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Moving In To Hall

Starting off your first stay in hall? If you have questions about what to pack & how to check in, read on.

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Don't worry, we get it - moving can seem intimidating! But with some planning & a better idea of what to expect, you'll settle in just fine. Browse this page for a packing list, check-in processes, cleaning tips & tricks, and more.

Packing Lists

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Poster by Pelicia Tan. Download PDF here

for use as a packing list! :D

A great way to get many things on this list is on NTU Marketplace. Here, students who are no longer staying in hall tend to sell things cheaply. Just be careful & always choose to exchange goods & money simultaneously in person.

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THE ESSENTIALS

  1. Enough clothes

  2. Cleaning supplies! (Floor wipes, wet wipes, etc)

  3. Bed Sheets, Pillow + whatever you need to sleep (NTU only provides the mattress)

  4. Chargers

  5. Towels

  6. Shower Slippers

  7. Hangers

  8. Router + Ethernet Cable

  9. Small Dustbin + Trash Bags

  10. Any personal medication

  11. Shower products & a container to hold them all 

  12. Toothbrush & Toothpaste

  13. Laundry pods/Laundry soap

  14. New $1 coins (if you do laundry in hall)

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PLEASE GET IF YOU CAN

  1. Door Bottom Seals (To keep crawlies out)

  2. Magic Mop for ease & cleaning high spaces

  3. Sleeping eye mask (in case you & roomie have different schedules)

  4. Mattress Topper/Padded Protector (for more comfy sleep)

  5. BIG water container (the pantry can be far)

  6. Extension board

  7. Dehumidifier Packs

  8. Cupboard Deodorisers

  9. A waterproof shower bag for your clean clothes & dirty clothes

  10. Laundry basket

  11. Laundry netting for your clothes

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NICE TO HAVE

  1. Doormat

  2. Handheld vacuum cleaner

  3. Hair dryer

  4. Aroma diffuser/water diffuser

  5. Insecticide

  6. Ear Plugs (for sleeping)

  7. Quick snacks/food

  8. Small electric pot/normal pot

  9. Utensils

  10. Small Fridge

  11. Shoe Rack (not all halls have shoe cupboards)

  12. Clock

  13. Chair Cushion

  14. Organisers for drawers/shelves

  15. Insect-Killing Lamp

  16. Nice-smelling Disinfectant Spray

  17. Foldable Tote Bag (for groceries)

Checking In

Some time in July each year, the hall offices will send out emails about check in. These will have the link to a form, through which you'll book your check-in slot. You MUST have a booking. The booking time can be edited after your first submission, subject to availability.

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When checking in, remember to bring your matriculation card OR photo ID (eg. IC card, passport) (for freshmen). You'll also need email confirmation of your proof of payment for the Hall Acceptance Fee (which you'll also be emailed about earlier) (for more on Hall Fees, click here). 

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If you stay in a hall which uses Key Fobs (as opposed to an actual key), these will need to be validated before they can open your room door. So before you climb up to your room, remember to do so! This can be done outside the Hall Offices of such halls. Alternatively, a key fob scanner (which can be found outside some halls' laundry rooms) can do it too.

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You can opt for Early Check-In if you'd like to stay for orientation, etc, though you'll have to pay a daily rate for these additional days.

Hall Cleaning Tips

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Here's your guide to getting your hall room clean!

 

The FAN

Firstly, ALWAYS start with the FAN. If you're in a hall with a ceiling fan, clean that first. You'll probably want to mask up because all that dust will be falling down to you. 

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Safety first! You can stand on your chair to get more height, but I'd recommend also using something with a long handle to increase reach. A magic mop is surprisingly handy for this. If not, throwing a long rag over the blade & holding both ends to clean also works.

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You'll want to start here because

  1. It's usually horrendously dusty

  2. If you don't, you'll waste all your effort cleaning the moment you turn the fan on & send dust flying everywhere again

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The BED

The mattresses in NTU are covered with a protective plastic layer. Thus, cleaning them is quite easy - all you need are some disinfectant wipes, or Dettol & a clean cloth.

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Remember to flip them up (they are quite heavy) so that you can clean the bed frame underneath as well. 

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If you are able, or with assistance, do pull out the bed frame. This area is usually a hidden cache of a TONNE of dust (& other gross things left behind by previous tenants). You'll definitely need to clean here.

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Cleaning in each of the drawers is important too! But even more important might be taking the drawers out of the bed & cleaning the areas under them. This can be a little tricky, but there is usually a visible release mechanism on the drawer slide. Things might have fallen behind the drawer, causing closing them to be difficult.

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The CURTAINS

Like the fan, this is another thing you'll want to clean so your other efforts aren't wasted. You can vacuum them, but I personally recommend taking them down, putting them in some laundry netting (take out the hooks first!) , & tossing them into the washing machine & dryer. 

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The WINDOW GRILLS

Yet another hidden area of dust! This one is easier to clean while the curtains are in the wash & out of the way.

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TOP SURFACES

Besides cleaning IN your cupboards & wiping down shelves, it's important to wipe the TOP of shelves & wardrobes. Magic mops with their long handles also come in handy here.

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The DOOR

Tends to get dusty as well! This is another surface that is important to wipe down.

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If you find MOULD

Located in a forest, NTU tends to be damp - & rooms that have not been lived in & aired out for a few months may become exposed to mould. If you spot DARK (black) mould, this is dangerous - contact Hall Office asap. If they repeatedly refuse to help you, big supermarkets often sell mould killer solution.

 

Keep your room as dry as you can. Turn your air-con onto DEHUMIDIFIER mode - this is the water droplet logo. Buy thirsty hippo dehumidifier packs - these will save your $$ from having the A/C on. Remember to change them out when the water is full.

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Even with these measures, you might still find mould growth on your belongings now & then. It is best to keep things in the cupboards/drawers, & keep a dehumidifier pack on your table.

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CLEANING UP

In general, I'd recommend, in this order,

  1. Vacuuming (if you can get a small vacuum in)

  2. Wet mopping (magic mop is really a lifesaver)

  3. Dry mopping 

all the surfaces in the room. Don't forget the chair too!

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