The 6 Must-Have Cleaning Products for College Students Right Now

A simple bottle of laundry detergent won't cut it this year.

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July 27, 2020

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Photo by: Tatomm/Getty Images

Tatomm/Getty Images

Sending your kid off to college can be a bittersweet moment. It's exciting to see your child all grown-up and ready to take on the world, but you know they still have a lot to learn — like how to really clean their living space. This year, it's more important than ever for your college kid to have a fully stocked cleaning caddy. Some schools will provide students with hand sanitizer, masks and other necessities for daily life on campus, but if your child is living off-campus or just wants to be extra-prepared for dorm life, it might help to stock up on these essentials before leaving home.

$12.99

Before doing a disinfecting wipe down of any surface, you'll first want to wipe it free of any dirt, debris or dust. These Swiffer cloths make an initial dusting as easy as possible. Plus, dust and dirt gets trapped in these cloths instead of the air, which is important for keeping it off surfaces for good.

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$4.94

Chances are, the dining hall is going to look different for your student this year. They may be eating more meals in their dorm room, and if you bought them a set of reusable dinnerware, they'll need to make an effort to clean it. This new dish spray is a water-saving solution for kids who hate washing dishes. Simply spray the soap directly onto dirty dishes and rinse — even less scrubbing required.

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$16.99

We've seen college kids try lots of stunts to keep their dirty laundry smelling somewhat clean. Now, there's no need. That's because this spray from Tide will not only disinfect their dirty laundry, bedspread, carpet and more, but also fights odor. We recommend a three-pack for the semester.

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Chances are, your student's school will be providing hand sanitizing stations throughout the campus, but it's a good idea for your student to carry some on their person. Instead of scouring the college town for Purell, snag a few of these sanitizers from Bath and Body Works. They're made with appealing fragrances that will make your kid excited to use them on a regular basis.

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$5.99

These wipes are notoriously hard to find these days, but it's crucial that your college kid has a disinfecting solution on hand. Wipes are handy for sanitizing cell phones, computer keyboards and various high-tough surfaces like doorknobs, light switches and more. Make sure the cleaner you choose is EPA-approved to kill cold, flu and COVID-19 viruses.

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$5.99

Tiny dorm rooms can become musty quickly. In addition to an aerosol spray that deodorizes the room, you'll want your student to have a disinfecting aerosol. Because they'll be living in close quarters, arm them with the tools they need to keep germs and odors at bay.

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