6 Tips for Living with a Communal Bathroom
One of the most difficult things to get used to when you go off to college for the first time is not only sharing a bathroom but having to use a communal bathroom. Getting ready in the morning in a communal bathroom is definitely a different experience than having a space where you can close the door and have some privacy, so make sure that you’re aware of how you may have to change your routine when you move into your new dorm. To make the best of living with a communal bathroom, check out the following tips.
1. Make Sure You Have a Shower Caddy
A shower caddy is a must when you’re using a communal bathroom. You won’t be able to leave your toiletries in the bathroom and shower, so you’ll need to carry them back and forth from your dorm to the bathroom constantly. Having a good shower caddy that helps you keep your toiletries organized will make your life much easier, and will help you get ready a lot faster in the mornings. Make sure that you have something you can bring in the actual shower as well, as you’ll need to be bringing your soap and shampoo in with you every time. Make sure you clean your shower caddy regularly, as well, or get a new one every once in a while, as it can easily get dirty—especially since there will be people getting ready all around you as well.
2. Do Your Part to Keep It Clean
When you use a communal bathroom, any mess that you make will affect all of the other students in your hall, so it’s important to do your part to keep it clean. A communal bathroom can quickly become dirty with so many people using it, so it’s a good idea to help set a good example with the way that you maintain it. If you clean up after yourself, hopefully, others will be more likely to do the same. You should also just keep in mind that when you have a shared space, it’s important to be respectful of the other people who are using it.
3. Find “Off” Times to Shower
One of the major struggles of sharing a communal bathroom is finding a time when the showers and sinks are free so you can actually get ready. In order to limit the time that you waste waiting in line for the shower, try to find times when the bathroom is less busy and plan when you’re going to use it accordingly. Nighttime tends to be more popular for showering, so consider showering in the morning to avoid having to wait. It’s also a good idea to get used to checking the bathroom to see how busy it is before you bring your shower caddy in to shower or get ready in the morning. Above all, you’ll need to be flexible when sharing a bathroom with so many people.
4, Invest in Shower Flip-Flops
When using a communal bathroom, shower flip-flops are essential. You definitely don’t want to go barefoot in a shower used by numerous other people. It’s also a good idea to have your shower flip-flops handy in general when you’re using the bathroom, as it’s not a good idea to go barefoot in general in the space, and flip-flops are a lot more convenient than having to put on shoes each time you go to use the bathroom.
5. Don’t Linger
Again, it’s essential to be respectful of others when you’re using a communal bathroom, or you’ll run the risk of making some enemies. In addition to keeping the space clean, this also means limiting the amount of time that you spend using the shower and sinks. If you’re used to taking long showers at home, you should definitely work on cutting down your shower time once you move into your dorm—especially when there’s a line of people waiting behind you.
6. Keep the Noise Down If You’re Not Alone
While you might like to play music when you’re showering at home or watch YouTube videos on your phone when you’re getting ready in the morning, these are probably habits that you should try to break when using a communal bathroom. Unless the bathroom is empty when you’re using it, avoid playing music or listening to anything on your phone out loud. No matter how much you love your playlist, other people may resent being forced to listen to your music when they’re trying to shower as well—especially if it’s early in the morning or late at night.
Dorm-living definitely takes some getting used to, and one major change that you’ll have to adjust to is using a communal bathroom. It may not be the ideal situation, but as long as you go about it the right way, you’ll be able to make the best of it!