This could be it. Here’s the kicker though. Her laundry that she was doing last night is currently in the kitchen sitting in guess what? A non-mesh polyester bag. And by the size of it it looks like 2-3 weeks worth of laundry (unless it’s something like bedding, but it’s all lumpy like tons of clothes are in there).
I’m starting to wonder if it’s her own stuff that she’s smelling and she’s blaming it on me, because she’s embarrassed. When her cooking can be smelled in the apartment (she’s from Nepal and cooks a lot of traditional food) she’ll make a big deal out of it and say things like, “Oh, my food is so smelly!” and open the windows or spray air freshner even though I’ve told her that I really don’t mind, that her food smells appetizing, and she’s entitled to cook whatever she wants. You’d think that would indicate to her that I’m not judging her about stupid things like that.
Maybe she knows she and her mess stink and is trying to divert your attention. Remember, the best defense is a good offense.
If she brings it up again, point out a grape on the floor.
Do one better. Take a picture of her non-mesh laundry bag now, and print it out. Next time she brings up your non-mesh laundry bag, shove the picture in her face and call her on her stupid hypocrisy.
What I ended up doing was cleaning up her mess in the kitchen (I found lettuce** that she’d just left on the floor) and dusted the main hallway, leaving a big note saying that I’d cleaned. Today I’m going to clean the bathroom. I’m going to have to get a Swiffer set for future use though because her mops have mildew on them (yet I’m the filthy one). Will also make a point to be the one to take the kitchen trash out whenever it’s almost full as that’s another thing she could be smelling and blaming it on my laundry for whatever reason.
I did a deep cleaning of my bedroom (dusting, wood cleaner on the floors for scuff marks, made sure all clothing items are neatly folded) and bought air spray and an air freshener thingie so there is absolutely no question about me “keeping clean.”
So far she hasn’t said anything to me. It’s a bit complicated because she’s the one on the main lease and I have an informal sublease- just a statement saying when I moved in and how much my security deposit was- and I don’t want her to kick me out because she’s crazy. That said, hopefully she’s just passive aggressive and if I make a point to be very pro-active about cleaning (I already pay my rent on time and try to be as quiet as possible at night) she won’t have anything to go on.
You’re going much further than she deserves. I understand the concern on the lease but please don’t stress too much about this. She’s either nuts or mean and if it’s the latter seeing you get stressed about it might kick up the crazy another notch.
I guess so. But I figure doing a thorough cleaning of the apartment while I have the time will make it a lot easier for me to just take a few minutes here and there to tidy up in the future.
And if I take charge of the cleaning and document it, considering that I do my very best to be a conscientious roommate otherwise, what’s she going to freak out about? Although I guess if she said all those strange things about my laundry she must be creative with her complaints.
ETA: I’ve lived here since September and this is the first time she’s really flipped out, although she did tell me once (in a much nicer way) that my alarm clock was waking her up, so I switched it to soft music instead of a traditional buzzer. Other than that there hasn’t really been anything.