Article: As soon as you can in the year, set "house rules" with your roommate. Your house rules should determine when it is okay to be noisy, when it isn't, and what constitutes noise. Start by discussing the priorities for both of you: what is most important to accomplish this year? What do you most want out of a dorm room? Figure out from there how to protect the things that are the most important to each of you. If they are contradictory, compromise. For instance, if it's super important for your roommate to have a social room where people come hang out, but it's important for you to be able to study in the bedroom, pick days of the week or hours of the day for each of you to control the room. Your roommate may be fine with adjusting sound as long as you ask nicely. Ask your roommate how he would like to be reminded when the sound is bothering you. Similarly, you may be fine with certain noisy activities as long as you are asked. Agree on what activities need to be cleared with all members of the room. It is standard to ask permission before inviting a group into a room, for instance. Is studying always the priority in your bedroom? If it is for both of you, then the room should be quiet whenever anyone wants to study. If it is for one of you but not the other, determine quiet hours: the hours in the day that are best for studying, and the hours that can be taken up with sound. If one of you needs far more hours of study, tends to pull all-nighters, or otherwise has a study routine that is difficult to contain, alternative spaces need to be considered. Campuses are full of places to study. Make an agreement that studying at certain hours will take place in a library or other study zone. Sleep is always a priority, so make a rule that sleeping people be left undisturbed. That means no unnecessary noise until the person is awake. If you sleep at super different times, you'll have to get used to the noise of your roommate getting dressed, looking for books, etc. Invest in a desk lamp so that the main lights of your room don't have to be turned on when one person is up at night. If one of you needs noise to sleep, agree that that person should wear headphones. If your roommate snores, suggest that he get a mouth guard or try sleeping on his side. Agree on a way to monitor phone calls. You might agree that if a call is short, it can be taken in the room. Another option is that certain hours could be used for phone and skype dates. Another is that the person who wants to talk should be responsible for politely asking the roommate if it's okay to take a call. If your roommate has a close relative or a significant other who lives far away, he might want to make frequent phone calls in private. Compromise by asking him to set a schedule so that you know when to leave him alone in the room. Does your roommate blast music? It is reasonable to ask that that happen only on weeknights or when you are not in the room. Do you both like loud music, but disagree on what music is best? Take turns determining the playlist. Do you need no music in the room while you study? Your roommate should agree to invest in headphones. You might both agree that music can be played whenever, as long as the person who is playing it asks. If your roommate is a musician, you will need to schedule times that he can practice. Remind him that he has other places he can play.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Agree on house rules. Set a protocol for communication. Schedule your studying. Prioritize sleep. Keep calls short or take them outside. Play with your music options.
Article: Remember that mildew starts to grow wherever moisture is present. Be aware that damp dirty clothing can start to stink up before it ever makes it to the washer, even if it didn't smell bad when you first stripped it off. Use wet clothes as an excuse to start a load as soon as you take them off. If this isn't possible, don't ball up your wet clothes and dump them in the hamper. Let them air-dry on a hanger, drying rack, or clothesline before adding them to your other dirty laundry. If you forgot all about your last load sitting in the washer, wash it a second time to get rid of any funky smells that may have developed in the meantime. Use the highest temperature possible that's still safe for your fabrics. Instead of detergent, however, choose between adding color-safe bleach or chlorine to kill the mildew and eliminate that smell. Or, if you want to avoid chemical products, use plain white vinegar instead. These all smell pretty strong in their own right, so you may need to wash your clothes a third time with laundry detergent to get rid of any residual smells. If you're really prone to forgetting about that last load in your washer, take preemptive action. Add several drops of lavender essential oil to your load when pouring in the detergent at the start of your cycle. Use this mold-resistant product to protect your clothes from developing mildew for longer. This can stall mildew from growing for at least a couple of days. If the washer itself is the smelly culprit, fill the drum with hot water. Add 2 cups of white vinegar. Let the water sit for 30 minutes or so. Then start a regular wash cycle without adding any laundry. Give it a test sniff once it's done and repeat if necessary. Remember that mildew loves moisture and darkness. So don't shut your washer's lid or door once you empty it. Either leave it open all the time for more air circulation and light, or give it at least the length of your dryer's cycle to air out before you close it. If the washer tends to stink up on its own pretty frequently, reduce the amount of liquid detergent and fabric softener that you use. Keep in mind that these are thicker than water and don't always dissolve all the way during a wash cycle. This means that residue is left inside your machine, which can be a breeding ground for mildew. Remember that many detergents are concentrated, so you only need a little bit. If you experience buildup in your machine, check the detergent's directions for recommended amounts.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Wash wet clothes right away. Rewash clean clothes left in the washer. Prevent mildew with lavender essential oil. Deodorize your machine. Air your washer out after each use. Cut back on the detergent if needed.