8 Back-to-School Essentials for College Students: Sustainable Swaps for Easier Days
School may already be in session, but that does not mean the list of things students need is finished.
I realize most college and university students have probably already started classes by now. Some have been on campus for a few weeks, some are settling into apartments or houses, and some are still figuring out exactly how they are going to make their new space feel like home.
And honestly, that is why I still think a list like this is helpful.
There is always something you realize you need after you move in.
You run out of something. You discover that your bathroom is smaller than you expected. You realize you have to carry your laundry to another building. You need to clean up a coffee spill when you are nowhere near your dorm. Or you simply start thinking, There has to be an easier way to do this.
A quick credit where credit is due: This list was inspired by fellow Norwex Independent Sales Consultant Alice Jen, who put together a collection of college-focused Norwex ideas that I thought were too useful not to share. I am taking her list and adding my own perspective, including a lot of “I really wish I had this when I was in college” thoughts along the way.
Because I did not know about Norwex back then.
And looking at some of these products now, there are definitely a few that would have made my college years a whole lot easier.
For Every College Student
These are the products I think can fit into pretty much any college student’s life, whether they are living in a dorm, an apartment, a shared house, or somewhere completely different.
1. Hydrating Body Balm
I would have loved having this in my backpack during college.
Especially when the seasons were changing and fall was turning into winter, dry skin was just part of the experience. Going in and out of buildings, spending time outside, dealing with colder weather, and constantly being on the go can leave you reaching for something to hydrate those dry spots.
For me, that could have been my elbows, hands, feet, or really anywhere that needed a little extra moisture.
And I think the size would have been perfect for college life. You do not always have a ton of space to carry things around or store things in your room, so having something compact that you can easily throw into a backpack would have been really helpful.
I also appreciate that the new Hydrating Body Balm has a light scent and is very moisturizing. And once you have the packaging, you are able to replace just the small refillable portion when it is time for a new one, rather than replacing the entire container. I really like that approach because it reduces the amount of plastic you are using.
This is one of those products where I can honestly say, “I wish I had this in college.”
2. Body + Face Pack
This is another one I absolutely would have loved having in college.
The Body + Face Pack comes with three Body & Face Cloths, and for me, the biggest appeal would have been how much it could simplify my routine.
I did not really have a skincare routine in college. I washed my face, especially when I was wearing makeup, but there was not some elaborate process happening in my bathroom.
Having something that makes it really easy to wash your face or remove makeup with just water would have been wonderful.
And having three cloths means you have options. You could keep one in your bathroom, one in your bag, or take one with you when you are heading to dance practice, the gym, or wherever your day takes you.
That portability would have been especially helpful when sharing a bathroom with one, two, three, or even more roommates. The less stuff you need to store and carry around, the better.
I personally love using these cloths to remove makeup, but they are also great when I just want to give my face a really good wash. Some people even use them as an alternative to shower gel by having a dedicated cloth for washing their body.
For me, this is an easy way for a college student to take care of themselves without needing a bunch of different products taking up precious space.
3. Optic Scarf
Okay, today’s college students have an advantage I definitely did not have in quite the same way: SO. MANY. SCREENS.
But even when I was in college, I would have gotten a ton of use out of an Optic Scarf.
I love using mine to clean my phone and phone case, especially when there are fingerprints and smudges everywhere. I also use it for my glasses and sunglasses, and it can be useful for things like tablets and laptop screens, too.
And the portability is a huge bonus.
You can hook it onto a purse, gym bag, backpack, or tote bag so it is always there when you need it.
No paper towels. No searching for a tissue. No grabbing whatever random piece of fabric happens to be nearby.
Just something small and reusable that you can keep with you.
I did not have anything like this when I was in college, and I really wish I had.
4. Grab-and-Go Zipper Pouch with Mini EnviroCloths
This one makes me think about those really long college days when you leave your dorm or apartment in the morning and do not come back for hours.
Classes. Lunch. Library. Sports. Clubs. Extracurriculars. Study groups. Maybe all of those things in one day.
You never really know what mess you are going to encounter.
A coffee spill.
A sticky spot on a table.
Something on a common space/desk at the library.
A lunch mishap.
Someone bumps into you.
And suddenly you need to clean something up when you are nowhere near your cleaning supplies.
That is where I think the Grab-and-Go Zipper Pouch with Mini EnviroCloths would have been so useful for me.
I could have kept it in my backpack or dorm room and had a few essentials ready to go. And because the pouch is compact, there is still room to add other things you want easy access to.
You could even keep a Body & Face Cloth or Optic Scarf in there.
I already love using this concept for travel, but looking back, I think I would have used it constantly in college.
You just never know what your day is going to throw at you. Having a little cleaning kit ready to grab would have made things so much easier.
Especially Helpful for Dorms, Apartments + Off-Campus Housing
Not every college student lives in a traditional dorm room.
Some have roommates. Some live in apartments. Some rent a house with six other people. Some have their own place.
Regardless of what the setup looks like, there are a few things that tend to come with living on your own for the first time:
Cleaning. Laundry. Shared spaces. And figuring out what the heck you actually need.
These are a few products I think could make that part of college life a little easier.
5. Basic Package
If I were putting together a college student’s first cleaning kit, this would absolutely be a place I would start.
The Basic Package gives you a Window Cloth and an EnviroCloth, and one of the things I love most is that you just need water.
That makes this incredibly easy for a student who may not have a lot of storage space or a huge cleaning supply budget.
Think quick bathroom cleanups, countertops, mirrors, kitchen surfaces, door handles, light switches, and all those other areas that get touched constantly when you are sharing a space with other people.
When I was in college, we did have chores and would rotate through different things that needed to be done. But we were using the traditional cleaning products that were available at the time, whether they came from our parents or we went out and bought them ourselves.
And all of that stuff takes up space.
Looking back, I definitely would have appreciated having a simple option that took up very little room and did not require a cabinet full of different cleaning products.
And if you are looking for more of a complete cleaning setup, I have written about the Norwegian Way Starter Kit and Starter Kit Plus before, too. Those would be great options to explore if you are helping a college student put together a more complete cleaning kit.
6. Counter Cloth Box Set
This would have been so useful in a shared kitchen.
When I was in college, we relied heavily on disposable wipes to clean kitchen counters, surfaces, handles, bathroom countertops, and all of those little messes that happen when multiple people are sharing a space.
The Counter Cloth Box Set gives you six Counter Cloths, which means you have multiple cloths available for everyday spills and cleanup.
And honestly, I would have used these constantly.
Spills. Wiping down the kitchen. Cleaning up after cooking. Doing dishes when the counter space is already crowded. All those little everyday messes.
I also really like how easy they are to use and care for.
You can drape a wet Counter Cloth over the roof of the Counter Cloth House so it can dry before you need another one. Then, when it is time to wash them, they can simply go into the laundry.
They do not require a huge amount of storage space, either.
And for me, the reusable aspect is absolutely worth mentioning. We went through a lot of disposable wipes and paper products in college. Having something reusable would have been a great way to cut down on that ongoing cost while still having something convenient available for those everyday messes.
7. EcoWash Laundry Detergent Strips
This one might be one of my biggest “I wish I had this in college” products.
For a couple of my college years, doing laundry meant physically walking outside of my apartment, going into a separate building, and using a shared laundry room.
There were not a ton of machines, either.
So you had to time things out, hope a washer or dryer was available, and somehow carry all of your laundry supplies with you.
Now imagine doing all of that while also carrying around a big bottle of laundry detergent.
No thank you.
EcoWash Laundry Detergent Strips would have made that SO much easier.
The package is compact. It is lightweight. You can easily store it in a small space, toss it in your laundry supplies, and carry it with you without lugging around a bulky bottle.
And there are no complicated directions to remember. You use a strip for your laundry and move on.
That would have been such a huge difference for me.
Especially for college students who have to walk to another building or share laundry facilities with a bunch of other students, small and convenient matters.
I would have loved having an approximately 8-by-11-inch envelope of laundry detergent strips instead of trying to find somewhere to store a bottle.
8. SportZyme
If you are a college athlete, dancer, gym-goer, or just someone who ends up with sweaty workout clothes, this one is worth considering.
I did some dancing in college and had gym classes as part of my coursework, so I can absolutely see where I would have used SportZyme.
Especially when you are sharing laundry facilities, laundry does not always happen immediately.
Sometimes the clothes sit.
Sometimes you have to wait for a washer.
Sometimes you have a busy schedule and getting laundry done is simply not at the top of your list.
Having something that can help you take care of sweaty clothes and workout gear in between washes would have been really helpful.
I can also see this being useful for things like shoes or other workout gear, especially when you are living in a shared space and trying to keep those smells contained.
For me, SportZyme would have helped solve that “I need to deal with this, but I cannot actually do laundry right now” problem.
And that is a very real college problem.
If I Could Go Back to College…
If I could put together my own little Norwex starter kit for my college years, I would choose:
Body + Face Pack
For simplifying my personal care routine and having something easy to take with me.
Basic Package
For having an easy, compact cleaning setup that only requires water.
Counter Cloth Box Set
Because shared kitchens + college students = messes. And I would have loved having reusable cloths instead of relying so much on disposable wipes.
EcoWash Laundry Detergent Strips
Because carrying laundry detergent to a separate building was annoying enough without having to lug around a bottle.
Those four would have made a pretty great little college starter kit for me.
College Life Looks Different for Everyone
And I think that is probably the biggest takeaway I have from putting this list together.
There is not one universal college experience.
You might be living in a dorm with a communal bathroom.
You might have three roommates in an apartment.
You might be sharing a house with six people.
You might be living off campus.
You might spend half your day in classes and the other half at practice, work, clubs, or extracurricular activities.
But no matter what your college living situation looks like, these products can be easily incorporated into your everyday routine.
And honestly, that is what I like about this list.
These are not things you have to completely overhaul your life to use. They are little swaps and additions that can make everyday things like taking care of your skin, cleaning your space, wiping down your phone, handling a spill, and doing laundry just a little easier.
I did not know about Norwex when I was in college.
Looking back now, there are definitely some products on this list that I really wish I had.
Maybe you are a college student who is discovering these for yourself. Or maybe you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or friend helping a college student figure out what they need.
Either way, I hope this gives you a few ideas for those things you might not realize you need until you are already living on your own.
Because the back-to-school list does not always end when classes start. Sometimes, you have to live the college life for a little while before you figure out what would actually make it easier.
💚 A Quick Thank You to Alice Jen
A special thank you to fellow Norwex Independent Sales Consultant Alice Jen for putting together the original college-focused list that inspired this post.
I loved the idea of looking at Norwex products specifically through the lens of what might actually be helpful for college students, and adding my own perspective and ideas for how these products could fit into everyday college routines.
Thank you, Alice, for the inspiration and for giving me the starting point for this list!
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