Dormitory Cleaning

Building Services cleans the public spaces in all dormitories, including the hallways, common rooms, common bathrooms, and laundry rooms, but you are responsible for cleaning your room and your private bathroom if you live in a suite. A dust mop, glass cleaner, general-purpose cleaner, and paper towels will help you keep up with it.

Building Services provides a caddy with cleaning supplies for all private and shared bathrooms, and you can replenish it by contacting the Facilities Customer Service Center.

Building Services provides housekeeping in public areas from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, but if you have a question or problem, contact them at (609) 258-3490.

Residents of Spelman Hall are responsible for cleaning their kitchens and placing their trash in nearby dumpsters.

Facilities Customer Service Center

Trash Disposal

If you live in one of the following dormitories, empty your trash at the trash chute or trash station located in the hallway:

• Witherspoon Hall
• Brown Hall
• Bloomberg Hall
• Yoseloff Hall
• 1967 Hall
• 1976 Hall
• Bogle Hall
• Wilf Hall
• All Whitman College dormitories
• Dod
• Scully
• All New College West dormitories
• All Yeh College dormintories

If you live in any other dorm, individual room trash pickups occur on Mondays and Thursdays. Place your trash can in the hallway outside your room on Mondays and/or Thursdays when it is full. Then bring your trash can back into your room when it has been emptied. If you need to dispose of trash from your dorm room before the next trash pickup day (Mondays and Thursdays), there are other options:

• Common room spaces within the dorms have trash and recycling bins.
• Outdoor spaces such as U Store courtyard, behind Alexander Hall, and the side area of Witherspoon Hall have trash and recycling bins.

Please be sure to place your trash in a bag and tie the bag before disposing in other areas. If you need a trash bag, please see a custodian in your building or reach out to Facilities Customer Service at 609.258.8000.

Recycling

Recycling is mandatory at Princeton, and it’s a high priority. Please follow these guidelines:

Mixed paper

Place all mixed paper and cardboard in the blue containers labeled "Recycled Paper Only." When the receptacle is filled, place it in the area prescribed by your dormitory (trash chute, trash collection area, or hallway outside your room). Bring the receptacle back into your room after it has been emptied.

Glass, metal, and plastic containers

Place all glass bottles, cans, and plastic containers in the recycling barrels located in your residence hall bathrooms or in the trash/recycling room or chute nearest to you.

Rechargeable Batteries

Place all rechargeable batteries in the bins available in laundry rooms or common rooms of Residential Colleges and upperclass dorms. Batteries that must be recycled include nickel, ni-cad nickel, lithium, lithium-ion, metal hydride, silver oxide, and mercuric oxide. Alkaline batteries are no longer recycled.

Recycling Initiatives at Princeton

For more on recycling initiatives at Princeton University, take a look at the waste reduction and recycling information posted on the website for the Office of Sustainability.

Office of Sustainability - Waste Reduction and Recycling

Building Access

Princeton University’s Card Access System combines the finest mechanical and electronic technology with a sophisticated computerized database to automatically lock your building. The system is activated with your TigerCard (also referred to as a proximity or prox card).  Mounted on the wall near each exterior door is a card reader. When you bring your prox card within four inches of the reader, a green light appears, indicating the door is unlocked. You then have 15 seconds to open the door before it automatically relocks. When the door closes, the lock engages and remains secure until reactivated.

Alarms

You should not prop the doors open. If the door is propped open or does not close and lock within 25 seconds, an alarm will sound until the door is properly closed.

Your card

Lost, stolen, or malfunctioning TigerCards should be reported to the Department of Public Safety at 609.258.1000, so they can be flagged or invalidated. Replacement cards can be obtained from The Service Point on the A level of New South.

Found cards should be turned into the Department of Public Safety so they can be checked by the communications officer and the owner notified.

Room Access

All dormitory and annex doors have keyless locks requiring students to use their prox card and a PIN to gain access to their room. To access your room, hold your prox card within one inch of the numeric keypad on your door. When the light flashes from green to red,  enter the four-digit PIN assigned to you. This PIN will be yours for as long as you live in University dormitory housing. If you forget your PIN, go to My Housing for Graduates to obtain it.

My Housing for Undergraduates

Keyless Lock Information

Loaner cards

If you are locked out of your dormitory, room, or annex you may borrow a loaner card for one hour to gain re-entry. You are required to sign out the loaner card with the understanding that misuse of the loaner card is treated as a “Rights, Rules, Responsibilities” violation similar to misuse of the University TigerCard.

If you are unable to come to The Service Point, you may contact Public Safety at 609.258.1000 to request re-entry.

There is no charge for the first three times a loaner card is issued if the card is returned within 24 hours to one of the drop-off locations listed below. If the loaner card is not returned within 24 hours, a $75 non-returned card fee applies.

After three loaner cards are issued, a $30 fee applies for each card issued thereafter. There is also a $30 service fee when Public Safety is dispatched to assist with re-entry. A grace period without fees or tabulations is in place from August 15 to September 30 each year and during all scheduled fire drills.

To replace a lost TigerCard, see the TigerCard Services website for more information. The replacement fee is $15.

Loaner pickup locations

• Monday-Friday, Regular Business Hours - The Service Point, A Level, New South
• After business hours and weekends - Public Safety, 200 Elm Drive. Critical campus situations may delay your request for a loaner card.

Loaner card drop-off locations

• The Service Point
• TigerCard, Transportation Parking Services (A floor, New South)
• Frist Campus Center Welcome Desk (100 level)
• Department of Public Safety (200 Elm Drive)

TigerCard

Residential College Kitchens

Each Residential College has at least one limited-service kitchen where you may prepare snacks. These kitchens are available to anyone living in a Residential College but are not intended for preparing full meals. You should wash utensils and dishes after each use and wipe up spills as they occur. Building Services provides general cleaning. 

Kitchen Locations - Residential Colleges

Butler College

• 1967 Hall - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors
• Bloomberg Hall - 1st floor
• Yoseloff Hall - 1st and 2nd floors
• Bogle Hall - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors

Forbes College

• Forbes 238
• Forbes A243
• Forbes A143

Mathey College

• Blair Hall - 9th entry, basement
• Edwards Hall - basement
• Joline Hall - 3rd entry, basement

Rockefeller College

• Witherspoon Hall - basement

Whitman College

• Fisher Hall - 2nd floor
• Wendell Hall - 4th floor
• Hargadon Hall - 4th floor
• Baker Hall - 1st floor

New College West

• Addy Hall - 3rd floor
• Kanji Hall - 6th floor
• Jose E. Feliciano Hall - ground floor, 6th floor

Yeh College West

• Hariri Hall - 2nd floor, 6th floor
• Fu Hall - 1st floor
• Grousbeck Hall- 2nd floor
• Mannion Hall - 1st floor

Upperclass Dormitory Kitchens

Many upperclass dorms have unlocked kitchens, where you may prepare snacks or full meals. Each kitchen includes a sink, stove and refrigerator and, in some cases, a microwave. You should wash utensils and dishes after each use and wipe up spills as they occur. Building Services provides general cleaning. 

Kitchen Locations - Upperclass Dormitories

• 1901/Laughlin Hall - basement - co-op members only
• 1903 Hall - basement - locked cabinets
• Brown Hall - 3rd floor
• Brown Hall - 2nd floor - co-op members only
• Dod Hall - basement
• Little Hall - 1st entry, basement - locked cabinets
• Lockhart Hall - 2nd entry, ground floor - limited access
• Patton Hall - T entry, basement - full kitchen, locked cabinets
• Patton Hall - 3rd floor - snack kitchen, locked cabinets
• Pyne Hall - 1st entry, ground floor - limited access
• Scully Hall - 1st floor – locked cabinets
• Scully Hall-1st, 2nd and 3rd floors - snack kitchens
• Wilf Hall - 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors

Limited Access Kitchens

Limited access kitchens are locked and are intended for juniors and seniors in upperclass dormitories. To unlock these kitchens you will need access added to your Tigercard which you may request from the Undergraduate Student Housing Office.

Limited access kitchens include tables and chairs, a full-size refrigerator, a stove, and a microwave. You may use your own small electrical appliances in kitchens, but they must be stored in locked kitchen cabinets when not in use and kept clean and in good working condition. Locked cabinets are limited, and keys to them are issued on a first-come, first-served basis by the Undergraduate Student Housing Office.

Along with routine cleanup, key holders take part in a weekly cleaning schedule which is posted in each kitchen. Building Services provides brooms, mops, garbage bags, and some cleaning fluids, but does not clean limited-access kitchens. 

Kitchen Locations - Limited Access

• 1901/Laughlin Hall - basement - co-op members only
• Brown Hall - 2nd floor - co-op members only
• Lockhart Hall - 2nd entry, ground floor - limited access
• Pyne Hall - 1st entry, ground floor - limited access
• Scully Hall - 3rd floor (319) – co-op members only
• Wilf Hall - 4th Floor

Maintenance

• To report a problem with a University-supplied kitchen appliance, call the Undergraduate Student Housing Office at (609) 258-6792.
• To report unsanitary conditions contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at (609) 258-8000.

Facilities Customer Service Center

Inspections

Dormitory kitchens are inspected several times during the academic year by housing inspectors and may be closed if unsanitary or unsafe conditions are found.

Laundry Room Etiquette

The Undergraduate Student Government and the University Student Life Committee have compiled these guidelines to follow while using the laundry rooms on campus.

• Use as few machines as possible.
• Use the whiteboards provided to indicate where you have placed laundry removed from a machine (i.e. laundry from washer #2 is in bin #4).
• Pick up your laundry in a timely manner.
• Place laundry removed from a machine neatly in the bins provided, remembering never to remove laundry before a cycle is completed.
• Report problem machines by creating an online service ticket.
• Be neat and considerate of fellow laundry room users.
• Take your laundry supplies from the room when your laundry is completed.
• Use your own laundry supplies; do not use what is not yours.

Laundry Locations - Residential Colleges

Butler College

• 1976 Hall - ground floor
• Bloomberg Hall - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors
• Yoseloff Hall - ground floor

Forbes College

• Forbes Main - basement
• Forbes Annex - basement

Mathey College

• Blair Hall - 10th entry, basement
• Edwards Hall - basement
• Hamilton Hall - basement
• Joline Hall - 3rd entry

Rockefeller College

• Little Hall - 1st entry, basement
• Holder Hall - 13th entry, basement
• Buyers Hall
• Witherspoon Hall - basement

Whitman College

• Fisher Hall - 1st floor
• Baker Hall - 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor
• 1981 Hall - basement, 3rd, and 4th floor
• Wendell Hall - C Wing, 2nd, 3rd floor and B Wing, 1st floor

New College West

• Addy Hall - 2nd floor
• Kwanza Jones Hall - 1st floor

Yeh College 

• Fu Hall - 2nd floor
• Grousbeck Hall - 1st floor

Laundry Locations - Upperclass Dormitories

• 1903 Hall - 1st entry, basement
• Brown Hall - 1st floor
• Dod Hall - basement
• Henry Hall - 1st entry, ground floor
• Laughlin Hall - 6th entry, ground floor
• Little Hall - 10th entry, basement
• Patton Hall - 4th floor and T entry, basement
• Pyne Hall - between entries 3 and 4, basement
• Scully Hall - North Wing, 2nd floor and South Wing, 1st and 4th floors
• Spelman Hall - Building 5

Princeton Student Agencies Laundry Agency

The Princeton Student Agencies Laundry Agency will pick up your laundry each week, take it to a professional laundry service, and deliver it within three days to your room washed, dried, and folded or placed on hangers. Contact the Student Laundry Agency for pricing and pickup/delivery schedules.

Princeton Student Agencies Laundry Agency

Facilities Customer Service Center

The Facilities Customer Service Center is available to help you with maintenance and repairs in your dormitory. Contact them with questions or to report a problem.

Hours:  Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Phone:  (609) 258-8000 (After hours, leave a message for the following day.)
Email: [email protected]

You can also submit a work order online at the Facilities Customer Service Center website.

Facilities Customer Service Center

Building Services

Building Services provides cleaning and other services for your dormitory. Call Building Services at (609) 258-3490 or the Facilities Customer Service Center at (609) 258-8000 if you have a question or problem with the following:

• Bicycle storage
• Extermination
• Housekeeping in public areas (Service is provided 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.)
• Laundry room cleaning/maintenance
• Light bulbs
• Mattress storage

Pest Control Protocol - Bedbug Control Program

The Bedbug Control Program was established in 2007 as an acknowledgment that this issue is becoming more and more prevalent across the nation and inevitably to Princeton’s campus. The objective is to identify, treat, and eliminate bedbug infestations in a way that is responsive to customers’ needs, minimizes disruption to affected students, and is thorough and complete.

Bedbug Control Program (PDF)

Emergency Requests after Hours and on Weekends

For emergency requests after regular University business hours, such as a power outage, a flood or a potentially dangerous situation, please contact the Department of Public Safety at (609) 258-1000. Email should not be used for emergency requests.

In order to ensure that rooms are suitable for move-in, the University has implemented a new check-in procedure called Room Condition Reports (RCR). We ask that all students complete and submit a Room Condition Report upon moving into their rooms in the fall. These reports will allow staff to address any existing issues at the time of move-in and ensure that students are moving into rooms that are suitable for living. Room Condition Reports can be found and completed here: https://roomcheckin.princeton.edu. Below are some FAQ's about this new procedure.

Room Condition Report FAQ's

Q: Will I be able to edit or revise my Room Condition Report (RCR)?

A: No. Once you submit online, you will not be able to amend the report. However, you will be able to view your submission anytime at https://roomcheckin.princeton.edu/

Q: What happens to my report after submission?

A: Once submitted each report is reviewed a Housing Area Coordinators.  An Area Coordinator will visit your room to confirm the reported condition.  Work orders will be submitted for any items identified as requiring maintenance.  We will notify you regarding the request and completion of service.

Q: What if I don’t complete one?

A: Failure to submit an RCR (or submission of an incomplete one) indicates your acceptance of the room’s condition

Q: How long do I have to submit?

A: Submission must be completed by October 12.

Q: If I change rooms, do I submit a new RCR?

A: Any variations from the original RCR on the condition of the room you vacate may be subject to billing if items are damaged or missing.  Upon relocation, you will be given an opportunity to complete a RCR for your new room.

Short-term Storage Prior to Check-in

Princeton Student Agencies’ Moving & Storage Agency offers short-term storage for current FSI students, available between the conclusion of FSI’s summer program and the official move-in date for all first-year students. For questions, please contact Princeton Student Agencies by email, or at 609-258-4906.

Storage Pickup Locations for International Students and Volunteers

Storage for international students and ISAP volunteers arriving early on campus for international pre-orientation is provided by Building Services, (609) 258-3490. There is a two-box limit and the storage is located in the Fisher Hall basement.

Summer Storage

The Princeton Student Agencies Moving and Storage Agency will store your belongings during the summer. The agency will move your items from your room, store them, and deliver them to your room in the fall. Contact the Moving Princeton Student Agencies’ Moving & Storage Agency will store your belongings for the summer. The agency’s Full Service Storage option offers the convenience of pickup directly from your spring dorm room, summer storage, and drop-off service to your fall dorm room. The agency also offers an Economy Box Storage option, with convenient box drop-off locations for spring, and equally accessible box pick-up locations for fall, available throughout campus. Contact the Moving & Storage Agency directly with any questions.

Princeton University Network

Get connected to the online community at Princeton. See the Students section of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) website.

Princeton University Network

TigerTV Cable Service

TigerTV provides limited basic cable channels in your dorm room at no charge. For HDTV and additional programming, subscribe and upgrade your cable service. See TigerTV on the OIT website for details.

TigerTV

Phone Service and Voice Mail

To set up phone service and voice mail in your dorm room, see Student Telephone Services on the OIT website.

Princeton University Phone Service