This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Anthony Guigliano. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
As a junior college student, I have nearly three full years of experience living in a dorm. And nearly two full years as a Resident Assistant. However, as both a student and during my years as a resident assistant I have come to an uncompromising truth, not everyone knows how to clean as well as you do and there are people in this world that may have never cleaned before.
Let me drop some Resident Assistant Wisdom. “Have grace.” Having grace means looking at the situation from the other person or maybe even yourself, no one is perfect, and if you are dealing with a messy roommate or maybe you’re the messy roommate. Have grace, take a deep breath, and look at the situation. Sometimes, the situation isn’t that bad. Now, let’s delve into the ways for you to keep your dorm clean and techniques you can employ.
My Side, Your Side
Say, you’re doing your first year and you have a roommate. You are going to have to work together to keep your dorm in tidy order. While you have your side of the room…you both share the same room. (The number of residents that have told me that they don’t have to clean their joint bathroom because they care for their side of the room is more than you think).
However, everyone shares the same room and space. So, the first tip would be to speak with your roommates about your expectations regarding the cleanliness of the room. Speak and figure out the expectations and work from there. Maybe, you guys can work together and figure out a schedule. Maybe you clean one day out the week, while the other cleans the other week. However, I would say that in these discussions have a prior discussion with your RA if you feel it is appropriate, you do not want to be taken advantage of and likewise each person in this situation should clean their side. Split the common areas like the common living room or the bathroom, but in regards to your sides, cleaning your side would be better. Don’t get your roommate to do it for you, or do it for them.
Friends, and The Mess They Bring
Friends, friends, friends! You meet many people within your four years of college, they may come and go for many reasons, but friends will be a constant. Yet, the mess they will bring is a constant. Even now, I will have my friends over and the mess they bring is just eye-rolling and head-banging. However, here are some tips on how to deal with messy friends.
The first I would say is to have a conversation. True friends will apologize, and they will try and help you maintain the mess…because the mess will come. However, if you have this discussion before this, then, I guarantee you that if these are your true friends then they’ll take the time to listen to what you’re saying, and then they’ll listen and change. Don’t get me wrong these conversations can be difficult and I’ve even had to mediate these sorts of conversations before, but when the dust cleared everyone was happy to continue on this new path and that was the end of the discussions of mess within their rooms.
The Cost of Living
Now, the cost of living… Now, in regards to cleaning you and your roommate are going to need to discuss the cost of cleaning. You guys are going to need to sit down and decide the schedule for toilet paper, cleaning products, etc. It is unfair for only one side to do this part, and you should have a conversation on the funds. One may have less money than the other and that should be taken into consideration, I have met a lot of residents whose parents are content and fine with paying the cost of toiletries.
Now, here are some tips and tricks from an RA in regards to dorm room cleaning techniques, with ways of talking to your roommate in regards to these issues. I hope that this article leaves you with new information and hopefully enlightens you about new skills you could learn in maintaining your college dorm.
Were you wondering how to keep dorm room clean? Did these tips help? Let us know!
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