By Steph Moore

The Green Garmento (TM)

The Green Garmento was created as an eco-friendly, stylish, practical and affordable product that is a viable alternative to single-use plastic laundry and garment bags.

More than just an ordinary laundry bag, it’s an organizational solution. The Green Garmento (MSRP $9.99-$12.99) serves as a laundry hamper, duffle bag, garment bag and carrying bag making it the ultimate 4-in-1 reusable bag, eliminating the need for dry cleaning plastic, twist-ties and shoulder covers. The Green Garmento can hold an entire load of laundry or dry cleaning (from 10 – 14 garments total) and along with a carrying strap, it also features a full-length side zipper allowing for easy access to hanging garments.

Because the mission is to eliminate the excessive amount of plastic that enters landfills and waterways, The Green Garmento is made from recyclable material. What’s more, it’s available in six colors and four lengths, which means there’s a bag for every laundry and dry cleaning need. Dry cleaners and hotels support the mission of The Green Garmento for its ecological advantages, but equally important, as these bags are breathable and water-resistant, they protect the dry-cleaned clothes better.

Everyone has laundry to wash and dry cleaning to drop off, which makes The Green Garmento a functional product that creates cleaner closets while contributing to a cleaner planet. To learn how to be fantastic and use less plastic, visit www.thegreengarmento.com.

Therapedic’s Back to College Air Mattress

Perfect for students who enjoy having overnight guests, Therapedic’s Back to College Air Mattress offers the feel of a mattress without the need for the space a permanent mattress requires. The Back to College air mattress comes in twin size with a built-in air pump, allowing inflation and deflation of the mattress with a simple flip of a switch. A simple turn of a dial allows guests to customize the firmness level and the coil beam construction provides reliable comfort and support. With a storage bag and worry-free deflation, students can easily stow away the bed after guests leave. Sold locally at the Bed Bath & Beyond in Milford, the mattress retails for $79.99 and includes a three year limited warranty.

Therapedic’s Allergen Reduction Mattress Pad

Dorm rooms usually aren’t the cleanest (just sayin’) and often contain old furniture and fabrics, making them allergy sufferers’ (and parents’, but that’s a different story) worst nightmare. Therapedic’s Allergen Reduction Mattress Pad offers a quick-fix solution ~ especially since many allergy and asthma attacks happen during the night ~ alleviating indoor allergens and featuring the company’s Silver Shield technology, which is EPA approved to prevent mold, mildew and odor-causing (fess up, you know there’s going to be some stank in your room sometimes during the semester) bacteria ($59.99-89.99.).

Headside Caddy

The Headside Caddy keeps everything a college student could need bedside and ~ most importantly ~ within arm’s reach. The Caddy can hold heavy textbooks, eReaders, iPads, TV remotes, eye-glasses, cell phones, tissues & more (ahem)! Students no longer need to jump in and out of bed to retrieve the basic essentials that would be kept in a nightstand at home.  Other products that solve this same need are the Bed Post Shelf, The Urban Shelf, Bunk Pocket & Bedside Caddy, all available at www.DormCo.com.

Magic Blackout Blind

After a late night party or even if you just don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn, the last thing you want is the bright sun streaming into your room…and eyes.  The Blackout Blind provides a quick and easy fix to block sunlight that would otherwise shine right through ordinary dorm room blinds.  Through cling technology, this black-filmed sheet holds to windows, thus blocking sunlight and making longer sleep & naps possible (great for any vampires you might have as guests, too). The Blackout Blind is 100% removable and leaves no film, residue or damage to dorm windows.