Small appliances: What you can and can't take to college

Students at Cornell University can bring firearms provided they leave them with campus police but forget about taking a halogen lamp. Your George Foreman grill will be confiscated at Tulane and the University of Wisconsin so leave it at home. And if you're partial to pop tarts at UCLA, you'll have to eat them cold—toasters and toaster ovens are forbidden.

Soon the kids will be shipping off to college. But before equipping their dorm rooms, check the school's website to see what's allowed and what isn't. While most schools allow mini-refrigerators, some don't or require you to rent them. The rules also vary on microwaves. Cornell allows appliances controlled by a thermostat but Wisconsin doesn't, explaining on its website: "Extensive food preparation is not allowed in resident rooms for sanitation and fire safety reasons."

Of course, dorm rules don't apply to students who live off-campus. And whether they live on campus or off, collegians should check with their roommates to make sure they aren't bringing duplicate items. If you're looking for small appliances for small spaces, Consumer Reports has Ratings of many that are college-friendly and within your budget.

Cube refrigerators
Our refrigerator Ratings feature four cube refrigerators including one recommended model, the Haier HSA02 ($100). It's 20x19x18 and weighs 36 pounds. All four scored poorly on energy efficiency and freezer performance so if you have a little more money and a little more space you can get a medium compact that is more energy efficient and costs less to run.

Microwaves
Students can use a countertop microwave to heat everything from water to packaged entrees. At just $115, we judged the Sanyo EM-S6588S ($115) a CR Best Buy. It was very good at heating evenness and auto defrost. We also recommend two Kenmore models. All three were relatively quiet so roomies won't be disturbed.

Coffeemakers
If a dorm allows coffeemakers, it's best to buy one with an automatic shutoff like those with an insulated carafe. Or at $80, the Hamilton Beach BrewStation 47454 is a CR Best Buy and our top-rated 12-Cup brew and dispense model. We also have ratings for 12 models of pod coffeemakers, which do away with the need for grinding and measuring coffee and getting rid of the grounds. Replacement pods cost a bit more than regular coffee but a lot less than buying your java at a coffee emporium.

Hand vacs
One college website says that a small vacuum is a must—especially right before parents weekend. We have five hand vacuums to recommend ranging in price from $30 to $60. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 33A1 proved to be a good performer at everything except … picking up pet hair. But no matter, dorms don't allow furry friends anyway. The Dirt Devil Kurv M0216 was not only good-looking but very good at cleaning floors and excellent at carpet.

Carafe water filters
Your student can save a lot on bottled water by using a carafe with a water filter, although it should be kept in the refrigerator. A water-filled carafe can become a breeding ground for microorganisms when left at room temperature. The Clear2O CWS100A ($30) is a CR Best Buy and we also recommend the Brita Smart Pitcher OB39/42632 ($32). Make sure you throw in some extra filters.

Steam irons
Don't laugh, but your student may want to iron from time to time. (Clothes left in a pile can get pretty wrinkled!) The cordless irons we've tested haven't impressed us but we have three corded CR Best Buys in our Ratings including the Singer Expert Finish EF for $60.

—Mary H.J. Farrell