One of the most difficult things about living with someone is dealing with their cleanliness. Whether your roommate is your closest friend, your significant other, or a random stranger you found on Craigslist, it is easy to get annoyed by their messy ways.
Part of being a roommate and sharing a communal space is taking care of the mess you leave. We no longer have our Mom’s to pick up after us or do our laundry. In turn, it is not your responsibility to clean up your roommate’s dirty dishes or their half-drank mugs of coffee leaving a ring on the kitchen counter.
So, even though you may be Mr. (or Mrs.) Clean, you may not have the fortunate luck of having a roommate that is. If you have a messy roommate, here are some tips to help deal with them:
1. Lead by Example
You can’t complain about a messy roommate if you yourself are a messy person. If you want your roommate to start taking care of their mess, lead by example. Pick up after yourself and do your dishes when your roommate is around. Maybe they’ll get the hint.
2. Keep a Chore List
If somehow your exemplary cleaning skills did not rub off on your roommate, try by keeping a chore list on the fridge or in a visible area. This way, you can divide up what chores need to be done around the apartment and one roommate won’t end up doing more work than the other, which can lead to all sorts of anger and resentment. Which is never good when you are living in close quarters with someone.
3. Voice Your Concerns
Sometimes dealing with a messy roommate is as simple as communicating. Let them know they need to pick up after themselves and tell them they need to get their act together. It might be an awkward conversation, but it could be the best thing for your relationship.
4. Get Out While You Can!
Sometimes you just don’t click with someone as a roommate. If one of the reasons is that they leave the apartment looking like it can be showcased on Hoarders, the only answer is to move out or kick them out. It may seem extreme but your apartment should be a place of refuge, not somewhere where you’re scared a mouse is going to scurry out from under the pile of dirty clothes your roommate left on the living room floor. If this is the case, move out and move on to greener (and cleaner) pastures.
