Repair & Improve

Off-To-College Toolbox

Prepare your student for every possible non-academic emergency

by Tom Kraeutler, AOL Home Improvement Editor

Tom Kraeutler is the Home Improvement Editor for AOL.  In this column, Tom offers tips on how to build an outdoor patio or deck.

Back-to-school shopping is definitely amped up when college is the destination, and amid all the linens, dorm décor and study supplies, your student should have a trustworthy tool kit.

Freshmen will feel much more at home away from home knowing they’re armed for just about any fix they can get into, and upperclassmen who have already learned the hard way will appreciate an organized arsenal of gear. 

So, here’s a recommended packing list for the dorm room DIYer.

Basic tools

• Hammer
• Pliers
• Screwdrivers (slotted and Phillips) or screwdriver multi-tool
• Socket ratchet set
• Adjustable wrench
• Combo pack of nails and screws
• Utility knife
• Utility scissors
• Tape measure
• WD-40
• Electrical tape
• Fabric-backed duct tape
• Power supply
• Surge protector
• Extension cords in a few different lengths
• Extra-long telephone cable

Safety smarts

• Flashlight
• Battery-operated tap lights
• Combination smoke and CO detector
• Padlocks

Hang it up

• Torpedo level
• Stud finder
• Picture hanger assortment
• 3M Command™ removable hooks

Repair ware

• Painter’s putty and putty knife
• Paddle wire
• Sewing kit

Sticky business

• Super glue
• Wood glue
• Adhesive remover

Clean it up

• Magic erasers for wall marks
• Cleaning wipes (disinfectant, glass, etc.)
• Carpet stain remover

Once you’ve got everything assembled, do a little how-to review with College Girl or Boy so that they know just what tool to use when…This may generate a few eye-rolls, but trust me, they’ll thank you later (albeit silently, in their dorm room, from hundreds of miles away).

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