Don't you just love to come home from a long day on campus to a pile of dirty dishes in the sink? Or worse, over flowing onto the counters? Just about every college student can relate to this tale of annoying roommates.
You may be a clean freak, or you may just be the type of person that cleans up after yourself. But either way, a messy kitchen can be a pain to deal with. Don't fret, there are ways you can conquer the battle of the dirty dishes and lazy roommates.
Make a System
Create a house rule that states that each person is responsible for his or her own dishes. I know, this should go without saying, but some roommates need a little help in this department. Make it known that if you want to use the kitchen, you better be up for cleaning up after yourself.
Keep the Dishwasher Empty
If you have a dishwasher, try to stay on top of unloading it. Keeping your dishwasher empty will encourage people to rinse their dishes and put them in the washer. If you don't have a dishwasher, this becomes a little more difficult. You can try the same tactic by keeping the dish drying rack empty.
Don't Give In
Once you give in to cleaning the kitchen, it's almost like you have automatically nominated yourself as the residential "kitchen cleaner." Lazy roommates will see this and make the false connection that you will, and don't mind, cleaning up after them all the time. This means they will stack more and more dishes up, only to make a bigger mess. There is nothing wrong with helping each other out when it comes to straightening up, but there needs to be some give and take.
Communicate Clearly
Some people just aren't bothered by a messy kitchen. Spills on the counter and stacks of dirty bowls just don't faze them. If that's the case with your roommates, you'll probably have to speak up. Just let them know that you'd prefer it if they cleaned up after themselves. If they put up a fight, it might be time for a roommate meeting.
The battle of dirty dishes seems constant. When you live with roommates, you probably always feel that you can't keep things how you'd like them. Part of that just comes with the territory, but part of it can be changed. Try these tips and see if you can't keep your dishes clean!
About the Author
Jill Hardy writes for UniversitiesOnline.net, a website that helps students understand what it takes to start business, education, science, art, criminal justice and medical careers.