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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect guests to use the downstairs GUEST toilet

124 replies

bubbawubba · 19/03/2014 19:06

And not the upstairs one? It really narks me. I have a 3 yo ds and whenever we have friends over, invariably, the upstairs toilet gets used by someone when there is a perfectly functioning one downstairs. I just don't understand it. Even when I've requested that people use the downstairs one the upstairs one gets used. The upstairs bathroom is carpeted because we haven't got round to tiling it yet (lack of funds) and I'm sick of cleaning piss off the carpet when someone can't get their child to aim properly. Angry

OP posts:
littlebluedog12 · 19/03/2014 20:42

We just moved to a house with an outside toilet, complete with spider webs and everything! Now considering re-naming it the guest toilet...

Sparklingbrook · 19/03/2014 20:42

Oh yes LBE. We have quite creaky floorboards upstairs. People go up for a wee (fair enough-we don't have a downstairs loo) and you can hear the floorboards creaking in the bedrooms. Angry

The same people that go through your medicine cabinet.

Someone (family member) came round once and I caught them looking in our freezer. Confused They said they were thinking of buying the same one. Nosy bugger.

Hassled · 19/03/2014 20:43

I actively encourage guests to go upstairs because our bathroom is really quite nice, whereas the downstairs loo looks like it should be used for cottaging purposes only. It's truly mank and a constant source of embarrassment. Also it's sufficiently close to the kitchen that I can hear every trickle - I'd much rather guests went far far away.

Bandwagonesque · 19/03/2014 20:43

What sort of people do you invite to your houses? There are a lot of seemingly nosey people out there, I agree with LadyBeagleEyes...

diddl · 19/03/2014 20:46

The downstairs loo is always called the guest toilet here(Germany).

Why would anyone want to traipse upstairs when they can pop across the hall?

SayMyNameSayIt · 19/03/2014 20:48

I don't like people using my upstairs loo when there is a perfectly good one downstairs. Thankfully, the upstairs one doesn't flush very well so I can legitimately tell people not to use it haha!

I also feel like putting a sign in both bathrooms, and my en-suite as well so this would be aimed at DH;
Please open the fecking window if you're going to stink the place out!!!!!

Rant over ;-)
(I automatically open the bathroom windows when I go in, regardless!)

CorusKate · 19/03/2014 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ilovexmastime · 19/03/2014 20:49

I think yabu, just stick a pee mat down for the time being and voila, no more cleaning piss off the carpet.

I'm really surprised by how many people have this issue, it didn't even occur to me before reading this thread that people might have a preference over which toilet I use in their house. If I use the upstairs one, I can assure you that it's not so that I can have a nose around, it's just that I'm used to toilets being upstairs and so automatic pilot takes me up there.

TheGreatHunt · 19/03/2014 20:53

How do they know it is upstairs? You must have told them at some point.

RiverTam · 19/03/2014 20:57

well, I wouldn't know that the downstairs loo is the guest toilet, never heard one referred to as such. But mainly YABU in having a carpeted bathroom, yeuch. And I speak as someone who's pretty slovenly about housework and cleanliness.

Tigerstripes · 19/03/2014 20:57

I hate downstairs toilets; they are generally small and I feel a bit claustrophobic. So I go upstairs. Didn't realise people were secretly grinding their teeth at me!

TheBigBumTheory · 19/03/2014 20:58

Our guest toilet is in the guest room ensuite upstairs. My mum will only use that loo, I think she doesn't want to share germs with my brood.

Our house is riddled with bathrooms, it used to be a B and B Grin

DramaAlpaca · 19/03/2014 21:05

I don't think YABU at all.

I'd expect all guests to use the downstairs loo & would honestly think it a bit rude if they went upstairs. If we have friends over, they are entertained downstairs and there is no reason for them to go upstairs. I suppose I think of upstairs as a private, family space that is often too messy for visitors and if someone went upstairs I'd assume they wanted to nose around Grin

The teenagers have a room downstairs to entertain their friends, so they don't socialise in their bedrooms. Their friends all use the downstairs loo as well. If they did take friends upstairs, of course I wouldn't object to them using the bathroom up there teenagers don't notice mess

The exception to all the above would be overnight guests, who would of course be welcome to use the upstairs bathroom.

PickFlowersNotFights · 19/03/2014 21:11

Our house is 'upside down' and you come in on a level between the two (outs self), so I'm not sure which is 'upstairs' or 'downstairs' and/or 'guest. Confused

slithytove · 19/03/2014 21:24

I don't like it when tradesmen use my loo Blush

We have three loos. Downstairs for everyone, the family bathroom which is MINE and also for guests, and the ensuite which is DH's.

I'm not looking forward to the day that my bathroom has to be turned into a family bathroom again. It's currently pink and has lots of lovely candles and baskets of bath bombs etc and it's very much a girly powder room.

So when Anglian windows come and install double glazing, and come in reeking of fags and then pee all over my lovely bathroom and probably don't wash their hands leaving some very ripe smells, it makes me sad.

slithytove · 19/03/2014 21:25

to specify. My bathroom is also for overnight* guests. Not just any guests.

Dollydowser · 19/03/2014 21:26

Sparklingbrook our downstairs toilet is not a very good flusher, apparently its got too many bends in the pipes between it and the drain, so any pooing seems to rest in what I call 'debris' in the bottom of the loo. It takes days of extra flushing to shift it!

Sparklingbrook · 19/03/2014 21:28

Ooh no Dolly. Sad Do you have a little sign 'Number Ones Only'?

raspberryriot · 19/03/2014 21:36

Why on earth would you worry about something so trivial as a toilet? Yes, YABU.

gimcrack · 19/03/2014 21:41

This is a thing? I didn't realise. I go upstairs if I think it's going to be more than a wee or if I need a break due to kids and family being too demanding

justaweeone · 19/03/2014 21:47

My Dsis makes her Dh use the downstairs loo (too have a poo)even though they have an ensuite and a family bathroom upstairs!

EmmaGellerGreen · 19/03/2014 21:48

I really don't care which toilet people use so long as they flush it properly.

CookieDoughKid · 19/03/2014 22:30

Its a toilet right? And that's what they should be used for. I wouldn't mind if guests went upstairs and used my ensuite bathroom. I positively have beautiful interiors to show off hah!

However it is your house so you have every right to stipulate how you want it to be used!

littone · 19/03/2014 22:56

I tend to forget that people have downstairs loos, having never had one, its habit to go upstairs. But I promise I only go in the bathroom and leave it as I found it!

Dollydowser · 19/03/2014 22:58

I've thought about it Sparkling! There is no lock on the downstairs loo, that should serve as deterrent enough!

Once we had a houseful of guests who had stayed the night.In the morning my best friend's husband walked in on my BIL who was sat there reading the Guardian. He said 'sorry mate' before closing the door again. Neither seemed embarrassed about it, I would have bee mortified (but have the privacy of an ensuite to avoid the same thing happening to me!)