If there’s one thing I’ve learned during the past 9 months of apartment living it’s that there is one issue that can really get under the skin of some people. This issue is of course cleaning. With four people living in one apartment it’s pretty much guarenteed that there will be differing opinions as to what’s clean and what’s dirty.
Some people prefer to throw their dishes in the sink, thus adding an extra step towards clean. No one really knows why, maybe they hate using a dishwasher, or are going to “come back and put them in the dishwasher later“, maybe they forgot…for several days, or there’s always the possibility that there are clean dishes in the way. Others may believe that a sticky counter covered in crumbs isn’t worth cleaning up right a way. It’s really scary when you have to place some sort of barrier between food and the counter, maybe that’s just me. Some might find it shocking when they here the vaccum running and they aren’t the ones vaccuming. Who cares if theres shit all over the floor anyway!
There are yet others that believe that the shower doesn’t need cleaning. Afterall where else do you use cleaning products on a regular basis. It should never get dirty! Ok, so that’s far from the truth. Same goes with the sink and the toilet. You’d think they would just clean themselves! These things are of course surrounded by flooring that can get just as dirty. Nothing like inviting people over to a nasty bathroom. If the bathroom at the BP down the road is cleaner than yours, there may be a problem.
Finally there is the issue of cleaning up after yourself. Some people do this out of habit. Some apparently don’t care and will let a small mess spiral out of control. Keeping clean is much easier and more effetive when done regularly instead of once a month. Imagine if you only showered once a month. How many people would you offend or be embarassed to be around then? I think the same should apply to your apartment.
This leads me to my closing thoughts. When choosing a roommate, or several of them, it is important to really know what their definition of clean is. Obviously there are adjustments to be made. If you think that vaccuming twice a day is necessary it would probably be pretty crazy to think that others would think the same. It is also good to point out that the opposite is true. If you tend to be a messy person you might have to adjust. While your room maybe a complete mess, you best do all you can to pitch in by cleaning up after yourself and regularly cleaning some portion of the public areas of your apartment.
My example from above works pretty well in this case. You shower on a regular basis because you will be interacting with others daily and want to make a good impression. Whether you live in a house, an apartment, a dorm room, or your parents house, keeping the place clean is also a way to make a good impression. Afterall, most guests would probably be slightly disturbed if their feet stuck to the floor or they were told not to place their papers or belongings on a portion of the counter. I know I would.
John