Living with people can be wonderful. (The camaraderie! The Netflix binges! The shared cost of it all!) But if you've got a messy roommate, domestic bliss can be harder to reach. It's one thing if the mess is confined to a bedroom, but when it creeps into the kitchen? Time to address it.
You can't force anyone to live the way you do (after all, how would you feel if you had to live up to someone else's standard?), but you can encourage your roommates to be a little more tidy in the kitchen. As with everything, open communication is key; talk about the level of disarray you can and can't live with, then set some ground rules. For example, perhaps you could try a rule that dirty pots and pans need to be washed before the end of the day — or whatever feels right to you and your roommates.
And to set everyone up for success, it helps to have a few cleaning and organizational supplies on hand. Read on for some of our favorite finds from Bed Bath & Beyond [1]. They won't keep the kitchen organized for you, but they sure will make it easier for you and your roommates to get the job done.
A Dry-Erase Board
This extra-large, magnetic DesignOvation Bosc 27.5-Inch x 33.5-Inch Dry Erase Board [2] ($72) comes with magnets and a marker for an all-in-one messaging set. You know, just in case SOMEBODY leaves the milk out on the counter and you're required to leave a slightly passive-aggressive reminder that the fridge is conveniently two feet away.
A Stink Stopper
THE END OF UNPLEASANT SMELLS: A ONE-ACT PLAY
You: "Why does it smell like old fish in this kitchen?"
Roommate, avoiding eye contact: "Fish? I, uh, don't smell any fish here."
You: "I detect a distinct odor of flounder, perhaps halibut. Reheated. Are you overheating your leftovers again?"
Roommate, nervously: "Ha ha, what a joker you are. We've already talked about how I'd stop microwaving my day-old seafood because it stinks up the place. I would never. Maybe your nose is broken."
You: Arches eyebrow, maintains eye contact while wordlessly placing Fresh Wave Odor Removing Gel [3] ($15) on countertop.
Roommate: "Wait. Where are you going? Wait! DON'T OPEN THE MICROWAVE! Oh, f . . . ish."
FIN
Neat Little Labels
Some people are born with the organizing gene. Others aren't — and that's OK. Using these Squared Away 36-Count Adhesive Chalkboard Labels [4] ($10) can nudge a messy roommate to put things where they're supposed to be. (And in the grand scheme of things, better to have a disorganized roommate who pays rent on time than a meticulous roommate who forgets to contribute.)
A Cereal Container
Consolidate half-empty boxes of cereal — and keep food fresh longer — in an OXO Good Grips POP Cereal Dispenser [5] ($21). These airtight containers make for easy organization, and they also make it easy to see when you're running low . . . or if someone's been helping themselves to your fancy, expensive granola without permission.
A Flatware Organizer
Declutter your silverware drawer with this Squared Away 7-Compartment Expandable Flatware Organizer [6] ($30). It can be sized to fit a variety of drawers, so you can finally assign a place for every fork, knife, and spoon.
A Cookbook Holder
Instead of leaving your favorite cookbook on the counter, where it can become dirty with oil, grease, and random splatters of sauce, try propping it up on this Our Table Wood and Metal Cookbook Holder [7] ($15). This way, your cookbook will be in easy reach — but protected from mess.
Clear Glass Storage
Every kitchen should have a Pyrex Simply Store 20-Piece Glass Food Storage Set [8] ($43) for snacks and leftovers. These containers are especially useful if your roommates tend to forget what they've put away for later, since it's easy to see what's inside each one (and eat the food while it's fresh). No more opening opaque containers and uncovering fuzz-covered mystery leftovers!
An Over-Sink Dish Rack
Tired of feeling like you're the only one who puts away clean dishes? Swap your dish rack for this Squared Away Aluminum Over-the-Sink Drying Rack [9] ($20). It's placed over the sink, so wet dishes can air-dry — and when your roommate needs to actually use the sink, they'll have to put the dishes where they belong. (Sneaky, huh?) When not in use, the rack can be stowed away without taking up much room.
A Hand Vac
At some point, you have to choose between cursing at someone else's crumbs and just doing something about them. Enter the Eufy HomeVac H11 Pure Cordless Handheld Vacuum [10] ($55). It's compact yet powerful, and honestly, it takes less mental energy to do a quick vacuum than it does to stew about a little mess. Time to suck it up.
A Towel Rack
Where is the dish towel? Why is it never in the same place twice? Who the heck put it in the mailbox? Save yourself from ever pondering these questions again with the iDesign Forma Over the Cabinet 9.25-Inch Towel Bar [11] ($9). It slips on the top of a cabinet, so now your towel has a place to belong — every single time.