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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To clean out friend's fridge?

108 replies

TooManyJars · 30/04/2016 21:16

House/cat-sitting for friends for a couple of weeks while they are on holiday and we are between houses. WIBU to clean their rather grimy fridge and throw away some of the multitude of out of date jars? Found a few from 2013!

OP posts:
Wagglebees · 30/04/2016 22:29

Toomany Grin I'll come and help. I have my bin bags ready.

LoopyNuts · 30/04/2016 22:30

Sorry just realise you're house sitting and not just feeding the cat. Yes, you could probably get away with the fridge but I'd probably leave the oven. And they're tshirts, underwear, unloved books and ornaments etc Wink

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 30/04/2016 22:31

Clean clean clean but don't chuck !

Originalfoogirl · 30/04/2016 22:36

I'd do it. I'd either give the excuse I was bored, or I spilled something 😄

newmumwithquestions · 30/04/2016 22:38

What's Konmari?

CorBlimeyTrousers · 30/04/2016 22:38

Even Kon Mari says don't throw away other people's stuff!

If someone went through my fridge in judgement and threw out of date jars away I'd be (a) mortified and (b) annoyed at their eagerness to poke around and find me wanting.

I think the suggestion above to throw away liquid cucumber but leave condiments is sound.

AlpacaLypse · 30/04/2016 22:43

Ummmm I'm torn. I have a couple of things in the fridge that are well past sell by, most of which are high preservative stuff - like mustard! There's a reason our medieval ancestors used vast amounts of salt and spices (like mustard and pepper) to preserve food - because it works.

Having said, last time I house sat for anyone (2014) I spent a very merry evening binning stuff that had sell by dates back in the 1990's.... But I knew her well enough to know she would find it funny when I told her. And I was right Smile

Fourarmsv2 · 30/04/2016 22:54

I babysat for a few nights for a friend once whilst their child was in hospital. Scrubbed the kitchen & bathroom to within an inch of their lives. Was worrying so it gave me something to do. I got a massive bunch of flowers in return so I hope I didn't offend.

Wagglebees · 01/05/2016 00:56

I think that's different Four. I'd be grateful for that.

BillBrysonsBeard · 01/05/2016 01:35

Haha! I would be a) really happy I have a clean fridge with no effort and be very grateful
B) feel embarrassed and slightly offended, but mostly annoyed at myself for it getting so bad that someone notices

So no help at all! Wink Actually I would just leave it apart from clearing a small part for yourself. Safer..

BarbaraofSeville · 01/05/2016 07:32

YABU. I would be very annoyed if you did this to me, especially more so if you bought replacements.

BBE dates are often ridiculously conservative and there's probably nothing wrong with the jars from 2014. I've just finished off a bottle of ketchup with a BBE date of something like August 2013 and it was fine. I took about 8 years to finish off a bottle of Baileys, again totally fine.

The company just wants you to waste as much as possible and buy more of their product. Don't be a sheep and fall for it.

mrssmith79 · 01/05/2016 07:56

Just do it - if they ask say that you put an opened carton of OJ in there and it leaked everywhere overnight.
Same with the oven - you put a pizza straight onto the wire shelf and it collapsed Wink

AuldYow · 01/05/2016 08:15

Text/ring her and say you're bored/clearly bonkers so does she mind you tackling a few jobs, cleaning fridge, oven etc

When you're done would you like to come round to mine? Fridge is spotless but the oven is pretty bad!

fishybits · 01/05/2016 08:20

Noooooo, the cleaners did that to us once when we were away, chucked out loads of jars some of which were re-used for jams and chutneys so had ancient best before dates but were actually fine.

Clean it if you must but don't throw anything out.

Birdsgottafly · 01/05/2016 08:33

""What's KonMari?""

It's a method (developed by Marie Kondo) of decluttering and living with stuff, that's essential or brings you joy. It also involves food being in date, things being clean and organised etc.

It teaches about the reasons why we gather/keep stuff and how it's linked to our emotions.

You can clean other people's stuff/home, but not throw anything out.

imissjukeboxes · 01/05/2016 08:56

How do you know they haven't reused jars from 2013 to put new stuff in?

Moonax · 01/05/2016 08:59

I hate it with a burning passion when my MiL does this. Don't mind things which are clearly gone (i.e. melting salad bags) being chucked but would really NOT appreciate anyone removing my jars. I wouldn't accept "oh I ate it all either" - in my heart I'd know it meant "you filthy cow"!

Misnomer · 01/05/2016 09:08

Definitely do not throw the jars out. As mentioned above, things can have a much longer shelf life than the best before date would lead you to believe, particularly preserves. Plus they could have reused the jars so the contents may be much newer. I think wiping the fridge down would probably be ok. If you know them well then it may be easier to figure out if they would be offended/embarrassed.

Sparkles07 · 03/05/2016 16:34

Oops, I did this for a friend recently when checking in on her house when on holiday! I hope we're close enough that she didn't think iabu

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 03/05/2016 16:38

I'm willing to offer up my own kitchen if you're bored and that's your thing.

Pinkheart5915 · 03/05/2016 16:39

Not unreasonable, go for it.
I'd live my brother to clean when he house sits for me

CuntyMcCuntface · 03/05/2016 16:40

My friend gets the Hoover out when she comes round to mine. She can't sit still. She's stopped asking me if I mind so I let her get on with it. I'll be making dinner or getting ready while she's hoovering, not sitting there lifting my feet so she can vacuum under them Grin

To be clear I do Hoover my house.

Cath40t · 03/05/2016 16:46

My mum does this to all her friendsno wonder she doesn't have many
Does their laundry, dishes, you name it.
She comes to our house for a few days a month to help out drive me nuts with incessant cleaning, makes mine and husbands bed. Jammies under the pillow, the lot. I'm 45.
I would be annoyed if someone did that to me but would smile politely and thank them and never have them house sit again after all they are only helping not judging me.

PuntCuffin · 03/05/2016 16:55

It would leave me wondering what else you had felt the urge to rifle through and sort out. Where's the line? Wardrobe, knicker drawer, filing cabinet, kid's toys?

As others have said, as long as it isn't mouldy, leave it alone. Best before and use by have different meanings and even use by should be open to interpretation by a capable adult who can see, smell and taste if a food is edible or not.

jensner · 03/05/2016 16:56

A friend's MIL used to have their house key and when they were on holiday, took it upon herself to deep clean their house. But, she threw out spice jars that were old, not realising that my friend had been refilling old jars with refill packs so the actual herbs and spices were new.

Friend wasn't best pleased and has seen taken back the spare key.