Avoid a chore chart with these clean-up routines for roommates

Delegating chores amongst roommates can be a pain, particularly when one or both roommates have different cleanliness expectations. For one, a moldy bowl of cereal in the sink isn’t a big deal. For the other, it is a health hazard. We’ve located a few tips for maintaining the peace (and cleanliness) of your apartment with your roommate.

1. Start early. The best way to establish standards for any home is to set expectations and guidelines early in the relationship. If you’re receiving a new roommate, consider writing up a cleaning schedule as part of your contract. This is best done with the new roommate so that he or she feels like part of the home, not an outsider stepping into your domain. It’s also helpful to do the cleaning contract with the roommate to iron out compromises that may make everyone involved happy.
2. Trade off. In rare cases, one roommate doesn’t mind cleaning what the other roommate loathes and vice versa. In most cases, no one wants to take out the trash or clean the bathroom. Share the despised tasks by rotating on a monthly or weekly basis.
3. Stick to it. Nothing leads to failure like inconsistency. Once you and your roommate agree, you should both hold each other accountable. When someone isn’t upholding his or her part of the bargain, there should be negative repercussions (a small fee, a pie to the face, it’s up to you and the roommate to decide).  The three-strikes system works well because it allows room for human error but doesn’t allow problems to persist for too long.
4. Don’t wait until after the party to plan. We’ve all been there: an amazing holiday party leaves your roommate clinging to the commode. You feel bad for your friend (sort of) but your home isn’t going to organize itself. If you both decide to host a party or gathering, it’s a good idea to delegate clean-up tasks before the party takes place. Each person is responsible for getting it done regardless of their post-party physical state.

Related articles

• Decorating with a Roomie: 5 House Tours that Work (apartmenttherapy.com)
• Tips for Keeping the Peace Between Roommates (apartmenttherapy.com)