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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think workmen should plan their toilet breaks better?

192 replies

rockcake · 23/02/2017 21:56

I don't think I've ever had a workman come to the house who hasn't asked to use the loo. Happens every time.

For the last 10 days I've had neighbours' workmen in and out as it's been helpful to them to have scaffolding built in our garden - they're on the 3rd floor - which is fair enough. They've all been as unobtrusive as possible and not asked to use the loo until two particularly scuzzy men turned up to remove the scaffolding today. No sooner were they through the door than one asked to use the loo, so I grudgingly said ok.... dd told me 5 mins later that someone's not flushed their wee - no guesses who - so I flushed it for him.

They're about to leave when I see workman 1 directing workmen 2 to the loo, so I said "make sure you flush it please, your mate didn't...."

Workmen left looking sheepish - but Aibu to think workmen generally should try and use public loos whenever possible? I live in a busy street with 2 cafes only yards away and I always want to direct workmen there, but never summon the nerve to say it.

Am I a wimp - or just not very nice for HATING workmen using my bathroom? Even though I go in with the wipes and the bleach afterwards it still makes me cringe.

What do you do?

OP posts:
PickAChew · 23/02/2017 22:28

And no, I wouldn't say no if any working on our property asked to use the loo, so long as they left muddy boots outside. The bog's right by the back door, anyhow!

PacificDogwod · 23/02/2017 22:30
Grin

I so fail to see the issue here.
Human needs to wee.
You have facilities.
They use the facilities.
I have children who rarely flush their No2s, so a bit of wee is rather a relief

gillybeanz · 23/02/2017 22:33

The workmen aren't at the OP house but her neighbour.

If you are kind enough to let someone use your loo when they are nothing to do with you, they should clean up after themselves.

I'd refuse any further contact with neighbours workmen if I were you.
Why aren't they using their house?

dataandspot · 23/02/2017 22:42

The guy who used to come to service my boiler used to use my toilet without asking and leave it a mess. I thought that was rude so now use a different firm.

Ohyesiam · 23/02/2017 22:55

It s a waste of water to flush after a pee anyway....

Believeitornot · 23/02/2017 22:56

So they can't use a toilet in their place of work?

Seriously?

The issue is the lack of manners.

PacificDogwod · 23/02/2017 22:57

"If it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down...' Grin

Yes, that is a good question: why do they not pee at the neighbour's?
Anyway, I'd not be too bothered.

S1lentAllTheseYears · 23/02/2017 22:57

For the last 10 days I've had neighbours' workmen in and out

Shock

I would absolutely hate that - ten days!! You are being incredibly generous to your neighbours so you are allowed to be pissed off about your pristine loo being defiled imho!

I would have no problem with 'my own' workmen using my toilet (although I would inwardly cringe if they did a stinky poo!) but ten days of strangers traipsing around my house with no benefit to me would be grim.

I don't think you could really send them (or future ones) to the cafe though - the owners wouldn't want non customers trailing in and out any more than you do surely.

Original poster
rockcake · 23/02/2017 23:00

Not precious, or a twat, or having probs with anyone working class, working class myself, but I don't like people in v dirty clothes/boots using my loo, not washing hands - or wiping dirty hands on my towels, or not flushing! In fact, this fella made a nice big splash on floor too.

Don't agree that it's like using an office toilet either.... home's a bit different, isn't it?

Didn't know this one's been done before though, sorry Smile

OP posts:
SmilingButClueless · 23/02/2017 23:03

No issue with anyone using the loo. But at least 50% of the time when I've had workmen in they don't actually flush it - I object to that! (& I don't understand why; it's hardly a difficult task) Anyone able to enlighten me why there seem to be a significant number of men who seem incapable of flushing a toilet?

(I'm not being sexist. Have never had a non-male tradesperson round, so can't comment on whether half the women are as bad!)

Original poster
rockcake · 23/02/2017 23:03

S...all these years

Think you're probably right about not being able to send future w'men to cafe.....

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 23/02/2017 23:04

I wouldn't have let them and told them to go to the neighbour's. But on MN you're supposed to welcome any random stranger who pitches up and asks to use it (seriously, who the fuck would do this?) with open arms, and don't forget to make them not just tea and coffee but entire meals and puddings. If they make a mess, you clean it up with good grace.

Ilovetorrentialrain · 23/02/2017 23:08

OP I would hate this but then again I would not be offering my loo! Why can't they use your neighbour's?

callmeadoctor · 23/02/2017 23:09

I would ask them to use the toilet of the people they were working for )your neighbours). Absolutely no way would I let them use my toilet, they are your neighbours responsibility not yours. (If they were working on my house, then yes, I would be happy for them to use my toilet).

Original poster
rockcake · 23/02/2017 23:10

smilingBut

Interestingly I've had plenty of women sales/trades people in over the years and never been asked. I was once asked by a little old lady in the street though, who was worried she wouldn't make it as far as her own house, which, natch, I was happy to do. She didn't wee on the seat or fail to flush either....

OP posts:
justinelibertine · 23/02/2017 23:12

Oh OP, I'm kind of with you.
I'm not keen on anyone including visitors I have invited using my toilets. We are lucky enough to have a downstairs loo, but the amount of people who trot off upstairs to the main bathroom is unbelieveable. Last week it was DH's god father, AND he left the seat up. Makes me jittery.
It's mainly none family members. My parents don't bother me. But the BT engineer who did a big smelly poo in my upstairs loo did. And I was about to have a bath until I discovered what he'd been up to.

Then again, I do appreciate that if you gotta go. You gotta go. I wouldn't say no. But I wish they didn't have to.

justinelibertine · 23/02/2017 23:12

That was a bit long... I have problems!!

BananaInPyjama · 23/02/2017 23:15

My husband is a tradesman who works at other people's houses every day. He is astonished how many people are reluctant to permit him to use their hallowed toilet.

Hope those same people never use their workplace loos or ones in a public location. If he can wait to get home, so should they.

Can't see the problem - it is what a toilet is designed for after all.

Original poster
rockcake · 23/02/2017 23:17

babybubbles

No probs, I've read worse Smile

OP posts:
TheresABluebirdOnMyShoulder · 23/02/2017 23:20

I know people on these threads always say it's nothing to do with being snobby, but I can anybody honestly imagine a thread entitled "Horrified - my child's private tutor wanted to use our loo!" or "Our architect came to discuss plans and asked to use the bathroom. I immediately cleaned with 20 gallons of bleach". Nope. It's only ever "scuzzy" builders. Or plumbers. Or plasterers.

It's a bit different in this case given that the workers were hired by a neighbour but I still don't get what is so awful about allowing someone to use your toilet.

DJKKSlider · 23/02/2017 23:24

Bow come its always workmen people moan about? Why is never work women? Not once have I ever heard or read of a person moaning about a workwoman needing a piss in their toilet.

Its sexist, I think they should all be called 'Workpersons'

Smile
arsenalwatford · 23/02/2017 23:25

These threads piss me off so much. How people can be so up their own arses that they won't let a 'workman' use their toilet disgusts me. Even for big stinky poos. Where the fuck are they supposed to go if they need to go? If you're a 'workman' your day is tough, probably going from one job to the next without the time to check out all the local toilets. Yes, it's pretty skuzzy not to flush and OP did right to call them out, but a middle class housewife's shit stinks just as much as everyone else's.

Ilovetorrentialrain · 23/02/2017 23:26

Yes but the OP has said it was her neighbour's contractors - so comparing that with a tutor or architect etc working in your own home is irrelevant I'd have thought.

I'm still baffled as to why they weren't using the neighbour's loo but that question is turning into a cancel the cheque scenario.

Ilovetorrentialrain · 23/02/2017 23:28

Sorry There'sabluebird I didn't scroll enough to see your last paragraph.

teresa2003 · 23/02/2017 23:30

They were hardly going to traipse up three flights to ask the person they were working for. Besides which they were working in OPs garden removing scaffolding. DH is a builder and often gets the look of horror as if he's asked to take a nap in their marital bed or something. He always leaves it clean though and lid back down etc.