Do you have an annoying roommate? Or maybe you are wondering why or if your roommate hates you? It could be because of some annoying things you do that drive them crazy. From never cleaning up after yourself to hogging the TV remote, there are numerous things (big or small) that can make your roommate hate you. We recently ran a survey asking Diggz members what’s the most hated thing their roommates have done. And in this blog post, we’ll be discussing the 7 most annoying things bad roommates do that will make their roommates hate them and how to avoid doing them.
1) Leaving the bathroom messy
This is one of the most common roommate pet peeves and the top most hated thing a roommate could do according to 35% of Diggz members who took our survey. Leaving the bathroom messy after use can be a serious source of annoyance and can put a strain on your relationship with your roommate. The bathroom, unlike other common areas, is the most personal space in the house. So, keeping it clean and sanitary for all roommates to use is important. Here are some examples of how bad roommates might leave the bathroom messy:
– Not flushing the toilet after use. Come on, how hard is it to flush?
– Not wiping down the sink or countertops. Makeup, shaving residue, hair. Wipe it down.
– Leaving hair or soap scum in the shower or tub. Rogue hairs stuck to the tub walls. No thanks.
– Not putting the toilet seat down. Time to get this right.
– Leaving wet towels on the floor. Heard of a towel rack?
– Leaving your dirty clothes and other personal items lying around. No one wants to see your dirty underwear. Use the hamper please.
The list goes on and on! To make sure your roommate isn’t annoyed with you, always make sure to clean up after yourself in the bathroom and put things back where they belong.
2) Not cleaning after pets
The second biggest roommate pet peeve, picked by 25% of our members, is not cleaning up after your pets. This can be anything from not scooping up the litter box to forgetting to take out the pup for a walk. Even if you have exotic pets like snakes, birds, or mice, you need to clean up after them as well (sometimes even more so). To avoid a bubbling hatred by your roommate, make sure to always clean up after your pet and care for their needs, no matter what it is.
3) Not clearing dishes or leaving them in the sink
At a close third most hated thing a roommate does, as 24% of Diggz users indicated, is not clearing the dishes. Yes, we all had a roommate that’s done that (or we’ve done it ourselves once or twice). Not only is it annoying to come home to an overflowing sink filled with dirty dishes, it’s unsanitary. Not clearing the dishes can be a sign of disrespect, and it’s definitely not what you want to do if you’re trying to be a good roommate. If you can’t commit to washing your dishes right after you use them, at least make sure you put them in the dishwasher or the designated dishes area. You can also make a cleaning schedule to divide the chores with your roommate. With just a bit of effort, you can avoid being a bad roommate and learn to live in peace with your roommate.
4) Having too many guests over
Having too many guests over can be one of the most annoying things to your roommate. According to our survey, 15% of Diggz users said that this was their biggest roommate pet peeve. It’s understandable if family or close friends visit you from time to time, but having too many overnight guests can put a strain on your roommate’s living situation and can lead to conflicts. Especially if you live in an apartment or a house that is smaller or have a shared bathroom for you, your roommate and your guests now. Roommates need to be respectful of each other and talk about boundaries when it comes to the number of overnight guests they each can have and how often. But it’s not only overnight guests; having friends over at any day and any time of the week can also be a nuisance to your roommate who might just want to enjoy his space in peace and quiet. It’s important to remember that everyone has different comfort levels with the number and frequency of people in their space, so it’s important to respect those boundaries. If you’re having trouble navigating this issue with your roommate, try setting ground rules ahead of time to avoid arguments later. Bad roommates don’t respect boundaries, but being a good roommate means understanding that this is a shared living space and acting accordingly.
5) Making too much noise
Another common roommate pet peeve is loud noise. From blasting music to turning up the TV volume to stomping around late at night, it can quickly become unbearable. Whether you’re on work calls or just dancing around your room, it’s important to be mindful of your noise level so that you don’t drive your roommates crazy.
Some examples of annoying noise include talking loudly on the phone or zoom calls, singing off-key in the shower, clomping around in high heels, slamming doors or kitchen cabinets, and even playing video games late into the night. Making too much noise can even reach the level of being funny, like having sex too loud or all night. Even if your roommate isn’t a light sleeper, these sounds can disrupt their routine and peace of mind. As a general rule of thumb, always remember to be considerate and keep the volume down, whatever you are doing. Bad roommates tend to forget that there’s another person living with them. So make sure you follow the golden rule of roommate relations: respect your roommate’s space and always keep the volume down!
6) Not respecting their privacy
Roommate pet peeves often include not respecting each other’s privacy. This means not going into their personal space, not prying into their conversations, not taking things without asking, and not being too nosy about their private business.
These behaviors can quickly cause tension and resentment between roommates, so it’s important to be aware of your own behavior and respect the boundaries of your living arrangement. If you find yourself in a situation where your roommate isn’t respecting your privacy, make sure to communicate clearly and calmly about why it’s important to you.
7) Being disrespectful or impolite
One of the most obvious and annoying things that you could do as a roommate is to be disrespectful or impolite. Your roommate will quickly start to despise you if you don’t show them respect and common courtesy. Some examples of disrespectful behaviors include not acknowledging your roommate when they come into the room, talking badly about them, being argumentative, or not respecting their personal space. In addition, any signs of bigotry or racism, will not be tolerated and that goes without saying. If your roommate has certain pet peeves that they feel strongly about, it is important to respect them and not do those things. Bad roommates are ones who have no consideration for other people’s feelings, and this can be incredibly irritating. Make sure that you show your roommate courtesy and respect in order to get along better. After all, you both chose to live together.
No one wants to live with a roommate they hate, or be hated. And yet all too often, we start off just fine but end up in a living situation that is far from ideal. But, finding and remaining respectful roommates is possible. Avoiding these 7 bad roommate acts can help you get along with your roommate and prevent them from slowly hating you. Remember that communication is key in any successful relationship, so if there’s something bothering you, talk about it before it gets out of hand.
At Diggz, prospective roommate profiles include some of these lifestyle preferences, so you could get a sense prior if you’ll have issues down the road. You’ll get a sense of their cleanliness levels, cooking habits, sleeping hours, guests and more. Ultimately, we’re to help you find the perfect roommate match — for you. We are committed to creating positive living experiences, so check out some of the roommates we have lined up for you and make sure your next living arrangement is as stress-free as possible!