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AIBU?

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AIBU to warn a friend before visiting a very dirty house?

471 replies

SomeBastardHasSquashedAFrog · 15/05/2026 14:19

I have a friend who I get on well with, after knowing her a few months she invited me around for a coffee adding “just excuse the mess”. I don’t usually care about people’s houses as I’m not house proud myself.

Anyway, it was bad, only saw hallway and living room at this point but the carpets looked like they had a full inch layer of pet hair imbedded into them, the sofas were all ripped and stained with mucky blankets thrown all over them and there was an awful smell. Funnily enough no actual rubbish or dirty pots anywhere in here though. Friend told me to sit down whilst she made coffee 😬 The sofa featured a huge Rottweiler laid right across it sleeping, I looked at dog then at friend and she said “just shove him out of the way” errr no 😂 so I joined her in the kitchen.

Well Jesus this is where it goes from bad to TV program content, there was stuff everywhere - open food, packets and wrappers all over, piles of dirty pots, dog food all over the floor (meat, not biscuits) and the smell was now eyewatering. Long story short she’d decided to use the little pantry room as a giant cat litter tray, when she opened the door the smell literally knocked me back which I’ve NEVER experienced before.

I was desperate for toilet and it was over an hours drive home so I thought I’d risk it there … you could barely get in the bathroom - the bath itself was stacked high with crap, stuff all over the floor, shit stains all over the toilet including the seat. I left it and came out the room to her stood there telling me to go and see the new curtains she had in her bedroom - well fuck me the upstairs of the house was much worse than the ground floor - there was rubbish EVERYWHERE, literal dog and cat shit on the carpets in various areas, stains all over the beds, empty coke cans and takeaway wrappers on her bed … honestly I’ve never seen anything like it.

Now, my AIBU … mutual friend has never been and we’ve been invited over this weekend. She is much more straight talking than me and is likely to tell her straight that it’s a disgrace. Do I
a) warn mutual friend before hand what to expect and to not mention it?
b) suggest to inviting friend gently that she might want to tidy up a bit before weekend - maybe offer to help but this sounds so bloody cheeky to me
or c) YABU - let nature take its course.

You would NEVER guess from meeting friend that she lives like this, she’s very well spoken and honestly I thought she was posh!

OP posts:
GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 15/05/2026 17:07

Poor animals. You’re a better woman than me OP I would have wee’ed in a bush before braving that bathroom. Does she take alright care of herself? Does she smell? Normally stinky house = stinky person in my experience.

MimiGC · 15/05/2026 17:07

PeoniesAreMyFavouriteFlowers · 15/05/2026 15:41

Cat and dog shit on the floor? Really? With kids in the house?

When I was a trainee social worker (many moons ago) I visited a woman with young children, including a crawling baby, who literally had cat and dog shit all over the floors. I was horrified and reported it to my supervisor, who told me to tell the health visitor. The HV said she already knew! My placement ended soon after, so I don’t know what happened.

FeliciaFancybottom · 15/05/2026 17:06

ThisHeartyQuoter · 15/05/2026 17:00

It can't remain like this though. If ever let my house get like this I would hope someone would make an issue of it and tell me to pay someone to sort it

It definitely needs cleaning up, but it needs specialist cleaners with proper gear. Going in and picking up animal shit and other crap isn't something her friends should be doing.
She also needs to be willing to keep on top of it once it's clean and I'm not convinced she's all that bothered.

Perfect28 · 15/05/2026 17:05

I wouldn't go back and I would warn friend

ThisHeartyQuoter · 15/05/2026 17:03

JLou08 · 15/05/2026 17:01

Social services are for people who have disabilities. You say her mental health is fine, so unless there is another disability not mentioned they wouldn't get involved anyway.
I couldn't go back to her house. I'd suggest meeting elsewhere. I'd tell her I'm not keen on pet hair and faeces so wouldn't be comfortable there. Telling her the truth is probably the kindest thing in the long run.

This is not true. Social work and social services are not just for those with disabilities

JLou08 · 15/05/2026 17:01

SomeBastardHasSquashedAFrog · 15/05/2026 14:31

No kids thankfully.

I actually really like this friend and I’m trying not to let the house change my opinion of her and it hasn’t really … I’m just more concerned than anything. Mentally she seems fine, holds down a good job etc but I know mental health issues can be difficult to spot. Without giving too much away, reporting her to adult SS would likely have far more implications than normal in this case.

Social services are for people who have disabilities. You say her mental health is fine, so unless there is another disability not mentioned they wouldn't get involved anyway.
I couldn't go back to her house. I'd suggest meeting elsewhere. I'd tell her I'm not keen on pet hair and faeces so wouldn't be comfortable there. Telling her the truth is probably the kindest thing in the long run.

Error404FucksNotFound · 15/05/2026 17:00

I would do my utmost to persuade friend to meet up at a cafe or something but if I couldn't, I would not let someone else walk into that house unprepared.

ThisHeartyQuoter · 15/05/2026 17:00

FeliciaFancybottom · 15/05/2026 16:56

Do not offer to help her clean up, you'll be on a hiding to nothing. People who let their houses get into this state are way beyond a couple of friends going round with some rubber gloves and a bottle of Cif.

It can't remain like this though. If ever let my house get like this I would hope someone would make an issue of it and tell me to pay someone to sort it

ThisHeartyQuoter · 15/05/2026 16:58

PropertyD · 15/05/2026 16:56

Not everything is down to MH. She might just be very lazy and to her her precious time won’t be spent cleaning.

Now it has got this bad it becomes the norm.

This sounds like more than very lazy. She's living in utter filth. This is a huge red flag

FeliciaFancybottom · 15/05/2026 16:56

Do not offer to help her clean up, you'll be on a hiding to nothing. People who let their houses get into this state are way beyond a couple of friends going round with some rubber gloves and a bottle of Cif.

PropertyD · 15/05/2026 16:56

Not everything is down to MH. She might just be very lazy and to her her precious time won’t be spent cleaning.

Now it has got this bad it becomes the norm.

Coconutter24 · 15/05/2026 16:56

Babybirdmum · 15/05/2026 14:24

And your friend is mentally unwell if she lives like that I’m afraid. She needs a referral to social services for self neglect. Whether you do that anonymously but she might know it was you so you may not want to risk it.

Sometimes people are just scruffy

Topsy44 · 15/05/2026 16:54

Does she live alone?

Has she just got used to living this way and doesn’t realise the mess/smells are as bad as they are? Do you think if she came round to your houses then she might twig things have got out of hand at her house?!

I think I would just suggest as a pp says to go out to a new bar/cafe instead and mention it to other friend that hasn’t seen the house the reason why. I imagine if you keep turning down house visits, the friend with the dirty house may get the message!!!

loislovesstewie · 15/05/2026 16:52

On a practical note, if dogs/cats are urinating and defecating on the floor then eventually the floor is likely to be damaged.
So go careful if you do visit.

SqueakyFromme · 15/05/2026 16:51

Poor little cat

Theonebutnotonly · 15/05/2026 16:51

I would warn the friend you’re going to go with, and discuss with her the best thing to do. If you’re both willing, perhaps she’d agree to you both saying "Jane, we're concerned that things must have got on top of you. It’s really not healthy for you to live like this. Can we help you clean the place up a bit?" Then make an appointment to go back another day with cleaning stuff and Marigolds for you all.

She must care enough to keep herself and her clothes clean, or you would have noticed before.

momtoboys · 15/05/2026 16:50

C

deeahgwitch · 15/05/2026 16:49

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/05/2026 14:24

I would not go back to that house.

I wouldn’t either.

Noshadelamp · 15/05/2026 16:49

You would NEVER guess from meeting friend that she lives like this, she’s very well spoken and honestly I thought she was posh! @SomeBastardHasSquashedAFrog

Not sure what posh means to you but someone living like this has serious mental health issues, which can happen to anyone, even posh people.

CmonBobby · 15/05/2026 16:47

I’m quite squeamish about home hygiene and would want the heads up so I could cancel.

Iamstardust · 15/05/2026 16:46

I would warn the friend and I would have nothing further to do with the one who lives in abject filth & squalor.

ThatMintMember · 15/05/2026 16:44

Don't let your friend go without warning her first. I'd be freaking out at animal poo on the carpet if it was me, I'd want to know beforehand so I could decide whether to go.

Why don't you just offer to host?

KilkennyCats · 15/05/2026 16:40

SorryWeAreClosed · 15/05/2026 16:08

Op I couldn't sit in a house like that but I certainly wouldn't warn your other friend. If she's blunt it will bring the issue to the surface.
I would arrange to meet in a coffee shop or have her come to your home instead.

If you are in a position to roll your sleeves up and help I would go for a walk or drive so you're side to side and there's less intensity and have a gentle conversation about how she feels about her home and whether she would like any help. If you're not in a position to help then there's not much point to bringing it up and that's fine too.

Surely it’s not for op to go in as Mrs Mop and clean that disgusting mess?
Why would anyone actually assume she should help?

MyMonthlyNameChange · 15/05/2026 16:39

I don't know why you are colluding in the pretence that the house isn't absolutely disgusting, or why you'd try and co-opt another person to collude in it too.

It's not gossipy or unkind to simply describe reality.

|f it hurts her feelings, maybe she could try not living in filth and expecting others not to notice or mind.

notatinydancer · 15/05/2026 16:37

BMW58 · 15/05/2026 15:57

"Manners" is one thing.

It is not bad manners to ask a close friend what is happening for her to be living in such a state, and what help can I give to make it better!

Turning a blind eye to such an obvious, awful problem is neither kind nor polite.

Good Friends tell you what others don't.

It’s the way you say it though.

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