how do i get my lazy housemates to do their dishes?

Answer 1

It's pretty hard to get people to change their habits without creating resentment. The only thing I can think of is to set their dishes aside in a certain spot, or in a cardboard box, and do your own. There should come a point where there are no more dishes, and they'll be forced to do some. In other words, have your own set of dishes, but keep them separate from any one else's (your room). I know it sounds stupid, but you're dealing with selfish people who are not about to change. Then, next time you get a new set of roommates, interview them about their level of cleanliness. You want people to be more or less at your level of cleanliness, and it's best to find out beforehand. Even under the best conditions, people will slack off sometimes, and you kind of have to let it go, because it's worth the good will you try to keep going in roommate situations.

Answer 2

If you haven't done so already, sit down and talk about it. Remind them that if you don't do dishes, you WILL get bugs, which is really disgusting. If they don't do their dishes, capture the first bug you find (and you WILL find it) and put it in a jar, on their bed, or on the common room coffee table or something. Attach a note: "Found this in the sink, cos dishes still aren't being done." Visual aids are extremely effective. Keep washing your stuff - set a BETTER example, maybe even shame them into pitching it. I would advise putting their dirty stuff in their rooms, but only as a last resort - roommate situations can be pretty precarious. Good luck!

Answer 3

Tell them this true story: When I was in college my roommates wouldn't do dishes (neither would I) and after about 2 weeks, we finally decided to do so and found maggots all in the sink. That was enough for me. I've never been lazy about the dishes since then.

Answer 4

Something my brother and his housemates would do: If they didn't do them after a set amount of time, The person would come home to the dirty dishes dumped on their bed.

Answer 5

I've known this to work, but it all depends on your housemates. If you've talked to them and they still don't comply, you start purchasing disposible dishes and plasticware for YOURSELF. Hide your stuff, this way you always have something to eat on and don't have to worry about them. They will hopefully get tired of living like slobs, I mean how hard is it to put the dishes in the dishwasher? You'd think it was as hard as having a baby with my kids.

Answer 6

Keep paper plates for you to eat off of (hide them in your room, or somewhere where they don't have access to them). When they go to get a dish from the cupboard and realize they're all dirty because they haven't washed them, they'll HAVE to wash them. I know it'll be rough staring at a pile of dirty dishes all week, but eventually it *should* sink in that they have to start cleaning up after themselves.

Answer 7

Call a meeting and discuss the problem like mature adults. Tell them your problems with it - suggest they begin using disposable items! If you are going to live with someone - anyone - you have got to be able to communicate - if you do not talk there is no way your house will be a happy one!

Answer 8

Work out the rules as a group.

When they don't follow the rules, remind them that they agreed.

If that still doesn't work, neatly stack the dirty dishes in their bed. Explain that you are less disgusted by roaches in their bed than you are by roaches in the kitchen.

Answer 9

Put their dirty dishes in or on their bed. Be consistent. Either they will change or you will have to move because of the funk emanating from their rooms.

Answer 10

Feed them with the dirty dishes first, then they will have to clean the dishes if they want to eat on a clean plate, otherwise, they will have to eat with dirty plates.