Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To ask workmen to use only one of our 4 bathrooms?

70 replies

Jess222 · 04/12/2013 10:37

Hi. I really don't know if I should ask this, so would appreciate some advice! We have 3 carpenters in our house for 4 days next week, doing lots of work around the house.

We have 4 bathrooms. From what I can see the choice is either (1) Ask them to stick to using just one bathroom, even if it mean they have to e.g. come from upstairs to use the downstairs loo; or (2) Clean up potentially all 4 bathrooms, and yes I have had to so this in the past after we had workmen in who decided to use whichever bathroom was nearest - and one of the bathrooms was left in a disgusting state.

I don't want to seem like a mad woman (although I know I probably am!) But I hate having to clean up toilets after people, especially men, who don't leave them as clean as they found them.

OP posts:

MrsCakesPremonition · 05/12/2013 15:07

If you didn't have the workmen in, would you still be cleaning all 4 bathrooms? Are family members and non-working visitors allowed access to all 4 bathrooms?

I'm trying to understand how the workmen are going to add to your workload when you presumably clean all the bathrooms any way.

Are workmen dirtier than other people? Is it covered in their apprenticeships?

ElsieMc · 05/12/2013 15:07

I would just say that the loo is here, pointing to the one you want them to use. They are not going to search round your house for another.

Don't be shy, it's your home not theirs. I used to try not to make a fuss until a carpet fitter blocked my downstairs loo with a huge poo and said nothing leaving me to find it when he left.

BlancheDubious · 05/12/2013 15:15

Hester I believe so. I'm not regular as clockwork myself, but well done you for being so! It's not really a case of being 'stricken' if he can hold it til he gets home.

Once again, congratulations!

HesterShaw · 05/12/2013 15:23

landrover · 05/12/2013 15:23

Most workmen/builders that we have used have not asked to use the toilet unless desperate!
(Apparently it is the norm for builders to have a bucket in a discrete place outside which they use, then empty later!!! I don't know which is worse!). I imagine having the use of any inside toilet is unusual for them so they will be more than happy to just use the downstairs! Don't worry at all. xx

Icelollycraving · 05/12/2013 15:34

mrscakes no,they leave it covered with apprenticeshits :o

landrover · 05/12/2013 15:36

In any case, the thought of sitting on a toilet seat only to realise its still warm from a workman's bottom!!!!!!!!!!! Yeuch!!!!

2Tinsellytocare · 05/12/2013 16:24

They might bring The Sun into your house and read it on the lag and then you'd just have to move

Feminine · 05/12/2013 16:32

op you need to get a grip on reality.

If you have 4 toilets ....you are indeed a blessed woman.

You are blessed to be able to afford carpenters to work in your home.

Go get some bleach!

DziezkoDisco · 05/12/2013 16:37

I would love a carpenter. Just the word makes me a bit woozy.

indignatio · 05/12/2013 16:40

Have you read "the help"?

allmycats · 05/12/2013 16:52

why don't you let them shit in the garden, then it can lie with the cat shit that MN is obsessed with

seriously - show them the one you want them to use.

loveandsmiles · 05/12/2013 16:53

YANBU!

I too have 4 bathrooms and wouldn't like workmen using any of them which I know is VU.

I never let my DH or DC in my bathroom, cos of course, my poos are like perfume, unlike their mess

Bad enough cleaning up after your own family but can't stomach cleaning strangers wee and poo from toilet.......guess that's why we never have workmen in. I would love to have a portaloo at bottom of garden for DH.........

HesterShaw · 05/12/2013 17:06

I'm perplexed by MNers' assertions that poo-ers other than themselves always make a mess. Do their toilets not have water in them? Or do these people miss the pan altogether? Do they then decorate the room with loo roll before flooding the place with open taps?

Gryffindor · 05/12/2013 17:45

Builders here use the toilet SO MUCH - along with over a roll of toilet paper a day between just 3 of them.

Today, one of them broke my shower (how the fuck - no idea), and although they will replace it, I can't have a proper shower until next week.

I would have no hesitation in asking them to use a cloakroom toilet if I had one.

Oh, and they also used my Chanel perfume to cover up their poo smell - sprayed it so liberally the perfume could be smelled all over the house hours later.

expatinscotland · 05/12/2013 17:54

Tell them to to wipe up their piss and don't leave skidmarks! That is rude!

whois · 05/12/2013 17:57

I think it's absolutely fine.
When the come on the first day, you show them the guest toilet downstairs, and say here's the bathroom for when you need it, please use this one rather than the others in the house. Thanks.
Easy.

Merguez · 05/12/2013 18:01

A lot of unnecessary bitching on this thread.

OP - it is your house and it is absolutely fine to ask your builders to stick to just one toilet or bathroom. They will be used to working in other people's houses and I am sure they will be fine with that. Your house, your rules, no reason needs to be given.

Oh - and we have 4 toilets too and our house is very far from being posh.

Merguez · 05/12/2013 18:02

Exactly what whois says

bellasuewow · 05/12/2013 18:57

Completely reasonable to ask them to use just one and they will be fine with it. By the way I love your post it is so wonderfully first world.

Flip

1 2 3