Roommate Dilemma: Setting Boundaries on Wardrobe Sharing?

It started with a simple loan, and it turned into a closet crisis real fast. A 28-year-old woman, OP, moved in with her new roommate, Sarah, and things were smooth at first, until the “borrowing” began.

At first, Sarah would ask now and then, but soon she was taking clothes without permission. OP noticed items missing from her closet, and when she confronted Sarah, she got the classic “I needed it in a hurry, I’ll bring it back soon” excuse. Days later, the clothes came back unwashed or even damaged, including a stretched blouse and a top with a lipstick stain that would not come out.

Now OP is stuck between keeping the peace and locking up her wardrobe, because her professional wardrobe is not a free-for-all.

Original Post

So I'm (28F), and I recently moved in with my new roommate, Sarah (25F), who seemed really cool at first. We hit it off and things were going great until she started borrowing my clothes without asking.

At first, I didn't mind when she asked occasionally, but it's gotten out of hand. For background, I take pride in my wardrobe and have some sentimental pieces that I cherish.

I work in a professional setting, so I have invested a lot in my clothing collection to look polished and put-together every day. The issue began when I noticed clothes missing from my closet without any heads up.

When I confronted Sarah about it, she said she needed something in a hurry and would return it soon. But 'soon' turned into days, and sometimes she'd return them unwashed or damaged.

I tried to set boundaries by politely telling her not to take anything unless she asks, but she still takes items without permission. It's frustrating because some of the clothes she borrows are delicate and require special care.

I found a blouse stretched out once, and another top had a lipstick stain that didn't come out. I'm at my wit's end and thinking of locking up my closet, but I don't want to create tension in our living situation.

So, WIBTA if I put a lock on my wardrobe to prevent Sarah from taking my clothes without permission?

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This is also like the roommate demanding unequal chores while claiming a busy schedule.

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The vibe changed the moment OP realized her clothes were disappearing without Sarah even asking first.

“Soon” stretched into days, and that’s when the unwashed returns and the damaged blouse stopped feeling accidental.

After the lipstick stain and the stretched-out top, OP tried the polite boundary route, and Sarah still kept taking.

So when OP considers a lock on her closet to stop Sarah from grabbing her sentimental, delicate pieces, the tension question is the real plot twist.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Share your perspective in the comments below.

OP might not be “too much,” but Sarah is definitely treating her closet like a shared wardrobe, and that ends now.

Still dealing with boundary lines, read about the friend who splurged on luxury, then expected rent coverage.