How do I politely ask my roommate to CLEAN UP AFTER HERSELF in the kitchen?

Question

I clean up after myself in the kitchen and take out the trash when I notice it's full.....how do I ask my roommate nicely to do the same???

Answer 1

Something like "Clean up or clear off" might do nicely.  

Answer 2

Stop doing it for her or get another roomie. If she's filthy like that you're not going to be able to change her.

Answer 3

Hi!

Tell her " Yesterday I took out the trash, so today it should be your turn."

Bye!

Answer 4

I frequented a small restaurant during my working days that posted a sign saying "Clean up after yourself! Your mother doesn't live here!" Since we wanted to be served, we cleaned up!

Answer 5

That's the problem, your TOO polite, put your foot down or your roommate will walk all over you. Talk to her normally, not nastily but don't clean up after your roommate

Answer 6

Just ask her point blank, like this:

"Hey (insert name here), could you clean up after yourself in the kitchen when your done? Thanks."

Answer 7

you're gonna have to grow a set and let your roommate know that her mother doesn't live there, so she's going to have to learn to clean up after heself.  The only OTHER way is the less attractive, passive aggressive method.  It never works, because it's more chickenshit.  I advise you to have your roommate sit down and hash out EVERYTHING you have on your mind.  That way it's allll out on the table to be dealt with like adults........which is what you two are TRYING to be, right?

Answer 8

you have already set the trend in the house, do what you want, and don't do what you don't want. don't bother asking anything. just don't clean up her mess and leave the stinky trash alone. this is why i only had one roommate for less than a year. good luck!

Answer 9

You two need to negotiate what is a mutually acceptable level of tidiness (or level of sloppiness). Maybe your idea of cleaning up after yourself is to wash every dish after every meal while Roomie's idea is to do dishes once a week. Discuss your two "philosophies" of how clean the kitchen needs to be before you start asking people to adhere to your own standard. If you have mutually agreed on standards then it becomes a lot easier to point out departures from that mutual agreement.  

Answer 10

Never going to be a right time or place when you have to tell someone you don't agree with how they do things. So first opportunity you get say as politely as you can in a calm voice roommate something has been bothering me and I want to bring it to your attention. By no means am I trying to offend you but can you please help keep the kitchen clean since we share a space.End the conversation with if something of this magnitude is ever bothering you please don't hesitate to notify me then ask her if she has something to say.

Answer 11

People's level of cleanliness is rarely the same.  One person is always cleaning up.  The other person gets in the habit of letting others clean up their mess.

Set some rules that are not too strict so that it is a compromise.

Answer 12

That is a pain in the behind. Do you have the patience and the sense of humor to do tell her?

"Hey listen, I always clean up after I am done doing what I do, and I think it would be fair if you did the same. I don't know exactly how to say this nicely, but I would really appreciate it if you cleaned the spot that pertains to both of us. If you want to keep your room dirty, suit yourself, but not the kitchen or the living room because we both use those. I hope you understand, I really care about living in a clean place, hope you can respect that for both of us."

That is that, and if she refuses to, or hypocritically continues the habit, you better find another place (a studio is best), or move in with someone you know is clean, if you don't want to develop a habit of putting up with people. Hope this helps.

Answer 13

Just go up to her and tell her:

"I don't want this to come off as rude or anything because I do like living with you. But I wanted to ask if you could help with keeping the kitchen clean. When I see a mess, I clean it. So it would be a lot easier if we both cleaned up after ourselves in the kitchen."

Thats pretty straightfoward and polite. If that doesn't work, put a pretty sign above the sink that says "If you use it, wash it."

Answer 14

Don't hold it in and start banging the dishes around and slamming doors like my old roommate did.  Don't humiliate her either by talking down to her.  Keep it simple and say, "can you please clean in here, so when I use it it's clean?"  

If it's not done immediately is it really a big deal?