Navigating Mild Conflict Escalation - Someone’s Not Cleaning Up After Themselves

Someone’s Not Cleaning Up After Themselves

Living with others means being part of something greater than yourself—where daily interactions, routines, and responsibilities have the potential to shape a warm and supportive environment. That said, it also means that what each person does—or doesn’t do—can impact others in ways both big and small.

One of the most common areas where tension can arise is in the kitchen. It's a shared space that sees a lot of daily use, and because of that, it can also become a source of frustration when responsibilities are overlooked. Whether it’s not wiping down the stove after cooking, forgetting to take out a full trash bin, or leaving dishes in the sink for “later,” these seemingly small actions can unintentionally place a burden on others.

We understand that life gets busy. Everyone has days where they’re rushing out the door or returning home mentally exhausted. It’s totally human to forget things or plan to clean up in the morning. But when those tasks are left undone, the impact doesn’t disappear—it’s passed on to your housemates. What started as a small oversight becomes someone else’s inconvenience. And let’s face it: no one wants to cook dinner next to a dirty stovetop, take out someone else’s overflowing trash, or clean a pan they didn’t use.

The guiding principle here is simple: be the housemate you’d want to live with. When you clean up after yourself, you show your respect for the shared space and the people you live with. You signal that you value their time, comfort, and experience just as much as your own. That’s the spirit behind Rule #1: Be a Good Friend.

Remember, you were personally selected from many applicants because we believed you’d be a great fit for this community. We’ve already seen your kind and thoughtful nature shine through—and that’s exactly the type of energy that helps co-living work at its best. Our ask is simple: help uphold the shared standards we all agreed to at move-in so that together, we create a space that we’re all proud to call home.

We’re not just building a house—we’re building a community. And communities thrive when everyone does their part.