Humans tend to want our own office, our own house, our own car.
We like our own space, and the bathroom – I believe – especially grates on our nerves when we have to share it with strangers whom are not and will not be your current or future family. I’ve had to do it myself in the military for months at a time, and you learn a few things that will 1) teach you to clean up after yourself, and 2) keep your stuff from being stolen.
But it’s doable. As long as everyone sharing the bathroom follows these rules:
Clean up After Yourself:
Growing up in a family of six kids, it was vital we all held to this rule, but now that I’ve grown up and experienced the world, I’m shocked at how many people just don’t do this. But if you are going to be sharing a space (the bathroom) with anyone, you must adhere to this rule. Because little else is more infuriating than having to waltz around, or clean up after, someone else. For one, it’s just plain rude. For two, it’s not sanitary. But what exactly does “cleaning up after myself” mean? It means this:
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SHOWER:
When you shower, put a hair catcher over the drain so you don’t clog the drain with your hair. When you are done showering, clean your hair out of the hair catcher and throw it away. If you shaved, rinse the shower walls where you may have knocked your razor against it. Leave no trace that you were there.
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SINK:
Don’t shave in the sink. Just don’t. When you brush your teeth, rinse the sink out so there is no sticky toothpaste residue. A simple splash should rinse it just fine. When you brush your hair, make sure all your hair is picked up. An easy way to do this is to use damp toilet paper to wipe around and collect all that hair.
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TOILET:
Did you splash a little? Whip it up. Always flush. Done.
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FLOOR:
Don’t leave anything on the floor. Not your wet towel, dirty clothes, nothing. You could get away with hanging your towel on a hook. Everything else must be taken to your own room.
DO YOUR PART TO RESUPPLY:
Get with your roomies and talk about how cleaning supplies will be purchased (cleaners, toilet paper, trash bags) Who will do it? How often? You could, also, purchase your own and be responsible for your own cleaning supplies. If the toilet paper roll runs out on you, change it. Even better, bring your own roll to the bathroom so you don’t have to resupply toilet paper you never use. Is the trash can full? Either stomp it down with your foot to make more room, or take it out. Don’t shove the responsibility off on someone else. Keep a roll of garbage bags inside the trash can under the liner for quick replacement.
DO YOUR PART TO CLEAN WEEKLY:
Aside from purchasing cleaning items, you’ll have to get with your roomies again and decide how often the bathroom will be cleaned and who does it. You should clean: the tub/shower, toilet, sink, mirror, and floor. I’ve done housekeeping before, and I could do the whole room in ten minutes. All you need is to sanitize all areas where skin may come in contact.
KEEP YOUR PERSONAL SPACE SMALL:
In the military when we share a community bathroom, everything you pack in, you also pack out. Soap, shampoo, towel. I recommend doing this as well, so Rhonda Roommate doesn’t use up your $20 shampoo because it works better than her Suave. Put all your soaps, lotions, and hair products in a basket or something similar. Take it with you to the bathroom. Take it out when you leave. It will keep the small bathroom clutter-free and you won’t have to accuse anyone of stealing your stuff.
About the author:
J.M. Robison is a fantasy author who’s written 8 fantasy novels to date (1 published, 3 more to be published in 2018) She’s quested over foreign lands with the U.S. Army, and currently attains high hopes to quit her day job to stay home and get paid to write. She makes her own shampoo, lotions, laundry soap, face wash, cleaners, and toothpaste (she’s anti-chemical anything in her home). Someday she’ll pack the wagon and roam the mountains in search of dragons.
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