The Best Way to Prevent Roommate Drama

When under stress, people who are normally smart, kind, and reasonable can get into conflicts over petty issues…like whose turn it is to buy toilet paper…

Today’s topic is the best way to prevent roommate drama.

Roommates can be beneficial—they share the cost of rent—and in the best situations, can be great friendships or at least functional acquaintance relationships. The best way to prevent roommate drama (…other than not having roommates) is to help reduce everyone’s stress by planning ahead, buying essential supplies in bulk, and agreeing upon responsibilities ahead of time. It’s easy to do this in a few simple steps.

[STEP 1] Stock up on essential dorm/apartment life household supplies for the semester/season and split the cost evenly between roommates. Not only does buying these essential supplies in bulk reduce stress, it saves you money on products you need (so you will all have more money to buy stuff you want) and buying online from US Casehouse will also save you time and the hassle of a shopping trip. (Because, let’s face it, you have better things to do than go pick up more TP.)

Here’s a shopping list of what you’ll need:

- Toilet Paper

- Paper Towels

- Wipers (Buy these instead of a Swiffer, spray on some all purpose cleaner, and get a workout in when you clean your floors! They can also be used as cleaning rags.)

- Dusting Cloths

- All Purpose Kitchen Cleaner

- All Purpose Bathroom Cleaner

- Toilet Bowl Cleaner

- Air Freshener

- Windex

- Garbage Bags

- Paper Napkins

- Disposable Plates & Bowls

- Disposable Cups & Straws

- Disposable Cutlery

- Dish Soap

- Dishwasher Detergent (if you have a dishwasher)

- Sponges

- Aluminum foil

- Febreze

[STEP 2] Have a meeting with your roommate(s) and make a chore chart to put on the fridge or the back of your dorm room/apartment door (or some other agreed upon place if you don’t want company to see it). We know this seems a little elementary, but trust us—it works!

The chore chart should have the days of the week at the top with chores listed below each day. 

Be sure to include the following chores:

- wipe counters and tables

- clean bathroom(s)

- clean kitchen

- dust

- vacuum

- clean floors

- take out trash

- empty recycle bin

- pick up stray items in common living areas (and put them in a bin for owners to put back where they belong)

(Everyone should be individually responsible for washing dishes they (or their guests) use (ideally within 24 hours), making their own beds, cleaning their own room (or side of the room), doing their own laundry, and ironing their own clothes.)

Be sure to consider everyone’s different schedules when assigning days and chores.  Rotate the chores so no one person gets stuck on bathroom cleaning duty the whole time.  (Unless of course, someone actually wants that job? If that’s the case, we’re jealous!)

Talk about what happens when someone doesn’t stick to the chore chart.  Possibilities include paying for Chinese the next time you order or doing extra chores the next week to make up for it.

[STEP 3] Do your part to keep the place clean.  Stick to the chore chart.  Quick cleaning maintenance will make everyone’s quality of life better at your place.  When everyone does their part, you’ll all be able to concentrate on more important things than worrying about whose turn it is to take out the trash. Relationships are built on trust. Trust that your roommates will hold up their end of the deal.

[STEP 4] Even when you’re living with your best friends, roommate drama is almost inevitable when people are stressed. Try to concentrate on what you can control. When you fall behind on your chores or say something you don’t really mean because you’re stressed, apologize.

(And buy some pretty flowers. They’ll brighten up your place and everyone’s mood! :) )

What are your tips for coordinating chores with your roommates?