Awkward Roommate WTF

[eredien]

I went to go clean the toilet in our downstairs bathroom today. I noticed that the toilet brush, in the corner by the toilet, had a label. It read, "[J]'s water bottle brush--not for toilets!"

I don't know if that label is new or not. It's only on one side. I have *totally* cleaned the toilet with that toilet brush before, since:
a.) it is a toilet brush
b.) it is right next to the toilet

I felt secure in assuming, as my other roommate E. stated, that since these conditions are met, "99.9% of the people in the world would assume it is a brush for toilets."

I have never noticed the label before. It is possible it was there previously, but since it is only labeled on one side, if I didn't see the label (eg, it was dark, or the toilet brush was turned the other way) I would not have seen the label.

I really hope the label isn't new.
I really, really hope it has not been used as a non-toilet brush since I used it to clean the toilet.
I wonder why anyone would keep something they are using for their water bottles near the toilet, especially if it looks like something that is always meant to be used to clean the toilet.

What to do? Should I get my roommate a bottle brush? Oh god, what kind of warning email do I send with the gift? "Here's a new bottle brush, please keep it away from the toilet?" or "Um, I bought you a bottle brush for your bottles, since I assumed your previous bottle-toilet brush was for the toilet?" This roommate already doesn't like me and I *really* hope that he doesn't think I did it to piss him off or make him ill on purpose, but at the same time I *really* don't want him to get sick from not knowing the toilet brush has been used as...a toilet brush.

This is an example of the kind of slightly quirky but honestly really inconvenient thinking that is driving me and my roommate E. slowly out of our minds and out of the apartment altogether.

Comments

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

WHAT. Who uses a toilet brush KEPT NEXT TO THE TOILET for ANYTHING except CLEANING THE TOILET.

[eredien]

...apparently the roommate that me and E. are moving to get away from.

[thespooniest.livejournal.com]

I'm inclined to think that although this brush looks like the one you used, it's probably not actually the same one. My reasoning for this is that I don't think J would put up such a specific sign without a reason to believe that it was being used this way. But a sign like that also also implies an intent to use that brush for water bottles, and I don't think J would knowingly use a brush that had been used on a toilet for bottles.

At least, I really hope not.

It's also possible, given the relative proximity to Halloween, that this is some kind of prank.

[eredien]

He doesn't do pranks. The first time he met a bunch of my friends, I *thought* he was pulling a prank when he said, "I like all your friends, except that real jerk [name]." I started laughing, then realized he was serious...it's been a war of confused attrition since then. It really is the same brush. I checked.

[earis.livejournal.com]

Why the hell would anybody keep a waterbottle brush in the bathroom, much less near the toilet?

[eredien]

Well, our downstairs half-bath is also a pantry; I keep some food supplies there, although well away from the toilet.

[earis.livejournal.com]

Still, pantry food is usually packaged food. Brushes are, well, brushes. Anyway, I hope that this is resolved for you.

[ab3nd.livejournal.com]

I'm inclined to recommend you not mention it at all. If he hasn't died of it yet, chances are he's not going to, and you know how that brush should be dealt with from now on.

On the other hand, I don't really care for the guy, and so, while I would not directly piss in his cheerios, I would not feel put out if piss somehow came to be in his cheerios. As it were. So my advice may not be what a good person would do.

[eredien]

... I love you.

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

+1

[daisho.livejournal.com]

Good person or nay, I'm inclined to agree. While I can definitely understand the desire to confess and offer to buy a new brush, the assumption was entirely reasonable. With that and the lack of toilet-related death in mind, I'd give the current brush a clean in some antiseptic mouthwash, rinse well, and then forget about it.

[delcan.livejournal.com]

This is my internal empathic guilt speaking, as I've done something like this before. Regardless of the lack of common sense and animosity from your roommate, it would kinda suck if he was using a toilet brush for water bottles.

I'd talk to him completely honestly and contritely, and in person. Ask him if the brush down there is new or if it's been there a while. If it's a new one, apologize sincerely for using the last one for the toilet, and offer up a few dollars for the replacement cost. If it's the old one, apologize sincerely, explain that you assumed no special purpose for it - it was a toilet brush by the toilet, after all - and offer to buy a new one. They're cheap nowadays.

The important thing is to explain with sincere apologies in mind - not "you should have put it somewhere else", not "we've done everything right", just "sorry I used your brush for something else". If he doesn't accept them... well, you did your part to set it right, even if he didn't accept it. If he does accept your apologies, it might be at least a tiny step towards reconciliation.

It's demoralizing, but in my experience it's better to have a clean conscience than to win an argument.

[eredien]

I think I probably will do this, but he is away from the house for 5 or 6 days on end. I have done something mistaken in the past and apologized for it and offered to put it right, though, and he brings it up constantly but denies he is upset about it...so I am a little frustrated that my apology will backfire.

[delcan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's always the possibility (and sometimes probability) of backfiring... the toughest part is trying to do the decent thing when you know that others won't.

Take care, and try to hold out hope. At least one person can do good in this situation. :)

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

Ever watch The Big Bang Theory? Sounds like he is Sheldon.

[thespooniest.livejournal.com]

Come to think of it, what kind of bottles is this guy using that a toilet brush even fits into them? When I think of a toilet brush, I think of something with a very wide handle and head: not the sort of thing that would fit into most bottles. What I think of a bottle brush has a very thin, flexible handle, often made of twisted wire or something similar.

One possible solution to this issue would be to get the guy a bottle brush, with the stated reason that it will make cleaning his bottles much easier. This avoids the awkwardness of admitting that his old brush has in fact been used for the toilet (which, as I stated above, I suspect he already knows), but it's still true.

[eredien]

Yeah, I think I am going to do something like this.