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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Silly house rules

372 replies

tabbyH · 20/03/2011 20:37

My husband has just emptied our kitchen bin. Apparently this means that I'm not allowed to put anything in it! Not sure what the time frame is until the bin is allowed to be used again... Does anyone else have any peculiar rules?

OP posts:
LeQueen · 22/03/2011 10:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShatnersBassoon · 22/03/2011 10:31

My mum likes to hang her pans instead of putting them in the cupboard, to save dirtying her cupboards Confused. But the only place she would put hooks for them is in her utility room so they don't clutter the kitchen up, and at a height so they're 'not in the way' which means she can't reach them without a step ladder Grin.

No food is to be kept in her kitchen either. Even the bread bin is put in the utility room, and she carries it back and forth numerous times throughout the day. She's very paranoid about rodents getting into her house after getting a mouse in the dining room about 25 years ago Hmm. Obviously rodents only look in kitchens for food, they would never reckon on a cunning householder putting anything edible in the next room.

TryingVeryHard · 22/03/2011 10:47

I think I'm somwehere in the middle of all this
The reality is that I would llike things to be neater and I would do a lot more tidying/colour and size sorting/cushion plumping etc if I had more time on my hands. But somehow, I'm glad I don't - if that makes any sense? (see what you mean youngvisitor!)

Needanewname · 22/03/2011 11:04

These really are fantastic!

Gracie123 · 22/03/2011 11:10

I pack things on the conveyor belt like it's tetris. I do try to follow the separating dairy/veg/meat etc... rule, but not if it means the packing won't interlock exactly on the belt. Blush

I don't know why I do this.

It used to annoy DH but now he does it too!

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 22/03/2011 11:17

None to add, as I am perfect Grin but these have made my day - hilarious!!!!!!!!!

Hereforlife · 22/03/2011 11:42

Surely some of these are piss takes?

Really? I mean really? Why? Why do these things?
How can you justify it?

I need to live in a house where I can spill.

BooyHoo · 22/03/2011 12:28

oh yes forgot this one.

my wardrobe is arranged in order of colour. black at the left side right through to white at the other end.

BooyHoo · 22/03/2011 12:35

i am moving into my idea of heaven leQ's house Grin

i also stack the supermarket trolley a certain way. gone are the days when a loaf of bread slid off the top of my trolley.

sherbetpips · 22/03/2011 12:48

ha ha - I have my MIL living with us at the moment so I am getting completely freaked out about all sorts of things I never cared about - folding the towels correctly, not having the doors closed (she is a door closer), the right shade of toilet paper (she has a tendancy to buy peach), not having pink rose coloured tissue boxes everywhere in every room, not washing cups (put them in the dishwasher!!!)....
My DH mus think I am going nuts as I was never particularly tidy before she arrived!

stealthsquiggle · 22/03/2011 13:00

You're all nuts (in a (largely) nice way)

I really couldn't care who poos in which toilet. I do have a slight twinge of regret when DH decides to cook bacon and egg when the shiny granite splashback and worksurface have just been cleaned, but not enough to actually stop him.

The only rules in this house (largely ignored, expecially by DH) are that you hang towels up after use (I don't even care where, as long as they are off the floor) and put dirty washing in the basket (not next to it, or wherever you dropped it - and why you would take your socks off in the sitting room I have no idea, but they all do it Hmm)

DOOR - but that is because we live in a cold drafty house.

..and no singing to the table. Obviously.

ceasar04 · 22/03/2011 13:29

Thank you for the pillow sham/case explanation Smile Was bewildered by that!

I used to have very neat, tidy and clean house but since being pg with DD, now 15 weeks old, and having the pg from hell, then coping with 2 DCs under 3 and a DH who works silly hours, I spend too much time online and watching sky+ am far too busy Grin

Although would like to move into LeQ's house please? Am v Envy as I don't even have a linen cupboard.

However I have been inspired by MN and in an effort to mend my slovenly ways I am awaiting my steam mop from Lakeland.....hoping this will spur me onto a spring clean..Hmm

Longtime · 22/03/2011 13:32

This thread is so funny, particularly as I used to do so many of these things! A few habits have remained but most of them have gone because I have become old and lazy and spend far too much time on the internet reading threads about people being tidy Grin!

LeQueen · 22/03/2011 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ceasar04 · 22/03/2011 13:55

LeQ was thinking more of being a guest than actually renting it out Wink

I bet you are a fabulous hostess. Are you Nigella in RL?

And if it was just me and no DH or DC's I would be very tidy.

(Caesar dreams of someone who has towels tied up with ribbon looking after her....sigh...)

SparklyMily · 22/03/2011 13:57

Love this thread

My DM pegs knickers out with 2 pegs, and irons them....I would run out of pegs if I tried to do that for 3xDDs and me, and I would lose the will to live with the ironing!

*I have the loo roll thing
*additional cushions on the sofas laying flat, not at an angle

  • ironed sheets which neat-freak DP thinks is weird, though he is massively tidier than me - they are just so lovely to lie on
sarajane1968 · 22/03/2011 15:10

I am not allowed to leave my shampoo and conditioner out in the bathroom! But then I don't let my partner leave piles of random screws/receipts/widgets in the kitchen. I bin them when he's not looking...

clam · 22/03/2011 15:13

Aw, come on LeQueen. Post a pic of your linen cupboard on your profile? Perleeeeease?

TryingVeryHard · 22/03/2011 15:34

Go on LeQ , please, it may get me to tidy mine up..

Gracie123 · 22/03/2011 15:43

I agree with the shampoo/conditioner thing to an extent. I only allow one bottle of shampoo, one bottle of conditioner and one bottle of shower gel to be visible in the bathroom. That is for the use of guests who may be shy/not know where the cupboard is.

All else is stored in a cupboard under the windowseat.

I also ensure that said products are in colour co-ordinating bottles. This means decanting when someone gifts me something from the 'wrong' product range.

ChippingInMistressSteamMop · 22/03/2011 15:49

Gracie - so are you saying that before you go in the shower you have to get out your shampoo, conditioner & shower gel out of your cupboard under the window seat? Every time? Or have I misunderstood?

I am minimalist - I hate clutter. But as I use my S, C & SG 2x a day I am buggered if they are not going to live in the shower! Only one of each - sometimes 2 shower gels - that's it. Not lots of clutter.

Gracie123 · 22/03/2011 15:53

No no, I use the ones in the shower, and insist everyone else do the same OR get theirs in and out of the cupboard.

If you insist on having your own special man scented showergel then you have to get it out/put it away after you.

Gracie123 · 22/03/2011 15:54

By the way, i don't use really girly scented stuff either. I use generic smells that suit everyone so wending have to have lots of stuff out.

Gracie123 · 22/03/2011 15:55

*we don't

Stupi iphone

Gracie123 · 22/03/2011 15:56

I also only allow one toothpaste etc... By the sink. If you don't like the flavour, suck it up until we next buy and complain then.