Coming back to Happy Valley for most of us means new apartments and houses, switching roommates, and walking past mountains of furniture on the sides of College and Beaver. This means we have all left the unique rite of passage: freshmen dorms. The lawless dorm lottery showcases the highs and lows of all that PSU has to offer, from beautiful air-conditioned East to prison-like showers in Pollock.
No matter which dorm you may live in, there is one thing you can’t hide from, not even under your perfectly coordinated white-ruffled bedspread. The freshman flu is so real. Most can remember constantly stocking up on Nyquil and Advil and those vents definitely have mold in them.
Now, baby nittany lions don’t fret! VALLEY is here to give you the insider scoop on how to beat the varying illnesses before they start. Here are some tips and tricks from a former freshman to keep your room super clean girl and your body out of the trenches.
So Fresh So Clean
To keep your dorm room smelling fresh 24/7, even after rotting in bed all weekend, plug-in wall air fresheners are your best friend – they stay out of the way and a top-tier scent is ‘clean laundry.’ Two other essentials have to be an air purifier and humidifier, bonus points if they double as an essential oils diffuser.
Organizational Queen
Like every other freshman on campus, I bought those big and bulky shelves to go under my bed. I hated seeing them every day, especially alongside all the other random stuff that ended up being shoved under my bed. That’s why a bed skirt might seem a little silly at first, but it makes your room look way less messy. And in a professional (not a professional) opinion, everyone is probably SICK of seeing those gray Target storage ottomans in everyone’s dorm. A wicker basket adds way more texture and still makes the room look put together.
Keeping your dorm room clean and stylish doesn’t have to be a chore. Utilizing these tips can keep your room demure and (of course) very mindful. Embrace your inner clean girl and make this year at PSU fantastic. Remember, your dorm is your sanctuary, your bedroom, your living room, and your kitchen … so keep it tidy, keep it cute, and most importantly, keep it you!
Tag us on Instagram, @VALLEYmag with all your clean girl dorm rooms!
