[sarahbarker]

Before I moved to Uni I didn't think I was THAT much of a tidy/clean person, but since moving into my flat (6 bedroom) I've been constantly finding myself cleaning up after my flatmates. Whether it be oil all over the hob or surfaces, endless piles of washing up in the sink or dangerously out of date stuff in the fridge (month out of date milk...), it's like I have to clean or move stuff in order for me to cook or wash my own dishes! I've been leaving friendly notes on the communal fridge whiteboard and they seem to adhere for a couple of days, then it's back to square one. I feel like i'm being pushy now, and feeling almost guilty which I know I shouldn't. To be honest, I do get on with them all, it's just this one thing that's driving me insane! I don't know what to do now, especially with one of the girls (who doesn't really communicate with any of the flat apart from me) decided 'she's moving out', I'm scared of being stuck here as a flat maid!

[f00ddude]

dont bother cleaning up after them, do the bare minimum so you can cook,
in my flat that happened at the beggining, people realised their parents arent here to clean up after them and they learnt quickly

[Anonymous-]

1) You're hot.
2)1st thing you should do is call these guys to tell your house mates to clean up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVA0UtFrXrM
They'll never so much as leave a teaspoon unwashed.

[screenager2004]

In future, if you don't have room to cook or clean, instead of washing their crap up, move it into their cupboards (still dirty). If anyone goes 'why is my stuff dirty in my cupboard?' simply respond 'sorry there was no space to cook'.

Problem solved. Don't wash up their stuff though. Don't be a total wet blanket!

If you feel mean, At my uni. The cleaners put all our dirty stuff on the floor in a big pile, we couldn't really complain that someone put our stuff there as if it was unhygenic because we all knew it was our fault for being dirty and lazy. Worked a treat!

[A.galloway]

we have a student cleaner in our flat too, saves me doing it. that said i try to minimise my mess.

[ArtGoblin]

It's so annoying when you've got to live in grim conditions when you keep cleaning up after yourself, but unfortunately you've got to put up with it as you live with these people. If you keep complaining about it, they're just going to dislike you. Last year I lived with someone who kept nagging me to clean up even though I was quite tidy in the kitchen. I just got so mad with him - it was like living with my mum the amount of times I got told off for not doing chores!

Have you got a washing up bowl in your sink? If so, take it out of the sink every time you want to wash up (with all their dirty stuff in it) and wash directly in the sink. Buy a bowl if you haven't got one. This trick has made cleaning so much easier because one of my flatmates never washes up so we dump all his stuff in the dirt bowl.

[sarahbarker]

I don't necessarily wash all their stuff up, I tend to move it but piles upon piles of dirty pots plates is rather unsightly and burnt on pasta bake thats been lingering around for days is pretty disgusting. It's just unavoidable for me to say clean the hob because someone can't seem to keep oil within the pan (completely baffles me as to how someone can cover the entire thing with so much of it in the first place!), but because i'm tidy and also don't tend to use oil, i don't really have to clean it after i've used it. it's just a ridiculous chore that i shouldn't have to do. Every time I eat, it just seems natual to me to rinse my plate and stuff i've used then put it away, why is it so difficult to wash a plate? I really feel though that if i don't do it, no one else will and then god knows what it would end up like :|. I don't pester them, I left a couple of friendly notes in the first couple of weeks, and i've just left another tonight as like I said, I do like them so don't want to cause 'drama'. :/

[jumpingjesusholycow]

(Original post by sarahbarker)
I don't necessarily wash all their stuff up, I tend to move it but piles upon piles of dirty pots plates is rather unsightly and burnt on pasta bake thats been lingering around for days is pretty disgusting. It's just unavoidable for me to say clean the hob because someone can't seem to keep oil within the pan (completely baffles me as to how someone can cover the entire thing with so much of it in the first place!), but because i'm tidy and also don't tend to use oil, i don't really have to clean it after i've used it. it's just a ridiculous chore that i shouldn't have to do. Every time I eat, it just seems natual to me to rinse my plate and stuff i've used then put it away, why is it so difficult to wash a plate? I really feel though that if i don't do it, no one else will and then god knows what it would end up like :|. I don't pester them, I left a couple of friendly notes in the first couple of weeks, and i've just left another tonight as like I said, I do like them so don't want to cause 'drama'. :/

I would really advise against leaving notes around. I especially wouldn't use notes to replace speech, and would advise against writing something down that you wouldn't be willing to say to their faces. If you illustrate that weakness to them (that they can do stuff you don't like and just ignore your thoughts on it), they will exploit you. Just be firm, be friendly and honest. If you've got a problem with them, simply say 'you're a good friend, but can you please clean up more because it makes using the kitchen un-enjoyable'. You're an adult now, and part of being on your own, an adult and away from home is learning how to cope in different situations and learning how to face situations which aren't exactly ideal. Mummy is no longer around to stick up for you, so it's up to you to stand up for yourself and have the guts to be honest to people.

Remember, you are a grown adult now.

[gradyhawks]

How do you even have time to post a thread up about this?

Its 4am, the kitchen won't clean its self and the men will need breakfast soon!

*Points finger in a sexist fashion towards the kitchen* Get back in there!

-----

In a more serious manor, learn to leave there stuff alone. If someone started to wash my plates up I certainly wouldn't be changing my habits any time soon. Put it to one side and forget about, but don't start to complain like some people have suggested or you will just be known as "That annoying bi*ch who won't shut up about the damned plates".

[Cheshire_Cat]

(Original post by screenager2004)
In future, if you don't have room to cook or clean, instead of washing their crap up, move it into their cupboards (still dirty). If anyone goes 'why is my stuff dirty in my cupboard?' simply respond 'sorry there was no space to cook'.

Problem solved. Don't wash up their stuff though. Don't be a total wet blanket!

If you feel mean, At my uni. The cleaners put all our dirty stuff on the floor in a big pile, we couldn't really complain that someone put our stuff there as if it was unhygenic because we all knew it was our fault for being dirty and lazy. Worked a treat!

Never thought of this, brilliant!

(Original post by jumpingjesusholycow)
I would really advise against leaving notes around. I especially wouldn't use notes to replace speech, and would advise against writing something down that you wouldn't be willing to say to their faces. If you illustrate that weakness to them (that they can do stuff you don't like and just ignore your thoughts on it), they will exploit you. Just be firm, be friendly and honest. If you've got a problem with them, simply say 'you're a good friend, but can you please clean up more because it makes using the kitchen un-enjoyable'. You're an adult now, and part of being on your own, an adult and away from home is learning how to cope in different situations and learning how to face situations which aren't exactly ideal. Mummy is no longer around to stick up for you, so it's up to you to stand up for yourself and have the guts to be honest to people.

Remember, you are a grown adult now.

The problem is though she may not see all of them at the same time. I was in a similar situation where someone was using more of my milk than I was and it was getting pretty annoying after 2 weeks so I left a note on the fridge and no one has used my milk since I felt that if I had knocked on each of their doors then they would have thought that I was blaming them (I didn't know who it was for sure) so that's why I left the note for everyone

[jumpingjesusholycow]

(Original post by pippa90)
The problem is though she may not see all of them at the same time. I was in a similar situation where someone was using more of my milk than I was and it was getting pretty annoying after 2 weeks so I left a note on the fridge and no one has used my milk since I felt that if I had knocked on each of their doors then they would have thought that I was blaming them (I didn't know who it was for sure) so that's why I left the note for everyone

Fair enough when it's just a one off thing that solves a problem where you don't know who's doing the deed, but if you who's leaving stuff out and you know that they've noticed you vehemence, then you ought to just be frank with them. You don't have to be the 'bad guy' just because you approach them face to face.

[kristinaalovesu]

Dont clean up for them, just clean what you have used and then move on with your other errands. They are gonna keep doing that if you keep doing it so just leave it there and just wash your stuff.

[dungeonkeepr]

Last year, I went somewhat insane with cleaning, and spent around 5 hours exhaustively cleaning the kitchen. Made me ill for a couple days too But, on the plus side, everyone was sooo careful to clean up after themselves, because they felt guilty that I had to do that.
On the downside, I felt kind of guilty, cos my mate got so paranoid, he was being ridiculous about not leaving any rings when he put his cup down

[Cheshire_Cat]

(Original post by jumpingjesusholycow)
Fair enough when it's just a one off thing that solves a problem where you don't know who's doing the deed, but if you who's leaving stuff out and you know that they've noticed you vehemence, then you ought to just be frank with them. You don't have to be the 'bad guy' just because you approach them face to face.

Yeah definitly, just wanted to say that leaving a note is sometimes better!

[BabyGirl92]

My flat is pretty vile too. I'm not a clean freak but my flat gets beyond disgusting. The cutlery/crockery is already provided for us so the two boys and their friends will use it all, and all the pans and leave it dirty on the side until they need to use it again. At first I didn't mind washing up if everyone did their fair bit but now I think they've learnt that I am not gonna do it. I've bought my own plates and cutlery which I use now, and if they have washing up in the sink ill take it out, do mine and put it back in.

Boys just don't seem to care tbh. The microwave was splattered in beans egg and all sorts and they will still cook their food in it. I am the only one that hoovers. I swear I did all the cleaning for the flat inspection I don't think it's very fair but I want to pass it and if they don't care its their problem..

Stop cleaning up their stuff. If you need to use something fair enough but at first I did all the dishes now I think the boys need to learn to look after themselves!

[Kreuzuerk]

Just do the bare minimum of extra-washing which you need for yourself, i.e if you need to use the hob and they've ****ed it up, wash it when you need it. Don't waste your time on any of their crap. Keep your stuff in your cupboards so it's nice and clean for when you need it. You can use tupperware boxes for your items in the fridge.

Also, try and get one other person on your side so you can bitch with them about everyone else and drop subtle hints together about them washing stuff up.

[Hota]

just put it in front of there door

[BabyGirl92]

My flat is actually VILE at the moment. We had an inspection week before last so for the whole week it was hoovered, dishes done and was really nice. Then I went home for a few days and I got back and it was awful. All the dishes had been washed and were piled so high on the draining board i couldnt move them without them all tumbling down, but they weren't even clean! There was pizza boxes on the floor by the bin with bits of pizza on the floor and about 5 bin bags that haven't been taken out, and I made sure before I went home that the bins had been emptied. How can 2 boys produce 5 bin bags worth of rubbish in 4 days seriously!! The hob is splashed with grease as well and there in sour milk in the fridge. Lol I say two boys because the girl doesnt even use the communal area so it doesnt count!

[Blueflare]

Never EVER clean up after people. Just move their **** out of the way so you can cook and wash up. Leave all their things dirty.

[Mr CC]

I was fairly clean when I moved into halls, I am even cleaner now. since studying more microbiology you begin to see micro-organisms and when there is a dirty floor and someone has constructed a rota it has to be adhered to, it is the responsibility of every student to stick to the rules of the halls this way everyone has an understanding. Before our latest tenant change I did most of the cleaning, but now the place is filthy. as I got sick of acting like someones mother. It came to a point of accommodation services serving a 24hr warning.
If the cleanliness of your kitchen reflects the inside of your head, I would be ashamed of even inviting anyone in, as they may get the wrong impression of me.
at my week of the rosta I am certainly not going to clean the place so that other people in the flat come in once the place is habitable again, a short 3 hour course on what is expected of hygene would help
I want a flat I can invite people into, not disease, especially at an international university with different races being prone to different diseases hygeine has to be of foremost in communal areas or you face putting other tenants at risk through your own neglect.