It may or may not be their first time doing laundry on their own, but I’d wager it’s the first time they’ll have to lug 15-plus pounds of it on their back across a building – or even a few blocks – to get it done. A proper dorm room laundry bag, therefore, is essential and an essential feature of a dorm room checklist.
If they’re already into whimsical dresses, Pottery Barn’s monogrammable LoveShackFancy, Lilly Pulitzer, and Roller Rabbit collaborations are a must. Some even come on wheels, ideal for fashion people cycling through more outfits than the average student. IKEA, despite being Swedish, somehow has the retro collegiate Americana thing down pat with contrast pinstripes, while actual USA icon Steele Canvas makes a stable of crowd-pleasing workhorses built to withstand more than even the latest laundry-doer could possibly carry.
I’d love to say the days of strapping dirty clothes to my back are behind me, but I live in Manhattan – meaning no in-unit washer-dryer – and have carried a laundry bag well into adulthood. It also means I know exactly what to look for: comfortable shoulder straps (heavy loads do a number on your back), a separate compartment for detergent, a top handle for carrying or hanging, and, of course, style, so you don’t have to avert your eyes every time it’s sitting out.
Ahead, 16 dorm room laundry bags they’ll actually want to carry – including the exact $25 Amazon style that, no exaggeration, lasted me through four years of college and three years of apartment living.
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