By the time most of us are “adults” we’ve had the experience of leaving the warm (rent-free) bosom of Mom and Dad’s and living with roommates.
Sometimes these roommates are random students your college thought you’d mesh well with, friends, family, or even strangers you found on Craigslist.
However, just because most of us have lived with others doesn’t mean we know how to do it well.
So, I’ve pulled together some home training tips to help you be a better roomie:
1.) If you can’t remember the last time you held a broom/mop/Swiffer in your hands, it’s probably time for you to clean something. Seriously! Right now!! Stop reading this and go vacuum. Better yet, dust first.
2.) If you break something that doesn’t belong to you, own up to it, and replace it – immediately if not sooner.
3.) If you didn’t buy it, don’t eat it.
4.) If you or your guests use the last of any shared item (food stuffs, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.) replace it! There is nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night and having to drip dry.
5.) Expect waking up in the middle of the night because your roommate invited over the loudest.guest.EVER! Your guests are a reflection of you, if they’re rude, loud, and messy – so are you. Don’t be that dude.
6.) I could write an entire blog post on dishes. I don’t understand, am I the only person who thinks if you have a dishwasher, you should simply empty it when the dishes are clean, put dirty dishes directly in until full, then repeat?!?
For those of you who don’t understand my flawless logic, a few pointers:
Rinse your dishes before you put them in the sink! I don’t care how gnarly your dishwasher is, crusted-on week-old food does not come clean without a serious scrubbing. And it’s super gross for the person who eventually does load the dishwasher. (Because we all know, it’s not going to be you.)
When the sink looks like this:
DO THE FUCKING DISHES!!!
7.) Do not borrow anything without asking.
8.) If you can’t remember the last time you and your significant other stayed at their place, it’s definitely time for you to switch it up. No matter how well your roommates get along with your main squeeze no one wants a permanent house guest and nothing is more annoying than having to witness couple time all the time. We get it, you’re in love and want to spend all your time together, just please understand, not everyone feels the same.
9.) There should always be a heads up for overnight guests and gatherings. It’s the polite (adult) thing to do. The two most awkward shared living situations are coming home to a party you didn’t know about and sharing your morning coffee with the stranger(s) you found on the couch.
10.) Pick your shit up. Growing up if we didn’t put our stuff away my father was libel to throw it in the trash. A girlfriend of mine trained her roommates to clean up by putting anything (including dirty dishes) they left strewn about in their pillowcase. Not sure I could pull that one off with a clear conscience, but it’s definitely effective!
Those are just my top 10.
What are your rules for a harmonious house??
Have a great weekend!
Adventures In Adulthood 