You may really like your housemate or guest, but you may not like their dirty habits! It can be hard keeping a home as clean as you would like when you share it with others who don’t have your views on cleanliness, however, this problem can usually be resolved with a little patience and a lot of diplomacy!
Honesty is the best policy:
Never sweep any cleanliness issues with other members of your household under the carpet, as this is the quickest way to build resentment and a hostile home environment. Try to confront problems head on by being as clear about what you want to happen as possible, while remaining calm, diplomatic and willing to compromise.
Be solution focussed:
It’s important to remember that your guest or housemate may be clueless as to their annoying or dirty habits, and when you talk to them about this, it may come as a complete surprise. So, to make the entire issue less painful and problematic, you should always offer a solution to the problem that doesn’t make them feel unwelcome or disliked. For instance, offer to share the workload and make it clear what standard you expect without coming across as judgemental or pedantic. You never know, maybe your guest or housemate thinks that you have some undesirable habits, too!
Set some reasonable boundaries:
Your roommate or guest may keep their own, private areas of the home untidy or dirty – and there may be less that you can do about that – but communal areas should be kept at a reasonably hygienic and tidy level, and both parties should be clear about those boundaries and levels of expected cleanliness.
Set a positive example:
You will not get away with criticising a house mate about their standards of cleanliness if your own do not meet the same level. Ensure that you always practice what you preach and set a positive example when it comes to cleaning and tidying up.
Get help from a professional cleaner:
If yours is a busy household, with both parties working long hours or being away from home frequently, then it may be a step too far to expect it to always be clean and tidy. In such cases, it might be worth considering getting professional help, and doing so would almost certainly reduce or altogether stop, any bad feelings or conflict between you and your housemate or long- term guest.
Most importantly, both parties should respect the home that you share and do their level best to keep it clean and clutter free. If this cannot be achieved, then it might be time to start looking for a new housemate!
