smelly roommate- help!

<p>It might have something to do with his diet.</p>

<p>Sstudent- Personally, I would go to the RA or counselor (who ever you would feel more comfortable with) and ask how to address the situation. They might suggest you do it or they might think it best for them to take over. Obviously you just want to say sensitive to the issue.</p>

<p>Just make an obvious hint to him, but be somewhat nonchalant about it. When you're both in the room say something like, "Do you smell something?" Sniff around like you're trying to locate the smell and be like, "It smells terrible. We better find out what the smell is." Then sniff around a little more then pretend you're checking yourself for the smell. If he doesn't check himself for the smell then just tell him that it might be him with tact. Don't be cruel.</p>

<p>Hazmat, that is what I was thinking of. I've read about it in the past. Sure hope it's not that, though . . .</p>

<p>i have the same problem but my roommate's a girl and she doesn't wash her hair because she has braids so her scalp is probably foul smelling. but other than that she bathe regularly but i think she is more prone to sweating and expires within, like, twenty minutes of showering so i don't really think she can help it. the smell overpowers our room. i've tried using a fan but the loudness disturbs her. i spray febreze but she acts all annoyed that i have to spray it every 3 minutes to avoid fainting. i put up plug-in air fresheners. i put up these gel air fresheners that are supposed to be long lasting but they have shriveled up and dried out from 3 weeks of use. i want to hide boxes of baking soda in her area but don't want to get caught. i am dying here. i feel like i'm living in a sweaty person's armpit. i'm getting desperate. i don't know what else to do except draw a line of baking soda down the center of the room or hold an exorcism.
i wish i could spray HER with febreze.
HELP.</p>

<p>if i was the person who smelled, and u went to the RA instead of telling me straight up, i would be pretty upset. At least try to resolve the situation between yourselves first.</p>

<p>^Ditto for me. I would talk to them first.</p>

<p>iwantfreshair</p>

<p>this thread inspired your joining to CC?</p>

<p>I never thought about the fact that if people who wore braids/cornrows washed their hair, it would get all messed up....
and thus never thought about how many people I know who evidently don't wash their hair.</p>

<p>sick! Wish I could help you though.</p>

<p>Thank God my roommates don't smell.</p>

<p>I think its a combination of both showering only twice a week on average and natural bo. His clothes definitely smell, the room smells when he is not in it and even more when he is.</p>

<p>any suggestions on how to raise the issue with him? I can't find the right timing or words. How is "the room really smells, do you mind taking more showers and washing your clothes?"</p>

<p>Showering twice a week? That'll do it.</p>

<p>That's freaking disgusting. Where's he from, the 1600s?</p>

<p>haha i thought my roommate was bad for digging through my boxes and eating my food..</p>

<p>Do something before his smell latches onto you and people start thinking you stink. Seriously.</p>

<p>Iwantfreshair, it is entirely possible to wash cornrowed or braided styles, and I would be very surprised if your roommate's stylist didn't teach her how to do that. </p>

<p>This may be done by mixing a solution of shampoo and water in a spray bottle, and spraying this solution in her hair, which has been pre-wetted in the shower. She would then press the shampoo solution into the braids, and gently massage the hair and scalp, respecting the integrity of the braids. She can rinse and repeat this process until her hair is totally clean, making sure to perform a final thorough rinsing. She would then follow this with a light oil product. There's no reason to forgo shampooing just because you wear cornrows. Most black women wouldn't consider wearing cornrows if it meant they couldn't wash their hair. Gross!</p>

<p>You said, "she doesn't wash her hair because she has braids so her scalp is probably foul smelling." Are you sure she doesn't wash her hair, or are you just assuming the braids make it impossible? You said that she does indeed bath regularly, but also sweats excessively. That's another medical condition. I believe its one more easily treated than that of the OP's roommate, however. Good luck to both you and the OP. It must be very hard to live with someone with perpetual B.O.:(</p>

<p>OP's roommate only showers twice weekly? Well, that would explain a lot:p. Honestly, tell the guy that here in America (not assuming he isn't American) it's customary to shower at least once daily.</p>

<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070918/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_genes_odor;_ylt=AouU6hZyGTGXfDK8L3qjKVztiBIF%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070918/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_genes_odor;_ylt=AouU6hZyGTGXfDK8L3qjKVztiBIF&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>i for sure know she showers without washing her hair. she goes into the shower with a panty hose wrapped around her head and emerges from the bathroom with that same panty hose wrapped around her head. she also hangs those vile smelling panty house in our shared bathroom.
she also sprays "oil sheen" into her hair on a daily basis. like 5 seconds worth of spraying each morning and then another 5 seconds of spraying in the afternoon.
it doesn't help that she's socially invalid and not a very nice person.</p>

<p>lmaoooooooooo</p>

<p>"That's freaking disgusting. Where's he from, the 1600s?"</p>

<p>ROFL</p>

<p>in many cases,tell them directly is the least offensive way.</p>