How To Split Chores With Your Roommates
Going to university in Lancaster and moving into a house with roommates is exciting! But it’s also challenging. One difficulty you may face is now that you share your space with other people, you all get to decide how to split chores.
Ugh, chores. They’re not fun at the best of times, and almost no one likes them. But things like sweeping, vacuuming, washing dishes, and taking out the trash shouldn’t all fall on the shoulders of one person. Everyone contributes to the mess, so everyone should help clean it up.
But how do you approach your roommates about doing chores? How do you decide who does what, while making sure that everybody does their fair share?
Below are 5 easy steps for how to split chores with your roommates to make your home as happy – and clean! – as possible while you’re living together.
Make A List Of Chores That Need To Be Done
When you and your roommates first move in, go around your shared living space and make a list of chores that need to be done. Include chores from every part of the house that more than one person plans on using, such as the kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
Ask Your Roommates What Parts Of The Living Space They Plan To Use
Before you start taking on tasks and asking your roommates which ones they want to handle, you need to establish who plans on using which parts of your shared living space. For example, you may have one roommate who eats out every day and doesn’t cook at all. In this case, it would be unfair to ask this person to clean the kitchen because they obviously aren’t contributing to its mess. But this same roommate might plan on having friends over in the living room, so it would make sense to ask them to tidy up that room once in a while.
Ask Everyone What They’re Able To Do
This step is very important because its success hinges on the way you word it. Ask everyone (including yourself) what you’re able to do. Don’t ask what they want to do. By saying, “able,” you’re not giving anyone an option to back out.
Make Some Rules (As Long As Everyone Agrees To Them)
Don’t just talk about doing chores and then leave them up to vague promises. Make a set of rules that everyone can agree to and write it down. Print it out and have everyone sign their name at the bottom if you want, just to hold everyone accountable.
Be realistic when setting chore rules, but firm, as well. For example, you might make a rule that whoever uses the dishes is the one who needs to wash them or put them in the dishwasher. Another example is if someone has a party in the living room, that person will clean up after themselves and their friends.
Do Your Part (But Nothing More)
Remember to do your part! Don’t be lazy and not follow the rules, even if the others slack off.
But don’t do any more than what you agreed to, either. Don’t take on someone else’s chores except as a one time favor. If you do, you’ll find yourself on a slippery slope and before you know it, you might be the only one doing any cleaning. That’s not fair to you, and you have enough to worry about with your university studies. But hopefully, you will all do your part and there won’t be any conflicts or frustration.
