It goes without saying that living with your friends is a blessing; from having movie marathons to having someone to cry with when exam season takes its toll on you. But the scary stories you hear of that one second-year housemate everyone has, are enough to put you off the idea altogether, and usually, it all starts with disagreements surrounding the overflowing bin.
So how do you keep on top of cleaning in shared accommodation this spring, without falling out with your housemates?
Well, it goes without saying that a cleaning rota is always a good start. Getting everyone to stick to it though… a different story.
"It’s understandable that when university work starts to pile up and things get overwhelming, cleaning chores get put on the backburner."
A good incentive to encourage everyone to stick to the rota is the rule that if you don’t complete your chore, you must do something in exchange for the flat. Whether this be taking on an extra job the following week or buying everyone a sweet treat. This can also be used for a bin rota.
"Something to also consider when choosing your future housemates is how compatible your living habits are."
If you’re a neat freak and you have a friend that is particularly messy, it’s probably not a good idea to live with them, despite how tempting it might be.
Alternatively, if you really want to live with them, you will have to accept that you’ll probably have to pick up their slack and take on some extra cleaning roles to achieve the level of cleanliness and organisation that you’re accustomed to. It can be hard to do this without growing to resent them, so consider this decision before committing to anything.
As easy as it is to say that everyone should be considerate of their housemates, you can’t expect someone to completely change their living habits just because you prefer a cleaner space. As much as I love all my friends, there are some of them that I simply couldn’t handle living with, and that’s okay.
When you’re living with people 24/7, it’s natural to have small disputes, just like you would do with your family at home. Remember to respect your housemates’ boundaries and be understanding with the fact that sometimes keeping the kitchen tidy is not a top priority.
