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To break up over toilet hygiene (or lack thereof)?

313 replies

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 17:44

Name changed for this one.

So I've been seeing a new chap for several months - my first relationship since divorcing over three years ago, and with a lot of dead-end online dates in the interim. I.e. quite a big deal for me to have entered into. Lovely chap, very like-minded, considerate high-achieving professional, seems into me, etc. - and the relationship is exclusive.

I need a sense of perspective on this issue - not the only emergent niggle in the relationship, but the most "in your face" (as it were) in recent weeks.

Most of our "sleepover" dates are at mine for various reasons. I've noticed bad toilet hygiene at mine in terms of weeing on the seat / leaving poo stains, which I wasn't overly impressed with, but didn't say anything at the time. Last week I was at his - not the first occasion, but this round time the toilet / bathroom was pretty grim. Not Trainspotter bad or anything - but think piss and pubes caked into the ceramic and bristles / toothpaste residue all over the sink. The rest of his place is cluttered but clean enough.

I was again due to visit him at his today, and - after some agonising on the subject - sent a message during the week that he'd need to give the bathroom a once over first, to which he replied already on the list. And he did clean up, and even made a point of asking me if it was acceptable when I arrived.

Later that afternoon, we were taking it to the bedroom and I made a quick pit stop - only to find massive poo stains down the pan and wee over the seat from a visit he'd made in the meantime. It's hard for me to address these things directly, but I basically came out, said it was a massive passion killer and that I didn't expect to find the toilet like this at his or at mine, and if he wanted bedroom activity he'd need to factor in bathroom activity. He did clean it, apologised (blaming not having his glasses on - he did have his glasses on) and said my views were fair enough. I left soon after without re-initiating any sexual activity.

It's not the mess in itself that bothers me - I'm not a clean freak, and have literally used some of the worst toilets known to man in my time. It's the lack of respect it indicates - especially coming from someone so otherwise clearly intelligent / senior, etc. and not otherwise seemingly unhygienic. And the fact that I'd already pointed this out once before coming round - which is already unattractive enough to have to do towards a grown man. In his shoes I'd personally be dying of embarrassment, not making a mess of things that very same afternoon. Unless he was doing it deliberately to make a point right back to me, but that doesn't seem like him at all.

Either way, whether deliberate or just obliviousness, it's not attractive. I made a vow at the end of my last relationship that I wouldn't tolerate man children / incompetence (whether strategic or otherwise), so maybe I'm overthinking this one - but yeah it's irked me a lot.

Please do tell me if I'm being unreasonable on this one! I wouldn't end things "only" cause of this, but genuinely not sure if I'm just being a massive priss on this. TIA!

OP posts:
Husbandrippedmeoff · 05/01/2025 21:04

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 19:06

I shit like a fucking dinosaur myself. My toilet is clean within 2 minutes.

Just out of interest, how do you do it? Tips please!

TomatoSandwiches · 05/01/2025 21:01

The thing is that plenty of people who have poor sight and need glasses keep their toilets clean because they know they may be missing something so they take extra steps to be conscientious and make it a habit... because they have the standard in the first place.
Needing glasses isn't an excuse.

Personally I'd be upfront about his lack of hygiene being a turn off, you gave him a chance that he shouldn't have really needed being the age he is and he didn't take it seriously and gave you the absolute ick, once that's happened there's no going back.

WhereYouLeftIt · 05/01/2025 21:01

He's 53. There is no way a man gets to that age without working out that pissing on the seat without cleaning it up afterwards risks the next user of that toilet sitting in his piss. I would not be willing for that person to be me. And there is no way he didn't see the shitstains he left behind either, glasses on or off.

I'd be asking him - 'since you piss on the seat and don't clean it up, does that mean next time you take a dump you're sitting in your own piss as well?'. It's a valid question! As is 'How do you think toilets get cleaned? By magic?!'.

FFS, I've got the ick and I'm never going to come into contact with this man.

Tidbit · 05/01/2025 21:00

MJconfessions · 05/01/2025 20:20

He’s 53. He knows exactly what he’s doing. I’m half your age and guys my age would know exactly what they’re doing if they were him. You’re giving him way too much credit.

Shy, geeky, nerdy good hearted guys would be extra conscious about making things perfect for you. You had a conversation with him asking him to clean the bathroom. He agrees and says he will. He then leaves the toilet covered with shit and piss marks right before you have sex with the implication that you deal with the mess. He’s putting you back in your place.

You are giving this man who is of an advanced age, way more credit than he deserves

I 100% agree with this.

From my understanding (correct me if I am wrong) the timeline goes something like this:

BF leaving dirty messy toilet at OPs house over course of few weeks.

OP visits BF house and sees bathroom a mess with pubes etc (bad but not totally gross)

OP tells BF to clean bathroom ahead of her next visit.

BF complies and asks OP to inspect/approve when she arrives on next visit - all fine.

Later on this same visit OP visits loo to find "massive poo stains down the pan and wee over the seat from a visit he'd made in the meantime."

So much worse tha she'd seen to date, on the same visit where he had cleaned ahead and asked her to inspect/approve --- he goes to these great lengths?

This isnt careless - he's just out to degrade and humilate.

Starsandall · 05/01/2025 20:54

Oh op similar here. But at his house. Tidy but rarely cleans bathrooms. He is extremely body conscious but yes it’s not great. I’m thinking say something for some reason he needs training!

Justsaywhatyoumean123 · 05/01/2025 20:54

If you can train him, it could be worth a shot, but it reminds me a bit of neglected kids—like when someone’s been left to fend for themselves too young and hasn’t had the chance to learn properly.

oakleaffy · 05/01/2025 20:53

@wobblychicken That is absolutely repellent.
Doesn't he look to check the pan after a flush?
That's really nasty.

It's definitely be revolted and turned off.

He may not wipe properly either, OR wash his hands.

Zebedee999 · 05/01/2025 20:51

Bad parenting imo. Everyone should be taught as a child to check the pan after they've been. I too am sick of finding poo/pee/blood on or around the toilet. I always leave them cleaner than I find them! Often cleaning up what I already find there too!

socialdilemmawhattodo · 05/01/2025 20:49

Gwenhwyfar · 05/01/2025 20:07

"Can you just not tail it off? ie not reply to texts for a few days, not be available for telephone calls or catch up, not able to meet for weeks due to work pressures/family issues, etc."

After two dates that might be acceptable behaviour, but it seems they've been going out for 4 months. He deserves a conversation at least!

This was my suggestion. Because I felt OP had been disrespected, regardless of limited time together. When younger I would always speak to boyfriend directly to end the relationship - they didn't care how I broke up with them. The relationship was over and not of their choosing. This much older man has clearly shown that he does not want to make the basic changes required. OP has stated they have other concerns. Just get the ending done. If he can't work out why, that's on him.

WellsAndThistles · 05/01/2025 20:49

That's gross sorry, he needs a Mum not a girlfriend.

(Ever considered how often he changes his bedding?)

safetyfreak · 05/01/2025 20:47

Playgroundincident · 05/01/2025 20:24

He probably wipes his arse and makes food without washing his hands. If he's like that in thr bathroom what is going into the food. Grim fucking grim. Dump.

Yes, I agree. Its really grim.

I wonder if its a power play as he doing it in OP toilet too? eurgh.

Avatartar · 05/01/2025 20:46

He’s meant to be on best behaviour this early in a relationship- it won’t get better. I couldn’t live with it.
It’s not important to him and it’s gross.
You don’t want to see his leftovers or feel them and have to wipe it off if you sit in it, every time you go to the toilet.
It’s a relationship killer

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 20:46

Honestly I had no prior concerns on his personal hygiene. Which is what makes this whole thing all the more confusing. He's not a stinker in general.

OP posts:
BellaCiaoBellaCiao · 05/01/2025 20:44

Gggglinda · 05/01/2025 20:43

🤢 I can only imagine what his bum smells like

Agreed. See my post just a few comments above yours.

Gggglinda · 05/01/2025 20:43

🤢 I can only imagine what his bum smells like

Lwrenn · 05/01/2025 20:43

TomatoSandwiches · 05/01/2025 17:58

I would no longer find him attractive at all so there would be no point continuing this.
He probably hasn't been washing his hands either 🤢

The hands was my first thought and I actually feel queasy thinking about it! 🤮

Get Rid OP!

BellaCiaoBellaCiao · 05/01/2025 20:43

That’s beyond vile.
If he doesn’t clean his toilet, he sure as hell doesn’t clean his stinking arse.
And no, wiping it with toilet paper does NOT clean it ffs.

If you got shit on your hand, would you wipe it off with loo roll? Hell, no!!
You’d WASH it off. With SOAP.

You don’t need to get in the shower every time although I certainly would if sex was on the cards. But the bare minimum would be some liquid soap on the toilet roll after an initial wipe.
Asda loo roll is strong enough to cope with this!

There is no excuse for having a shitty arse. It’s disgusting. And yes, it IS shitty unless there is an application of soap in some form or another!

There is no way I’d be getting up close and personal with anyone like that.

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 20:41

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 05/01/2025 20:38

Eustace is a king never mind a prince 😂
I just have never understood why people don’t enjoy the feeling of being clean.
And it takes little effort, and it’s not exactly expensive!

Eustace clearly needs a bit of a Scrubb! 😂

OP posts:
PeggyMitchellsCameo · 05/01/2025 20:38

Boardgamedust · 05/01/2025 20:17

I've not slept with a man in decades now, however the last man I ever slept with, was a nice man overall. He did struggle with hygiene however.

One day we were about to DTD and I noticed a strong whiff of pee coming from him.
I stopped kissing him, and gently said 'Eustace, look I am quite happy to have sex with you but I am not going to risk my health. I could catch an infection from stale urine. Kindly go in the shower first please'.

He did, but seemed to be out very quickly and when he came back to bed I was most confused to notice that he still smelt of wee!

Dirty sod had just dampened his hair under the shower, by the sounds of it, he was just damp and smelly now instead of dry and smelly wonder why I realised I was a lesbian

Eustace is a king never mind a prince 😂
I just have never understood why people don’t enjoy the feeling of being clean.
And it takes little effort, and it’s not exactly expensive!

BlueSky2023 · 05/01/2025 20:38

Yeah, it’s bad and would put me off but ( trying to defend him) if he has been living on his own for a while maybe he has let his standards drop, it really depends on how much you like him and if he manages to improve on this issue

Tahlbias · 05/01/2025 20:34

🫣

PeloMom · 05/01/2025 20:33

@katepilar my bad. Sorry.

PrinceYakimov · 05/01/2025 20:31

OP, I just saw that you said further up 'And yet he seems made up to have a gf at last'

I think there's now very little mystery about why he hasn't been able to attract a GF so far!

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 20:31

Joelle84 · 05/01/2025 20:29

“Its not me, its you mate. Here a gift. Use it”
then put together a new bog brush, bleach, bathroom cleaner, marigolds, loo roll, wet wipes and air freshener.

then block him 👋

Edited

He has one!! Right there by the loo!! A clearly under-utilised utensil.

OP posts:
wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 20:30

OwlFeatures · 05/01/2025 20:26

@wobblychicken you seriously would want a phone call explaining to you that the man you've been dating is binning you off because you leave shit and piss in the toilet?

I mean, it takes all sorts but I personally wouldn't love that so much.

He knows why. All this hand wringing. By all means give him chapter and verse but for me, a message after a few months of dating is sufficient

Possibly, but it's about what feels right to me rather than what he necessarily deserves. And this one (admittedly dire) issue doesn't negate all the good stuff over the last few weeks and months.

OP posts: