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Original poster

If I had a house it would always be tidy?

116 replies

flamesoffire · 12/04/2024 19:39

Colleague asked what I was doing at the weekend and I just gave the generic answer of meeting a friend for coffee and I really need to clean the house.

(For reference I mean hoover, put clean washing away, clean the bathroom, my house isn’t a state but I’ve been a bit lazy this week).

She responded with “if I had a house it would always be clean”

Shes late 20s and still lives in her bedroom, which is fine as the housing situation is shit but if you’ve never had to run a house on your own then you have no idea what it takes.

OP posts:
Spudthespanner · 12/04/2024 22:07

wplaf · 12/04/2024 20:25

"If I had a house it would always be clean"

"So you can see why I need to spend time at the weekend keeping mine clean, then, you dumb fuck"

😂

Precisely.

Who'd have thought, you keep a house clean by... wait for it... cleaning it.

Just wait til she has kids OP 🙄 she's in for a shocker.

fieldsofbutterflies · 12/04/2024 21:58

UndertheCedartree · 12/04/2024 20:58

It's just illogical to me. Maybe cos I'm autistic. But 'I keep on top of it' means 'I clean as I go' but if it wasn't unclean there would be nothing to clean. Therefore it is not always clean.

I'm autistic too but see it totally differently to you.

I don't need to tidy because I never make a mess. I don't see putting things back after I've used them as tidying - it's just part of using that item.

Tidying for me is leaving stuff laying around and then dedicating a set period of time to going around and deliberately tidying it up again.

mdinbc · 12/04/2024 21:18

Funny, we just had a conversation like this at work amongst 5 or 6 women. Weekend plans led to housecleaning talk. Some clean every day, some wait for the weekend and do a longer dash about. Each to their own.

If your colleague has just one room to tidy, then she is underestimating keeping a house tidy. It may well be tidy all the time, but not without some time put in.

I had one colleague state she can never keep things clean because her toddler always has her snacks and crumbs everywhere. I had to shut my mouth to tell her not to let her little one run around with snacks. We all live differently.

Thingsarebecomingstranger · 12/04/2024 21:05

Are you sure she meant it like that?

Could it be that she was just daydreaming about having a house, rather than meaning you are dirty.

nimski · 12/04/2024 21:03

Indeed, if I lived alone (or at least with no DC or pets!) my house would always be tidy 🙄

Bumblebeeinatree · 12/04/2024 21:01

Keeping one room clean is one thing, a half decent sized house and working full time with kids is totally another! She will learn.

Whatwouldnanado · 12/04/2024 20:58

“Better a house unkempt than a life unlived”. Rose Macaulay.

UndertheCedartree · 12/04/2024 20:58

It's just illogical to me. Maybe cos I'm autistic. But 'I keep on top of it' means 'I clean as I go' but if it wasn't unclean there would be nothing to clean. Therefore it is not always clean.

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 12/04/2024 20:54

I have a house ( and some kids, they are no excuse) and it’s always clean and tidy, what’s your point?

UndertheCedartree · 12/04/2024 20:54

fieldsofbutterflies · 12/04/2024 20:10

Well, everything needs to be put away after use, but I don't really consider that tidying? It's just what you do?

Show quote history

Yes, lots of things are just what you do! Like cleaning, feeding your kids sticking the wash on. I just find it funny to say my house is always tidy because I tidy as I go. You can only tidy something if it is untidy in the first place.

TammyJones · 12/04/2024 20:28

wplaf · 12/04/2024 20:25

"If I had a house it would always be clean"

"So you can see why I need to spend time at the weekend keeping mine clean, then, you dumb fuck"

🤣🤣

5128gap · 12/04/2024 20:26

She may well be right. Some people love cleaning and I guess they know who they are!

wplaf · 12/04/2024 20:25

"If I had a house it would always be clean"

"So you can see why I need to spend time at the weekend keeping mine clean, then, you dumb fuck"

user1471554720 · 12/04/2024 20:23

I had a very tidy house when I lived alone and before having dcs.

Tell her come back when she has had 2dcs and continues working full time. Life will take care of that.

TayIor · 12/04/2024 20:15

I've never done a weekend clean in 15 years of living here, my house is always clean as I just keep on top of it. What's wrong with what she's said? Some people do it daily, some save it for the weekend, some don't bother at all. She was stating how she believes she would deal with it.

Runningbird43 · 12/04/2024 20:14

What do you mean by “still lives in her bedroom”?

in the family home? Houseshare? Are there no communal areas? Are they shit tips, does she not clean anywhere other than her bedroom?

surely she lives in a house of some sort and needs to keep it clean, whether she actually owns it or not?

Thepeopleversuswork · 12/04/2024 20:13

Shiningout · 12/04/2024 20:10

It's the same as people without kids snottily stating they will never let their little darlings tantrum in public or watch screens. Very easy to say when you have no experience of it. I'd have just laughed 😂

This. Some people value tidiness more than others and each to their own but you can’t be handing out judgement about someone else’s ability to do something you have never had to do…

CupOfTeaNoSugar · 12/04/2024 20:13

I would of just answered “nice one”

Lets see if her reply still rings true if or when she has kids 🤣

PinkArt · 12/04/2024 20:12

TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/04/2024 19:52

Ah, she just wishes she had her own house. I remember thinking "If only I had a house/car, I would look after it so well. It would be shining like a new pin, and I would never take it for granted."

Now my house is shabby and my car has had bird poop on the driver's door for weeks, needless to say.

That show I read it too. I live in a flat that is super cluttered and not remotely clean. I definitely kid myself that why I move to a house it'll be spotless and everything will have a place 🤣 If my space was just a bedroom I'd be feeling that even more.

fieldsofbutterflies · 12/04/2024 20:10

UndertheCedartree · 12/04/2024 20:06

But if you need to tidy it that means it's not always tidy. You tidy it because it is untidy.

Show quote history

Well, everything needs to be put away after use, but I don't really consider that tidying? It's just what you do?

Shiningout · 12/04/2024 20:10

It's the same as people without kids snottily stating they will never let their little darlings tantrum in public or watch screens. Very easy to say when you have no experience of it. I'd have just laughed 😂

TammyJones · 12/04/2024 20:09

BoobyDazzler · 12/04/2024 19:53

I can’t imagine anything duller than spending a weekend cleaning a house so 🤷🏽‍♀️

Haven't you got a life anything better to do?

Takes me just over 2 hours.
Time well spent
Then I can party in comfort 🤣🤣

fieldsofbutterflies · 12/04/2024 20:09

Nosleepforthismum · 12/04/2024 20:04

Do they? I feel like they are mythical creatures.

Show quote history

If I don't really exist, does that mean I don't have to pay bills anymore? Grin

Tatas · 12/04/2024 20:08

My house is always clean and tidy 😂 I've always known it would be, it's just my nature.

I read her comment as a sort of wistful 'when I get to have my own place' rather than anything negative towards you.

Catowl · 12/04/2024 20:08

Well it's easy to keep a house clean and tidy if you live alone.
If you have a man and children in that house. Not so easy!
I had a tidy clean bedroom in my 20"s but in my 40's I am in a constant battle to keep my house clean and tidy because my DH and children are constantly messing it up.