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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ask people not to poop in new under stairs cloakroom?

488 replies

keepswimming38 · 17/05/2026 20:46

We are just having a new cloakroom installed downstairs. AIBU to put a sign up saying ‘no poo loo’ or ‘if you plan to do a poo do it in the upstairs loo’?

My DH thinks it’s not reasonable. I just down like the idea of people doing a poop in there and then the macerator having to … anyway AIBU?

OP posts:
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5
FlatErica · 18/05/2026 18:30

Is the OP Val Denton?

White for hands. BROWN for feet. GREEN for torso, thighs and seat. And in the cupboard 'neath the stairs you'll find the RED for pubic hair!

itgetsthehoseagain · 18/05/2026 18:28

Will you expect a friend who has come around for dinner to journey upstairs to the accompanying awkwardness of everybody knowing they're going for a poo?

Cranarc · 18/05/2026 18:28

I haven't read the whole thread but surely the answer (if you are truly worried the macerator cannot cope) is to have a rule that family poo upstairs unless absolutely necessary and you do not even tell visitors you have a downstairs loo. If they ask where to go, direct them upstairs.

Eschra · 18/05/2026 18:23

keepswimming38 · 17/05/2026 20:50

Because it’s not a macerator.

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Then why did you bother installing a downstairs loo and cutting corners by putting either a loo without, somewhere that wouldn't work in the normal system without the macerator (cause even most understairs loo don't even need them) or if it in a basement or too far from your normal gravity fed system why would you cut corners (most plumbers refuse to install them where there are guaranteed issues).

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 18/05/2026 18:19

I think YABU, although if you haven't had a macerator for a while it's kind of understandable. One of my favourite cafés has a toilet with a macerator and there are signs up saying you can't put STs, nappies etc in it, but nothing about poo and I have pood in there many times without anything embarrassing happening.

Besides, when you need to poo, you need to poo. I think it would be unusual, to say the least, to insist that a visitor who would not be going upstairs for any other reason had to go upstairs for a poo when there's a perfectly good downstairs toilet available.

ParmaVioletTea · 18/05/2026 18:15

How twee.

ccccccccc · 18/05/2026 18:10

Pooing in a loo with a macerator is much better than one without, far less likely to get bunged up.

CosyDenimShark · 18/05/2026 18:10

KilkennyCats · 18/05/2026 16:26

Why install a toilet there in the first place, if it’s unable to function as a normal toilet?

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Well, for the 2 downstairs bedrooms to be able to go for a wee in the night without traipsing upstairs? Who does a massive shit in the middle of the night?? It's actually very useful!

Calloja23 · 18/05/2026 18:06

That’s horrible. You surely can’t dictate people’s bodily functions. If you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go.!

TeethAreImportant · 18/05/2026 18:01

keepswimming38 · 17/05/2026 20:46

We are just having a new cloakroom installed downstairs. AIBU to put a sign up saying ‘no poo loo’ or ‘if you plan to do a poo do it in the upstairs loo’?

My DH thinks it’s not reasonable. I just down like the idea of people doing a poop in there and then the macerator having to … anyway AIBU?

If you're worried about the macerator not being able to cope, I'd be more worried about tampons sanitary towels, wet wipes, cotton buds, continence pads and all the other things that people still throw down loos that they shouldn't. We went go stay with friends and they warn everybody (humourously) about the potential horrors, so please to use the bin provided if needed. I've not heard of macerator not going able to cope with a poo though. Surely that is what they are designed to deal with?

dcthatsme · 18/05/2026 18:00

Don't think you can micromanage people's bowel movements :-)

ScotchBonnet74 · 18/05/2026 17:52

LostThestral · 18/05/2026 14:56

our downstairs loo is number 1 only. NO 2 is for upstairs,. It's between the open plan kitchen & living room & that's not something I want to smell

How are guests expected to know this though? Most people (I hope) do not plan on having a poo when they are in someone else's house, but sometimes needs must. Either through illness or old age. I was reading the other day how up to 25% of women suffer some sort of bowel incontinence after childbirth. Maybe this is mostly in other countries, but even so, come on? If you don't want a guest pooing in your downstairs 'lav' just tell them you are only using it for the sink as the toilet isn't working properly, and would they use the upstairs one. And get a grip. Hope you don't ever suffer from bowel incontinence yourself.

DetectiveDouche · 18/05/2026 17:52

Nobody should poo in the coat cupboard to be fair 🤣

grumpygrape · 18/05/2026 17:45

keepswimming38 · 17/05/2026 20:46

We are just having a new cloakroom installed downstairs. AIBU to put a sign up saying ‘no poo loo’ or ‘if you plan to do a poo do it in the upstairs loo’?

My DH thinks it’s not reasonable. I just down like the idea of people doing a poop in there and then the macerator having to … anyway AIBU?

If you have bought a macerator which can’t macerate faeces, shit, poo, whatever you want to call it then it’s not fit for purpose. Macerators are designed to macerate – the clue is in the name.

If you are concerned about the smell, then you need to make sure the extractor fan works properly (you do have a fan don’t you?) and if you are concerned about people putting the wrong things down the loo then maybe you need a notice.

We had a macerator loo used by B&B guests and never had any problems.

Teenyweenypornstarmartini · 18/05/2026 17:43

I have this rule in my house. No sign I just tell people, no. 2’s upstairs. No one has ever complained. I thought this was normal, but looking at the responses I guess not 😂

momtoboys · 18/05/2026 17:30

ToKittyornottoKitty · 17/05/2026 20:54

And when she needs to poo in the afternoon?

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THAT is not allowed. She better get her poop schedule straight.

KilkennyCats · 18/05/2026 17:28

TheSassyPinkJoker · 18/05/2026 17:26

Who would go in someone's house and leave a smell.

Well, op’s own daughter isn’t allowed to use it either, and she lives there.

TheSassyPinkJoker · 18/05/2026 17:26

Who would go in someone's house and leave a smell.

maxslice · 18/05/2026 17:24

Can’t you just put a lock on the outside of the door? But it seems odd to build an expensive loo with no intention of it being used.

loislovesstewie · 18/05/2026 17:23

KilkennyCats · 18/05/2026 17:00

Really? What do you think that proves?!

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It proves that some people do that, that's all.

outdooryone · 18/05/2026 17:01

Why should you never trust a macerator loo?
They are just full of sh*t...

KilkennyCats · 18/05/2026 17:00

loislovesstewie · 18/05/2026 16:30

I admit quite freely that I empty my bowels immediately after the first coffee of the day. Then I shower. I've been doing that all my adult life.

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Really? What do you think that proves?!

BotterMon · 18/05/2026 16:44

I be more concerned with some idiot putting something in which will block the macerator. Too much loo paper, a tampon or worse. Make sure you have a really good bin and compositable bags for any sanitary towels!

Miyagi99 · 18/05/2026 16:36

keepswimming38 · 17/05/2026 20:50

Because it’s not a macerator.

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Why does that matter?

StarlightLady · 18/05/2026 16:34

Fizbosshoes · 18/05/2026 15:16

Just when I think im.up to date with things MN finds vile, grim, repulsive and disgusting there are more things to add to the list! 😄
Off the top off my head : baths, washing up bowls, washing up pet bowls, toilet brushes, ensuite bathrooms, wearing any clothes more than once, using a towel more than once, only having one shower a day, eating homemade food, M and S bakery, owning a bin, pooing in a downstairs toilet, any man using a toilet in your house....

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You forgot that MN rules state you must wear knickers that come up to your waist 😀.

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