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Living with roommates isn’t always easy. Learning to share your space with other people can be a challenge, especially when this space includes a kitchen. If not taken care of properly, sharing a kitchen can cause roommates to build up resentment for one another.
This Moving Help® guide will help you share a kitchen with roommates the right way, so you can foster your friendship without pettiness or cleanliness getting in the way.
Communication Is Key
Communication builds a strong foundation for roommates to ensure there aren’t any pent-up emotions that could eventually boil over. When sharing a kitchen, it’s important to communicate with your roommates about cleaning, cooking, and sharing food to ensure no misunderstandings.
Some roommates like to share groceries and food, but some only share certain items like condiments. It’s crucial to go over your preferences with your roommates to create an environment that works for everybody.
Dividing Space
When you first move in, it’s important to dedicate your cabinet space as it’s limited for each person. Decide together where to put pots and pans, Tupperware, and your dishes. You also can dedicate specific pantry space for each roommate.
Dividing the fridge into halves, quarters, or however works for you, also can be useful to ensure everyone has enough space for their food.
Cleaning
When sharing a kitchen, each person must take responsibility and contribute to keeping it clean. There’s no perfect way to divide cleaning, creating a schedule could be too restricting and won’t allow wiggle room if one roommate becomes too busy to clean on their day.
It’s important to be considerate of your roommates. For example, cleaning a pot after using it, so it’s ready for the next person. Everyone has a different definition of cleanliness, but you should respect the space you share because someone else may want to use it.
Sharing a kitchen also brings the problem of cleaning up after one another. It’s important to be comfortable with cleaning a dish that isn’t yours and letting your roommates clean your mess if they need the space. Without acknowledgement, there could be a cycle of anger or guilt.
Of course, if it becomes excessive, there may be a need for a larger conversation.
Sharing Food
Some roommates want to share food with each other, but without being directly told you can eat something, you should always ask first.
If you’re in a pinch and your roommate isn’t around, you should replace whatever food of theirs you use.
Another common rule when sharing a kitchen is if you eat something that’s not yours, don’t finish it without replacing it.
Communal Items
Appliances and cleaning supplies are typically shared for the entire space. Splitting the cost or rotating who replenishes these items is a good idea. When it comes to appliances, some roommates may have some already or old ones from their parents. Discussing this is important to determine what you have and what you need, and you and your roommates can determine who should buy which items.
Other items roommates typically share are:
- Trash bags
- Ziploc bags
- Tinfoil/Plastic wrap
- Dish soap
- Dishwasher pods
- Sponges
- Pan spray
- Water filter
Lost and Found
A good idea is to buy a small bin to put in the corner of your common space. In here, you can keep items like sharpies, tape, and any small items you typically share. This bin also could function as a lost and found space. Did someone leave their keys on the counter? The first place to look for them is the community bin.
This is a good way to address confusion around roommates moving one another’s belongings. This can be a common pain point when sharing space, but with a community bin, you have space for random items without taking up counter space.
Some items that could be kept here are antacids, phone chargers, chip clips, or any small items roommates may share.
Sharing a Kitchen
Sharing a kitchen with roommates can be a difficult adjustment. It’s important to understand the complexities of a roommate relationship to demonstrate good roommate etiquette. Learning how to share a kitchen effectively will ensure you have the best living situation possible.
Whether unpacking in your shared kitchen or moving into a new apartment, Moving Help has got all your moving labor needs covered. Don’t take on the heavy lifting yourself, book with a Service Provider to assist you with your move.
