You've been living with your roommate a while now. Maybe you were best friends who snagged a sweet apartment together. Maybe you were strangers before being assigned to the same dorm room. However your story began, it has come to this: your roommate is tidy.
Tidiness is nothing to laugh about. It is a chronic sickness that - if left unchecked - could lead to unnecessary levels of cleanliness (exp: In the case of Smith v Jones, guilty on charges of steaming the floor, giving the washer vinegar treatments, and actually wiping up the spill at the bottom of the fridge).
Do not despair! There is hope for your tidy roommate. Follow these simple tips to help your roommate overcome their addiction to clean.
1. Know the Warning Signs
If you've walked into your apartment to the scent of clean linen. If you've ever witnessed the horrifying sight of vacuum marks on the carpet. If your coffee mug - which wasn't bothering anyone by sitting on the back of the counter - has suddenly appeared in the cabinet, clean: your roommate is probably tidy. Other signs include: perfectly matched socks, white tile grout, table space, and an alarming lack of dust-bunnies.
2. Cautious Confrontation
Tidies are not like you and I. Approach the topic of their addiction with caution, and grace. Always keep their best interest in mind, "Roommate, just think of how much less ice cream you will eat if there aren't any dishes to eat it on." Pick the right time to approach them - in other words, if you see that they are relaxed on the couch, it will only upset them to bring up their flaw. A setting that is repeatedly successful runs as follows: wait until they are folding a terrifyingly large stack of laundry, sit down next to the folded pile, while talking about their need to let go of their addiction begin unfolding each piece of folded clothing and tossing it into a separate chair. Be aware, they will resist, they may become volatile, but persist. Remember, you're helping them.
3. Intervene if Necessary
Confrontation is only the first step in healing. It will not work the first time, and may not work the second, or even the third. Successful confrontation will usually result in small signs of recovery (i.e. a plate in the sink, or a hairbrush on the counter). Some tidies, however, may require some extra intervention. If your roommate begins cleaning, create distractions. Invite them to make a mess with you (arts and crafts are the perfect way to make a mess and still have a reason). One hard-core Messy recounted the week she secretly squeezed small amounts of dish soap down the drain to keep her roommate from dishes.
4. Be There
The journey from Tidy to Messy is long and hard. The hurt will not heal over night, and your tidy roommate is going to need a support group. Be an example by making sure they are in the room when you leave your shoes in the middle of the floor, or toss your damp coat on the back of the couch. You won't be able to do everything though, so make sure you're getting support too. Call 1-555-MESSY-4-LIFE for support group sessions, tips and tricks, and aid materials.
And remember - it might hurt, but when your tidy roommate has seen a full recovery, they will thank you for it. They might even sit on the couch and unfold the laundry with you.
