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Original poster

AIBU to think vacuuming is important

36 replies

christonapushbike · 28/12/2025 18:37

DH spent yesterday helping DSD to move furniture round in her room including drawers etc that haven't been moved in 3years. They didn't bother hoovering under anything while they had the chance and so hard to reach corners remain caked in dust. For context I am the only one who vacuums her room approximately once every month (she is 17 but there is no expectation that she does it herself!) I do my best but am not moving furniture around. He doesn't seem to think it's important at all. Am I unreasonable to care about this? It would have taken 5 mins and now might have to wait another few years.

OP posts:
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CraftyPlayer · 29/12/2025 11:20

PuddleglumPevensie · 29/12/2025 01:45

Unless you’ve got large, heavy Victorian era furniture, it’s really not that hard to clean regularly behind furniture on a regular basis. Even with attached fixtures like bookcases, there’s usually a gap between the skirting board and bookcase, and you can blow the dust out with one of those dust blower thingmabobs. Also good for cleaning out radiators. Life-changing.

God I bet you’re fun at parties 🥱

PuddleglumPevensie · 29/12/2025 01:45

Unless you’ve got large, heavy Victorian era furniture, it’s really not that hard to clean regularly behind furniture on a regular basis. Even with attached fixtures like bookcases, there’s usually a gap between the skirting board and bookcase, and you can blow the dust out with one of those dust blower thingmabobs. Also good for cleaning out radiators. Life-changing.

sittingonabeach · 29/12/2025 01:32

I’m sure most people who don’t regularly hoover behind furniture, their mattress or 3 times a day aren’t dying from some dust/crumbs related disease. Someone who hoovers 3 times a day probably has more issues than someone who hoovers once a week.

CraftyPlayer · 29/12/2025 01:28

PuddleglumPevensie · 29/12/2025 01:22

Vacuuming once a month is grim.
Vacuuming behind furniture once every 3 years is pretty gross too.
It literally takes a couple of minutes to pull furniture out and vacuum quickly behind furniture on a regular basis.
I’ll hope you’re not one of those people who never opens their windows regularly or only washes bedding once a season as well.

You move large things like wardrobes and bookcases to hoover behind on a regular basis? Mine are screwed to the wall, it would take bloody ages.

PuddleglumPevensie · 29/12/2025 01:22

Vacuuming once a month is grim.
Vacuuming behind furniture once every 3 years is pretty gross too.
It literally takes a couple of minutes to pull furniture out and vacuum quickly behind furniture on a regular basis.
I’ll hope you’re not one of those people who never opens their windows regularly or only washes bedding once a season as well.

ThatCalmFinch · 29/12/2025 01:04

No vacuuming is not important, there are no awards/certificates/badges given out - as long as its done regularly enough to be fairly clean then that's fine. If you are vacuuming four times a day then you may need to seek help. Some of us are single mums working 12 hours a day and vacuuming is a nice to have.

Eggseleventwelve · 29/12/2025 00:54

I only hoover 1-2 per week and never actually move furniture. What I can’t see I don’t worry about! House looks fabulous so no worries here😉

mondaytosunday · 29/12/2025 00:43

My kids hoovered their own rooms from about 14. Shame she didn’t take the opportunity but it’s her room she can live with the dust (might point out to her that bedroom dust is mostly dead skin cells and fibres).

Original poster
christonapushbike · 28/12/2025 23:24

OK I'm glad it sounds like I'm not being totally unreasonable! For clarity I vacuum the main living space most days and my bedroom twice a week. DSK rooms would be vacuumed virtually never if I didn't go in there once a month(ish) to do them begrudgingly. I have no other need to go in there so try to avoid it. DH makes the rules for the kids (they're his) and chores aren't really on the agenda. I was much more independent at their ages (13 and 17) so find it quite hard to understand but they have a great relationship with their dad so its obviously working in a lot of ways. It would be far preferable for me if they helped around the house more but I would need to be the one pushing it and can't face it tbh

OP posts:
Netcurtainnelly · 28/12/2025 22:42

Does sweeping count. I sweep.up alot but vacuum less.

Oldandgreyer · 28/12/2025 20:40

GeorgeClooneyshouldhavemarriedme · 28/12/2025 18:41

The room is vacuumed once a month????
Once a month??????

Quite! As often as that.

Heyhelga · 28/12/2025 20:37

If you have no pets and a strict no shoes worn inside policy then your carpets really don't need hoovering that regularly.

Fidgety31 · 28/12/2025 20:31

Your teenage daughter’s room is only hoovered once a month - I bet it’s disgusting in there !
I hoover every day - but I have a dog that sheds hair continually so have no choice .

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 28/12/2025 20:29

You need to.pass on responsibility to the 17 year old to keep the room clean, including behind/under furniture.

I have unused bedrooms that get hoovered every week at least.

Tryingatleast · 28/12/2025 20:22

I hate when people have furniture out and don’t hover under it!! It’s like when people move around a shelf but don’t think to clean it!!!

littleorangefox · 28/12/2025 20:18

I couldn't deal with that 😂

My kitchen is hoovered after every meal time and then again in the evening after the kids go to bed along with the downstairs hall (laminate), living room (carpet), bathroom etc. Upstairs which is all carpet except the bathrooms and the stairs are done maybe 3 times a week. Sometimes I also just fire it round randomly if I notice crumbs or bits or someone has decided to walk from the front door to the back with shoes on... I hate crumbs and bits and dust. Yuck.

ThePoshUns · 28/12/2025 20:15

Once a month is grim.

Soonenough · 28/12/2025 20:15

Moving furniture is an opportunity to vacuum spaces you don't normally have access to . That would really annoy me but DH has always had to be told to do this . I don't know how you get away with vacuuming anything once a month . My house would be minging if I did that .

RememberBeKindWithKaren · 28/12/2025 20:14

There's always tomorrow. You can introduce your DSD to the hoover tomorrow. Whatever she can reach, and comfortablely move, worth giving it a hoover

blankcanvas3 · 28/12/2025 20:11

once a month?!?!?!??!!!!!

mydogisanidiott · 28/12/2025 20:02

Once a month! I thought I was lax at once a week.

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Nannyfannybanny · 28/12/2025 20:00

I got rid of carpets because of the dogs,it's laminate floor now.

Nannyfannybanny · 28/12/2025 19:58

Of course you are meant to vacuum mattresses, would have thought most people would do this when they wash the mattress cover.

ThePeachHiker · 28/12/2025 19:28

Just an fyi that when you do move it you should also try to use a carpet cleaner too. I vacuum twice a week and use my carpet cleaner once a month. I still get a lot of dust up. And the water from the carpet cleaner is disgusting. We’re four people in a tiny house though so may have an impact on cleanliness.

cantbearsed247 · 28/12/2025 19:23

I hoover as little as possible, if the dust is out of sight I leave it be. If it's important to you then IMO it's up to you to do it. Ask your DH to move the furniture out the way so you can do it.