Living Together? Test #1 The Bathroom

I have been thinking it would be a good idea for people who are going to live together, or get married, to take some simple quizzes before they do the deed.

It would give each person a clue as to personal preferences. The tiny irritations which can lead to minor annoyances, that build up and become big, stinking fights. Which mostly begin, "You Never" and "You always", never good ways to begin. A good place to figure out what you can live with, and what you can't.

My first test will be about the bathroom. Yes, one would think that the first test should be about sexuality, or even holiday events or food preferences. Or cleaning requirements. (There is a whole blog in itself.) I think I will get to those later.

The first quiz should definitely cover the bathroom. The bathroom is the first place one visits in the morning. It is rife with delicate issues of sensibility and style. Especially if a person is not happy to be awake, or heading to work, and even worse for non-morning people. If anyone has any additional test questions they would like to see added, let me know. And keep in mind, no matter how much one thinks there are right and wrong answers to these questions there aren't.

Marriage Test #1 - The Bathroom

1. Company, or no company while using the toilet.
a. Never
b. Maybe when we've been together a long time
c. For some things, but not other things
d. Sure, if you must

2. Toilet seat lid
a. Always up
b. Always down
c. Whatever

2. Toilet paper A
a. Replace it when you use it up
b. The next person can replace it
c. Whatever

3. Toilet paper B
a. With the "tail" always in the back discreetly
b. With the "tail" always hanging over the front for easy access.
c. However it ends up

3. Toilet Paper C
a. Softest possible
b. Cheapest possible
c. Brand Name _____________ only
d. Whatever

4. Towels; after showering
a. Hang up to be re-used
b. Replace after every shower
c. Leave them on the floor for the elves
d. Whatever

5. Toothpaste
a. Squeeze only from the end
b. Squeeze from the middle
c. Squeeze wherever you grab - it's too early for that crap.

6. Toothbrushes A
a. In a covered receptacle
b. In a glass by the sink
c. ____________________

7. Toothbrushes B
a. Never use my toothbrush, or I will have to dispose of it, or sanitize it with bleach.
b. I don't care if you make a mistake and use mine, we share spit, don't we?
c. Whatever

8. Toilet Rugs
a. All the accoutrements - toilet lid cover, pee rug, tank cover, etc.
b. Pee rug, but none of that other crap.
c. Gross - none of that stuff

9. Bath mat
a. Hung up to dry after we shower
b. Left on the floor all the time
c. Gross; bath mats are a home for colonies of mold

10. Garbage
a. Emptied Daily
b. Emptied if there is gross stuff in it
c. Emptied when it gets full

11. Bath Soap A
a. Brand _____________ only
b. As long as it's deodorant
c. Sale brand or cheapest brand
d. Whatever

12. Bath Soap B
a. Rinse it after you use it; no hairs or other nasty stuff
b. Replace the bar if you use the last of it
c. All of the above
d. Whatever

12. Hair stuff A
a. Don't ever touch my brush and comb
b. If you must touch my brush and comb, make sure you clean the hair out of it
c. Comb only
d. Brush only
e. Whatever

13. Hair stuff B
a. Don't touch my shampoo, gel, spray or anything else
b. Use it, but don't you dare use the last of it and not tell me
c. Whatever

14. Makeup and deodorant (my guess is people will feel the same about both these things.)
a. Don't touch
b. Use in an emergency
c. Use it, but ONCE AGAIN don't you dare use the last of it and not tell!
c. Whatever


From the Veterans: When sharing a bathroom, it makes things much easier if you follow common courtesies. Clean up your hair - from the sink, from the tub. Wipe up any sprinkles on the toilet seat or surrounding area. Flush. Clean the toilet if something gross occurs. Apologize or use spray when needed.

Often there are easy solutions to things you don't care about that drive the other person wild. Separate toothpaste, soap and other personal products are a good thing. Also, compromise. (Example: I will always try to remember to flush, even if it's just tissue paper, if you try to remember to change the TP when you use it up.)

A note - always flush with the lid down. I found out a few years ago the flushing action of a toilet is similar to setting off a really large aerosol spray nozzle -when you flush, air, water, and particles of whatever you are flushing are expelled into the air over a bathroom-wide distance. Ewww. Closing the lid will contain the toxic cloud.