Split house chores with roommates
You can easily split bills with roommates using whopaidit, but how do you split house chores?
Splitting housework between roommates is at the top of the list of the most common roommate problems. In this article you’ll find out how to solve this problem once and for all in three simple steps. This exact method helped several roommates who were also operating a photostudio out of their Montreal flat.
Step one: Download, insert roommates names and print out the following templates (make 20 copies of each): Dishes template (RTF, PDF) Garbage template (RTF, PDF)
Step two: Before you hang those templates in a visible location (will tell you where and how in step three) you should call a meeting with your roommates. Now is the time to polish those diplomatic skills that you’re are known for. You have to present this idea of scheduling as something that will directly benefit the roommates.
Only talk about how it’s going to benefit them and never presented this as a solution to your own frustrations. As humans we all crave structure and you roommates are no different. If you start talking about how frustrated you are and how fed up you’ve gotten with the unwashed dishes your roommates may feel like they are doing you a favor by following the schedule.
I highly recommend reading a book called “How to Win friends and influence people”, it will help you dealing with your roommates and you will also find out that the only way to make someone do something is to make them want it.
Use phrases like “I know that YOU guys don’t like seeing unwashed dishes, so I was thinking of using this neat trick that I found on the Internet” or “I noticed that our dishwashing schedule is a bit chaotic and I think I found the solution to our problem, something that will make things more structured” or even “I really don’t want you to wash dishes when it’s not your turn so maybe we could use this easy schedule that I found on the Internet”.. You get the idea.
If you intrigue and entice them enough your roommates will feel a certain sense of ownership of this idea.
Step three: Buy several permanent markers along with a piece of string and some scotch tape. The location is very important, you have to hang it on the inside door of a drawer. For the dishes schedule it should be stick it to the drawer where you keep the dishes, like that whenever someone goes to get a cup they will also see the schedule. For the garbage schedule you should either stick it on the wall next to the garbage or also on the inside part of the door (if you garbage bin is in a drawer).
Attach the permanent marker with a long string and give it enough slack so that it reaches every part of the schedule without difficulties. Next you should fold the extra copies that you printed and insert them behind the schedule. The idea here is to facilitate the use of the schedule as much as possible making it very easily accessible, also providing the writing material and extra copies for once you run out.
The final step is you should go ahead and perform the house chore yourself, even if it’s not your turn it will set a precedent and you can go ahead and fill in that first blank. To keep it more fun you can take a picture of the finished cleanup and send it to your roommates. In case you notice that the work is not getting done you can remind your roommates in a fun way using a service like Bureau of Communication http://www.bureauofcommunication.com/compose/invitation and CC all the other roommates (but please keep it private, this is not something you should be posting on the public wall).
Please stick to the schedule! Even if you have friends coming over you should not wash the dishes before its your turn, you would be setting bad example and your roommate may wish to skip their turn hoping you’ll do the dishes in their place. The more dishes pile up the better, this will teach them to wash the dishes faster or suffer the consequences.
So no matter if you’re trying to share bills with roommates or split housework a little scheduling and organization can go a long way, in the example of the photo studio it was the magic bullet that was needed to solve this problem once and for all.
Written by Ildar Khakimov, founder of callercenter.com