Being a roommate is hard. Follow these rules and hopefully you won't have as hard of a time being a good roommate. Also, make them follow these rules too. We're on our way to a happier place.
1. If you didn't buy it, don't use it. Period. If you request permission and you are granted it, then you can use it. But that permission doesn't apply to the rest of your life. Unless it is specifically stated that you can feel free to use or borrow or eat ____ whenever you want without needing to ask then DON'T. This applies especially to things like tampons. Also noteworthy: shampoo/conditioner, shoes, food, and cars.
2. Don't go through your roommate's things. Unless you have specific permission. And treat that permission as a one-time allowance. If you wear your roommate's shoes once, ask before wearing them again. Or if you drive your roommate's car once, ask before driving it again. And for heaven's sake, don't sneak around about it. If your roommate wanted you to see something or be privy to the details of what is in the bathroom drawer, your roommate wouldn't bother putting things in a drawer. Keep out.
3. For goodness sake, do your own dishes. And take out the trash once in awhile. If you have lived with the same people for more than two months and never taken out the garbage and/or emptied the dishwasher, you need to reevaluate. And when you do the dishes do them the right way. I can't figure out how grown women, in college, don't have this whole washing dishes thing down. They shouldn't have been allowed to leave the house. Your dishes shouldn't be greasy or have things stuck to them when you're done. It can be so simple. There are probably youtube videos showing a step by step process of how to correctly clean your dishes. Use the skill. Clean your own bleeping dishes. And treat others' dishes kindly. Don't use metal on metal or nonstick pans/pots.
4. Pitch in. Clean the bathroom once a month. Deep clean the kitchen twice a month. Vacuum every other week. If all roommates followed this code, the apartments and homes across college campuses everywhere would sing in gladness and glisten with cleanliness.
5. Don't be greedy. I understand if you get upset that your roommate only bought a 22 pack of toilet paper and you bought a 24 pack... But how much difference will that really make? On the flip side, if you are sharing an item with a roommate, treat it how you want them to treat it. Once I bought a jar of salsa and put it on two tacos, next time I reached for it it had been entirely used by my roommate. Now, admittedly, I just didn't use the salsa as often as my roommate. But also, I bought a jar of salsa and only got two spoonfuls. If there is something that you know you will devour quickly, don't offer to split it with someone. Be kind, be generous, someday you'll want someone to be kind back to you. Save up those karma points for when they really matter.
6. Do things with your roommates. I've never been a fan of the idea of roommate dates/nights/dinners/counsels/sweat lodges. But your roommates can be some great support. So invite them to go shopping with you or hang out one night at home. Don't be afraid to make the livingroom the common space and invite your roommates to study out there with you. Make them your friends.
7. Don't be passive aggressive. Ever. Treat your roommates like you want to be treated. If you get upset with something, talk it out before it blows up. If you are having a bad week and PMS-ing and then realize that your roommates used all of your tampons without permission and didn't tell you or replace them- keep in mind that you are prone to act out and then discuss it calmly. If you know that something in your house doesn't work, a lock for example, don't use it. Because then your roommate will be stuck outside calling you so he/she can get in and sleep. Don't try to get back at your roommates. And don't prank the people you live with, because eventually someone will get butthurt about it. And never write a blogpost with specific examples from your life on how to be a better roommate. We all have something to work on.
I love my roommates. I've been lucky this year.
But I can't wait to live on my own.
Can't.Wait.
Chanda C.
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