Housemate wants to attack kitchen

Dear Amy: I’m a 28-year-old former city dweller who relocated for more space and a quieter location.

I live in a house with a 70-year-old man, who is a former art history teacher and librarian. We have our own living spaces and bathrooms.

I have loved his company and the care that he devotes to the garden. There’s just one thing — he is a very sentimental hoarder.

Our kitchen is loaded with many dozens of wooden spoons, sets of dinnerware, and cabinets full of cookware. There are easily a dozen sponges. We easily have 150 spice containers, as well as random knickknacks. There are corners that are covered in spider webs.

How do I get him to let me organize the space?

I don’t know where to begin and how to preserve our good relationship.

Any ideas? — Happy Nester

Dear Nester: As a rent-paying housemate, you have the right to essentially take over half the kitchen, but because you are a considerate and respectful person, you are handling this carefully.

Now that you have settled in and have lived in the house for a while, you will have to muster up the courage to approach your housemate. Say, “I hope this isn’t too awkward, but would you mind if I more or less attacked the kitchen and did a deep-clean?”

Let’s assume that he will agree to this. After you get started with the cleaning, ask him, “How attached are you to some of these spices? I’m seeing duplicates and stuff that is expired.”

Basically, I’m suggesting that you take on this job in stages. Just as the accumulation happened over time, once he has the experience of navigating in a cleaner space, he might encourage you to do more.