With the first snow soon to come here on Mount Saint James, it isn’t just those long walks across campus we need to worry about. Snowy weather means wet jackets, salt covered snow boots, and tons of cozy sweaters. It can be hard to find space in your small dorm room for all your cold weather gear, but by following these helpful tips, you’ll be able to keep everything clean and organized all winter long.
Leave your snow boots in the hallway:
After walking to Stein and back with snow past your ankles, it is guaranteed that those L.L. Bean boots will have collected more than a little bit of snow and salt. Once you get inside, everything is going to melt away in a matter of minutes, and you don’t want a puddle in the middle of your carpet. So, quickly pull your boots off in the hallway and leave them outside your door. That way your floor will stay clean and dry, plus you won’t have to worry about snow boots scattered about the room.
Make use of the radiator:
After walking to and from Dinand in the middle of a snowstorm, your cute earmuffs may be more than a little damp from all the melted snow. It can be hard to find a good place for wet hats and mittens to dry without the clutter piling up. So, take advantage of the radiator in your room. It will only take a few minutes for the heater to dry your damp gear and next time you need you it, you’ll know exactly where you left everything. Just be careful not to leave things on the radiator too long, fire hazard!
Hang hooks all around your room:
Here on the Hill “snow” can mean anything from the white fluffy stuff we all love to a brownish, liquid slush. When these yucky days are upon us, you’ll find your parka is soaked. Finding a place to lay a wet jacket is near impossible unless you have some hooks hanging up. Find an unused corner of your room where you could let your wet jackets, gloves, and scarves hang. They will be out of your way and by keeping everything hung up, it will all dry before you have to wear them next.
Make use of under bed storage:
Winter means lots of thick, heavy clothing, which can all take up a lot of space. If you haven’t done so already, put away as many of your warm weather clothes as you can as I’m sorry to say you won’t be needing them. All those boxes that previously held fleece leggings and wool sweaters can be used to store your summer wardrobe. Make as much space for winter clothes as you can, because, if not, you will find yourself with overflowing drawers and a mounting pile of clothes on the end of your bed.
Wear layers:
At a school with older dorms, room temperatures can be fairly temperamental. While fear of frostbite may stop you from taking your coat off during History class, your dorm room is guaranteed to always be a few degrees too warm during the winter. Even with the control knob on “snowflake”, you may find yourself sweating. So, always wear a t-shirt or a tank top as an extra layer. That way when you come back to the dorm you will feel more comfortable, and you won’t have to go digging through your drawers for a t-shirt to withstand the heat.