilla Grip. You have tons of options here as well- you could do an indoor/outdoor rug made out of recycled plastic like these ones from Santa Barbara. Not the most homey, but it can stand up to college level wear.

Coffee Maker

Our Pick- Used! Well, it totally depends on how much of a coffee drinker you have on your hands. If you don't care that much about it, take one of your parents' backups with you or find one in a consignment store (this is just the kind of thing you can find easily in a college town). If coffee holds a more Gilmore-esque place in your life, Bunn coffeemakers have great reviews and they are still manufactured in the States.

Other Options- Everything else seems to be made in China, six of one half a dozen of the other, situations. I would 100% not recommend a Keurig unless you are buying a coffee maker for a hoard of different coffee drinkers, so it is not for a small dorm room (so wasteful in most cases). If you are receiving a Keurig, there are reusable cups so you avoid all that waste.

Vaccuum

Our Pick- Get a used one! You are shocked, right? Again, it isn't worth it to do anything big. You want to pick something that can live in a small closet. I might even recommend looking for dust busters over a full vaccuum.

Other Options- If you do go new, I have an awesome option for you. Metro Vac sells a small handheld vacuum that comes similarly priced to any standing vacuum, but it has awesome reviews, is made in America, will last to be your handheld for a long time, and has great reviews. They have a couple of models, but I think this is your most practical bet.

Bathroom

from Somer's Cove Canvas

Our Pick- There are a few options for shower caddies on Etsy-  Clar USA makes simple mesh bags that might be perfect for the job. Gebbie's Embroidery has a cloth one that looks great to me. I would avoid plastic unless you can find something new. At least the cloth ones you can throw in the washing machine. And what the heck are you going to do with one of those little plastic buckets after this anyway?

Other Options- The Club Bag sells a simple mesh bag that isn't going to fill your roommates with envy, but it would get the job done.

ALSO- If you want to bring bar soap with you (which you should, it is so much better for the environment) you can get one of these simple soap bags to keep it nice.

Our Pick- Again, some to spare from home might work just fine. Washing works the same in college. If not, Bamboosa mostly makes washclothes for babies, but their clothes are super soft. I would go this route.

Other Options- If you can get washclothes that are made of recycled or American cotton with American labor, that's your best route. A few options- Blue Point, Marquis Mills, and Smiling Gaia.

Our Pick- Did you know that eco-friendly loofahs are already a big thing? I didn't! Then again, I am not a loofah girl. These ones from Impressa Products are 100% made of recycled material and are also recyclable. Even better, you can skip any plastic touching your body by using a sea sponge and a Redecker bath brush.

Other Options- Buddha Bath sells recycled loofahs too, and they come in a wide variety of colors.


Our Pick- Okabashi or Oka-B sells simple water proof flip flops out of rubber and Made in America. 100% the winner for guys and ladies. Not too expensive and well-reviewed, Used flip flops seem kind of against the point of shower shoes, so this probably does the trick.

Our Pick- If your parents have towels that are on the older end, see if you can't take some of those with you. They may not be glamorous, but they will outlast whatever cheap thing you would buy instead (and they are free).

If that isn't an option,  I like Big Ass Towels. I appreciate the sass, the fact they are made domestically, and that the towels are a little bit larger. If communal bathrooms are going to be part of your life, a slightly larger towel might do a lot of good in covering your business.

Other Options- More Made in America Towels- Gilbin, 1888 Mills, and Made Here. If you are a parent, give your tired towels to your kid, and get 1888 Mills towels to replace them. We have them and love them.

Cleaning and Laundry

Mrs Meyers from Amazon

Our Pick- We honestly used Dawn Dish Soap for a long time, but the soap itself is petroleum-based, so buying Dawn just reinforces the demand for petroleum products that causes the oil spills in the first place. So not a great choice if you are trying to avoid giving money to Big Oil.

 Also, I am looking all over this bottle (and the internet) and though it is distributed out of Ohio, there is no real information on its actual origin. So now, my favorite option is Mrs. Meyer's dish soap, which is mainstream enough that you can get it at Target. You can also refill that dawn bottle at more granola stores with lots of bulk options.

Other Options- There are plenty, and you are pretty young, so you can always test a bunch- Frosch,  Caldrea (on the expensive side), or Natural Homelogic.



Our Pick- Skip them! I get it, cleaning wipes are simple and easy. They are also a blight on the environment, because you can't recycle them, they come in plastic packaging, and they can be loaded with chemicals no one needs in their water or soil, much less their living space.

My advice? You are going to get paper towels anyway, why not just buy some all purpose spray? Young and spry hands can handle a spray bottle. We like Method lavender all-purpose cleaner which was recommended to me by a Department of Health speaker on dangerous chemicals and cleaners in a household. She also swore by Bon Ami for bathrooms, in case a private bathroom is part of your dorm situation.

Other Options- Seventh Generation does have cleaning wipes if you want some. I am not wildly impressed by the "eco" elements of this particular product, but at least you won't be spreading random , nasty chemicals around your room. Especially because you want to take care of that brain, and it is clear lots of cleaners and bleaches are not great on that front.

Our Picks-You may not be able to buy Seventh Generation Unbleached Paper Towels in bulk, but you could go in with friends and split up the bunch. It will save you a ton of money, and no trees will come down so you can clean up your messes. If you are buying paper towels, buy them recycled. Let's be the generation that stops hemorrhaging trees.

Other Options-If it weird you out to have brown paper towels (we have had them so long I always feel surprised when they are white), try Seventh Generation White Recycled Paper Towels or
Marcal Small Steps Recycled Paper. In bulk, they are cheaper than your average towels (don't have to pay for that bleach or international shipping), but they can get pricier, so either buy bulk and leave some at home, or figure out a split with people on your floor. Collective shopping may sound crazy, but it might also be a great way to build community.

Trash Bags

Webster Earthsense from Amazon

Our Pick- If you can, consider using paper bags from the grocery store. A lot of the time, you may not even really be eating in your room, so a paper bag could easily do the trick.

If you are doing plastic, do not get biodegradable! It sounds great, but at least right now, these bags don't actually decompose, they break into tiny plastic pieces that will be that much harder to clean up. No good! Instead, only buy bags made of recycled plastic. No need to make new plastic for your refuse! Webster Earthsense Bags are my favorites- they are made of 75% recycled materials,

Other Options- If you want to do eco-friendly but stay in the mainstream, Seventh Generation is always a good place to start. Want more options? Check out my list for Greening your Basics.


Our Pick- Eh, not a ton of options here, but I did find a few reusable rollers- Dancewear, Generic, and GBZ 11.

from Bad Bat Designs

Our Pick- I think a basket doesn't make much sense since you probably have to drag things to the laundry room.   I love this eco-friendly bag from Zero Waste Moving.

On the other hand, if you can handle it and you already have a basket at home that you like, just bring it with you for goodness sake. I still have the rubbermaid baskets from my Dad's house in high school, and they work just fine. For that matter, check Goodwill or your Buy Nothing. You might be surprised!

Other Options-  It's Embroidered Baby sells ones you could put your name on if you are worried about that. Hen house originals sells oodles of funny laundry bags, and something about a laundry bag really screams for some humor. It's covert resistence against the banal horrors of adulthood. You can buy a military-grade laundry bag on Amazon, and it was made in the USA. It looks damn tough, and now that I think of it, might be just the thing to get a student through all 4 years.

Handy Laundry makes laundry backpacks in the USA, which sounds silly, until you think about dragging your laundry long distances. Green Forest sells hampers with some shape but made primarily of a cotton/linen blend. They have natural looking designs, but aren't too cutesy to not be useful. They also have jute hampers which could be recycled or reused once they look to rough to cart laundry in (is that a thing that happens?). This one looks pretty small, but plenty of options exist.



Our Pick- I will swear by The Simply Co, who are zero waste and make great detergents. There aren't a bunch of random chemicals, and you only need a little, so you can make one of their jars last a very long time. Put the bit you need in a cup and head off to the laundry. You could also save a ton of money by making a huge batch of your own powder detergent at home and then bring it with you to school.

Other Options- If you need fluid detergent, Greenworks laundry soap, Mrs Meyers, and Seventh Generation are more mainstream options that might be more to your laundry room's liking. But seriously, if you don't have to go fluid, try The Simply Co.


Our Pick- To be honest with you, we mostly use dish soap on our stains, and it stands up shockingly well against the pure chaos of a toddler. That being said, if you are an athlete, maybe that won't be enough. I am slightly obsessed with the idea of these Buncha eco-friendly stain sticks (what a wonderful world), so if anyone tries it, let me know what you think.

Other Options- Need more choices? I've got you- Attitude, Caldrea, and So Soft,



Ooooh boy, college takes a lot of stuff! Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Greening your Dorm Shopping List next week! And if you just can't wait for more shopping ideas, check out my Giant List of Shopping Lists!

Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.