Messy Roommate?

Question

I have been living in this college apartment for almost a year, and one of my roommates is extremely messy and careless. She leaves dirty dishes on the countertop, and piles up both sides of the sink with dirty dishes. I have never said anything verbally to her, but I normally place her dirty dishes on the left side of the sink if I find them on the countertop or on the right side of the sink. For me, I think it is very inconsiderate to pile up dishes on both sides of the sink when the other roommates and myself wash our own dishes daily. After all the times I place her stuff on the left side of the sink, she continues to pile dishes on both sides without considering the fact that she lives with three other people. I feel uncomfortable asking her to watch where she puts her dirty dishes because the apartment does not belong to one particular person. We all share it, and pay for our own rooms. Everyone is grown and is capable of taking responsibility for themselves. There is no reason I should have to treat another adult like a child. Should I talk to her, or continue placing her stuff on the other side of the sink?

Answer 1

Talk to her like an adult - hopefully you both can come to some sort of compromise - a dirty place is disgusting - the least your roommate can do it clean up after themselves...

Answer 2

i know the feeling but ask her nicely like hey_um can u please pick up ur clothes or take ur dish to the kitchen if she respects u she will

Answer 3

"Everyone is grown and is capable of taking responsibility for themselves. There is no reason I should have to treat another adult like a child."

If this is the case she will understand when you talk to her that she needs to be considerate of the other people she lives with.  If you don't say anything she will continue to think it is ok, which is why she continues to leave her dishes around.

If YOU keep moving them she is going to keep doing it because she thinks its ok. Talk to her...Hope this helps

Answer 4

Definately talk to her, you have a right to a clean home. Tell her if she doesn't want to wash her own dishes, fine, but while they're dirty, she can keep them in her own space and nobody elses ie her room.

Answer 5

start putting the dirty dishes on her bed, then she will remember to clean them...hopefully!

Answer 6

Pu the dirty dishes on her bed or something, and if she asks who put these on my bed say ''Well I think you need to help us keep the place clean and I would really appreciate it.'' Thats what I did and now its really clean!

Answer 7

Everything that she leaves around the house pile it up on her bed.  I doubt it would take long for her to get the point.  If that doesnt work, you could talk to her like an adult, but that isn't near as fun.

Answer 8

Definatly talk to her its not worth your happiness too.  She may not be getting it by placing her stuff on the other side of the sink plus she could start retaliation against you. You need to talk to her and if the dishes are a big deal make a system on mon tues u do the dishes weds thurs ill do them etc.

Answer 9

Treat another adult like a child when they're acting like one?

You have to talk to her. She's just some lazy *** roomate thinking that you and the others are going to clean her ***.

If you don't want to talk to her alone, you could ask the others.

And then you can all sit down and tell her what you guys think.

God, I hate people like that.

Answer 10

talk to her nicely at first. If she still doesn't listen and doesnt seem sorry for not complying then you can get more stern with her. Talk it over with your other roommates as well and if it bothers them as well, then let her know that the rest of the people in the apartment dislike how she handles her dishes.

Answer 11

I would say something to everyone that way there isn't one person being told. Have a roommate meeting and just tell them that your not being mean but if you mess up you clean up. Or have one person do the dishes, 1 person clean the bathroom and 1 clean the living room ect.and switch it around every week. Like a game or something. Thats what me and my roomate did. I would have a do your part meeting.And also let them express what they think needs change, or needs to be done or whatever.Its the best way or post a note on the fridge do your part if you mess up clean up.That way your not sounding mean.well I hope everything turns out good.

Answer 12

First, talk to her.  After that, start putting her dishes into buckets (you can buy them cheap from a $1 store) and place them on the floor somewhere out of the way.