Dorm Sustenance: Hot Plates and Other Fire Hazards

posted August 20, 2008
  by Josh Gunn, Bachelor Chow

Recently I found myself in Bedknobs, Broomsticks and Beyond and was overcome by the piles of cheap, particleboard junk and low-thread count bedding that stores like this tend to heave up near the check-out line in August. No doubt a bunch of this mess will end up in dorm rooms across America, and no doubt it will last, maybe, half a semester.

For my day job I work at a university, and my office is right across the street from a major, first-year student dormitory. It is always amusing to see the piles of this stuff, edging dumpsters at the end of the semester. As long as well-meaning moms want their babies to have all the comforts of home when they move away, these Land of Cheap Home Stuff stores will stay in business.

There are a few items designed specifically for the dorm room, however, that will make a bachelor's life much easier. I recognize that many colleges and universities ban certain items from dorm rooms: (1) no alcohol allowed (yeah, right); (2) no co-ed habitation (as if!); (3) no firearms (this one usually works); and (4) no hot plates.

No hot plates!?! That's right, a lot of dormitories will not let you have a hot plate because it is a fire hazard. This truly bites, because hot plates sure are handy. I reckon one too many college bachelors left a turned-on hot plate next to their pillows.

If, however, your university or college allows you to have a hot plate, by all means snatch one up. In fact, we here at CDKitchen.com have complied a list of must-have dorm room desiderata that will help you lonesome bachelors survive. Next week we'll work on some things you might "fix" for yourself in your dorm room to keep yourself alive.

1. A mini-fridge. If you're in college, you know how expensive buying soda and water from the Pepsi or Coke machine in the dorm can get. Mini-fridges have gotten so cheap that today you can afford to have one in your dorm room. If you can sport for the bigger ones, some have a nice "freezer" compartment that you can stash an emergency frozen dinner into. Every dorm room needs mini-fridge. Tell your mother Dr. Bachelor said so.

2. A microwave. Although in the movies these machines have a habit of exploding, such occurrences are rare. If you remember NOT to put metal, tin foil, or live animals into the machine, a microwave is a safe food preparer. Everyone knows that in college, microwaves are principally used for popping popcorn, so that the smell will waft down the hall and make everyone within nose-shot hungry and jealous.

3. A hot plate. Yeah, I know I know. Like I said, these are often banned. But if they ain't, get one, and buy a couple of inexpensive pans to go with it. And while you're at it, get some sponges and dishwashing liquid so you can clean the pans in the bathtub or bathroom sink. Hot plates are good for cooking eggs (a healthy food that I personally never tire of), heating soup, heck, making pancakes if you want. And they tend to be tiny and easy to put away (AFTER they cool down, okay?).

4. A fire extinguisher. With these heating and cooling electronics around in the dorm, it's possible---not likely, but possible---something could overheat or that you might catch something on fire. Now, in general fire codes for dorms specify there must be an extinguisher everywhere, and there's probably one in the hallway right outside your dorm room. Regardless, you can purchase smaller fire extinguishers for about $15, and these are good to have around just in case.

5. Flashlight, radio, and extra batteries. With hundreds of young students crammed into tiny rooms in a dormitory building, the likelihood some idiot will stick a fork into a socket on a dare is pretty high. This can cause the power to go out, and you'll want a flashlight to help you see in those unfortunate moments. Sometimes an unexpected blizzard hits your college too, and that's why a battery-operated radio is good to have around too. Seriously. I remember in March of 1993 a blizzard hit Washington DC, the power went out, and I was stuck in my dormitory for three days. That radio and those batteries came in handy.

6. A secret stash of razors. This requirement is little known among the beginning bachelor on his own, but a few bloody cheeks later will soon convince the unwary of my wisdom. Your roommates, and your roommates' boyfriend or girlfriend, will use your razors and make them dull. That's right, one day you'll come into the bathroom to shave and cut yourself up something fierce. Why? Your roommates' girlfriend will have used YOUR razor to shave HER legs. To avoid this problem, just keep a secret stash of razors and hide them. Let the roommate or roommate buddy keep using that old, dull razor while you secretly have a nice, clean stash of stubble slicing goodness.

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