To wonder why people can't keep their houses in a basic state of cleanliness?

[HarderToKidnap]

Disabilities aside, why can't people keep their homes basically clean?

I work part time, have a messy dog, a demanding toddler, am extremely lazy but my house always looks OK. You couldn't eat your tea off the top of the door frames but the kitchen surfaces are clean, floors hoovered, sofas plumped and inviting, toilet free of poo crumbs. It's easy and doesn't take long. So WHY do I go round to so many of my friend's houses and see they live in complete pits? Gritty nasty sofas that are horrible to sit on, filthy kitchens, poo smears and crumbs all over toilet, minging hand towels, floors covered in bits. IT IS NOT HARD to do the basics. I've just done a house once over and it's taken 45 minutes.

I understand not wanting to spend all day dusting your books or whatever but when people are coming over why wouldn't you want them to feel clean and comfy in your house? I'm not talking about people that physically can't do it because of illness or disability, but the rest of you? WHY??!!!

[SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious]

Fur coat and no knickers I see this said on here but I actually have no idea what it means. It just sounds funny

[aturtlenamedmack]

Well done!
Serious question - what is your toddler doing while you clean? Because mine is following me round the house and leaving a trail of destruction. restrictions I've finished I have to start again

[HarderToKidnap]

If I can walk around in my socks without getting a footful of grit, sit happily on sofa, have a wee without someone's poo smears going on my bum and confidently accept a cup of tea knowing its not from a mouldy cup then I am happy and non judgemental. If any of the above cannot be met, then I just don't understand.

[Fuzzysnout]

Why do all your friends have crumbly poo? That would concern me more. You need some naicer friends.

at kaosak. Hope she doesn't have crumbly poo!

We'll all pop round to yours OP.

[Thurlow]

Because they don't care?

My floor needs hoovering a hell of a lot more regularly than it gets. With two parents working f/t and a toddler, most of the time we're too knackered at the end of the day to do it. No one is crawling on the floor anymore, so.... meh.

[PresidentServalan]

OP - you are obviously a complete superstar whilst all of your friends are scummy

Do your friends realise that you are judging their homes when you go there. I am guessing not. You do know that you sound unbearably smug, don't you?

[EmeraldJeanie]

So I am flustered, flappy and a scruffy, dirty sod.
Mmm- suppose if the cap fits..
Never mind...

[SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious]

have a wee without someone's poo smears going on my bum you do know you aren't meant to sit in the toilet bowl dont you?

[ArbitraryUsername]

I have never in my life plumped a cushion, and I'm not about to start now.

[Tee2072]

If I didn't do it, it would because I don't give a flying fuck what you or any other judgemental fucker thinks about my house. As it is my house is untidy but clean enough.

Do your friends know you're such a cow? Perhaps you should tell them you think they are pigs and you can't be friends any more.

[Twitterqueen]

Because I'm a single mother with 3 DDs and a dog and I work full time and quite frankly, life is too short for me to spend it worrying about whether or not I meet your cleanliness standards.

I clean my house when I feel like it. Mostly I don't. because I prefer a good walk, a glass of wine and talking to my DDs.

[Nancy66]

There are lots of people for whom it just isn't a big deal.

I'm always amazed to go to someone's house and they've made no effort at all to tidy it up for guests - but, equally, I am quite envious of people that can do this.

I will always hoover and tidy before anybody visits.

[givemeaboost]

YABU, lots of people work/have multiple commitments/lack of time/ lack of enthusiasm (ie for me caused by when the kids undo your hard work in 20mins flat) and as others have said once it gets to a certain point it seems overwhelming.

[Tee2072]

Actually, AU, I am not even sure how to plump a cushion.

[SilverApples]

Fur coat and no knickers is an expression my Scottish father uses to describe those who look fab on the outside but it's a sham.
Often used to describe the residents of Edinburgh by others.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Judgey?! Much? And yes, YABU.

What's acceptable to one person is different to what another is happy with - nothing wrong with that.

I'm assuming that when you visit your friends you manage to keep your opinions to yourself?

I've cleaned both bathrooms, the kitchen and hoovered downstairs so far today. I'm no domestic goddess but it's taken me far longer than your 45 minutes and I haven't done upstairs yet or mopped the downstairs floors, cleaned any windows, mirrors etc.

Pass your gold medal over, you'd be doing well to get a bronze

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

I have been cleaning since 10.00 this morning and I've only JUST finished the lower floor. I have to hoover the stairs, clean the bathroom, hoover the bedrooms (four of them) and hoover the office....I also have to tidy the deck as DH has left his tools out and their is wood dust all over it.

In 45 mins you can't have cleaned, hoovered and tidied an entire house! I have cleaned the French windows too...

[TooTabooToBoo]

If you come to my house during the day, you would think I couldn't give a crap - it's untidy and messy.

Come at 8pm after the children are in bed, I've cleaned and put the laundry away (and have my Camomile Yankee candle burning) and it looks like a show house.

Unfortunately, nobody but me sees it like this.

I do not have poo crumbs though - that is just disgusting!

[HarderToKidnap]

Yes, it's only been given a show clean today. I.e. poo pick in garden, toilet and sink cleaners, kitchen surfaces cleaned and everywhere hoovered. My toddler is asleep so I've been uninterrupted. When I clean when he is awake he helps by emptying all the drawers, rubbing his hands on the glass wardrobes and eating stray dog hairs.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

SP it means all show and no substance, trying desperately to be something you're not (or, as in the OP,s case, not realising you're not ie boasting about how little time housework takes, when it shows she's not cleaning properly).

[pianodoodle]

Dirt and mess make me anxious - I am a bit of a clean freak and keep the house accordingly.

But... I don't really care how others keep their houses as long as mine is the way I like it :)

[Scholes34]

When my house has been tidied, the DCs always ask "Is someone coming round?"

[SPsTotallyMullerFuckingLicious]

scholes

[SoonToBeSix]

So op you only work part time and have just one child ........

[lainiekazan]

I am very, very untidy and my house is... lived in.

But - YANU for judging people with dirty bathrooms/loos.

If I only do one thing (and often I only do one thing) it's making sure the loos are clean.

And if you actually invite people over - are you proud of a damp, grubby handtowel and an unspeakable toilet bowl?