You are off to college. Well done! New teachers, new friends, new experiences, both good and bad. Remember, some things will be beyond your control; the price of textbooks, tuition and general living expenses, to name a few. Other things will be completely out of control, just wait. Some things will be so out of control, you might not even remember it. (If you can remember it, you weren’t there….sorry, was I having a flashback again?)

One thing you can control is the sanctuary of your temporary home, the dorm room. Having an eco friendly room does not cost a lot of money, nor does it require extensive remodeling. It’s all about the small things. It can be as simple as choosing organic cotton t-shirts, made in the USA, over synthetic blends sometimes assembled by children in third world sweat shops such as Mexico, India, Pakistan and China, to name a few. Compare prices. Organic clothing is reasonably priced compared to conventional clothing. Look at the label, inside your clothing. Look for natural and organic fibers like cotton, wool and hemp. Avoid synthetic petroleum based fabrics like rayon and nylon (unless they are recycled of course).

To freshen up the air, from your roommates dirty clothes that have been sitting in the corner fermenting since last semester, instead of using plug ins, aerosol sprays or scented candles that use synthetic fragrances, try air fresheners made from essential oils or beeswax candles.

Rather than going to the mega discount store that sells sheets, pillow cases, blankets and comforters, made with polyester blends, look for organic materials – the same as mentioned above when looking for natural fiber clothes.

Soda and junk food machines are readily available on every floor, of the university dorm. Most dorms – if they don’t have one already- will allow the students their own small personal refrigerator. Rather than running to the soda machine, when pulling those late night study sessions, keep your own natural drinks and healthier snacks.

When it comes cleaning day – okay, maybe not everyone in college cleans – but if you do, rather than using toxic laden all purpose cleaners, look for natural ways to clean and disinfect. Natural juices like lemons kill odors, and vinegar is great for mold and mildew. Also, look for other natural cleaners, that do not contain toxic chemicals. They are more readily available now and not that hard to find. It just takes a few small steps, to make your room eco-friendly. You may not be able to change everything, but you can at lease make a few small changes that will make you healthier and happier.

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