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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tidy up for the burglars?

43 replies

barefoofdoctor · 08/05/2017 17:47

Conversation with friend this morning about my hectic schedule before going away in a couple of weeks time and thus trying to get the house as clean and tidy as possible before departure. She is of the opinion why bother tidying for the burglars? I love coming home to a clean and tidy house but am I unreasonable (or weird!) having a bit of a house scrub down before I go away? Anyone else compelled to leave the house clean and tidy or dread it on return?

OP posts:
Smeaton · 08/05/2017 17:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 08/05/2017 17:49

Always tidy up before we go. . Last thing I want coming through the door with 4dxc and camping stuff is mess!!
Bad enough having to unpack and do the washing!!

QuiteLikely5 · 08/05/2017 17:49

That's a ridiculous way to think! After all who would go away if they thought they'd be burgled?!

She's obviously a sloth and felt guilty when you mentioned your heavenly approach

McTufty · 08/05/2017 17:49

I always tidy it before a holiday as it's so nice to come back to a spotless home, and so depressing to come back to a tip!

AlternativeTentacle · 08/05/2017 17:50

But better for fingerprints ;)

We always tidy up before going away, hate to come back to mess.

MyheartbelongstoG · 08/05/2017 17:50

I always do this!

Though about three years ago I did in fact tidy up for the burglars.

GeillisTheWitch · 08/05/2017 17:52

I thought everyone did "the burglar clean" before they went away, until I pet sat for a friend when she was away and her house was like a tornado had been through it.

Tazerface · 08/05/2017 17:53

I try to make sure dishes are done and bins are emptied, maybe the beds are changed. I don't do anything out of the ordinary though.

DH wanted to leave a pan in 'to soak' for a week once Hmm. Honestly he's so lazy.

coldcanary · 08/05/2017 17:55

I do it too, at least if you are burgled you'll be able to tell when you get back! Grin
I hate coming home to an untidy house after a holiday.

NavyandWhite · 08/05/2017 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ScarlettFreestone · 08/05/2017 17:55

I've never thought of it as tidying for the burglars! However I do try to leave the house tidy and clean (with freshly made beds if I can) before going on holiday.

I also try to get to the bottom of the laundry basket.

Generally going on holiday involves a tiring journey home. It's lovely to come back to a nice tidy house.

Pawpainting · 08/05/2017 18:01

Yes, tidy up and change the beds. Empty laundry basket ready for the post holiday washing. When we travel it's always long haul so to come back after a long journey to a tidy house and clean beds, which we normally get straight into, makes a big difference

barefoofdoctor · 08/05/2017 18:03

I like you Quitelikely5! Oh no MyheartbelongstoG that is awful.

Yes I like to give the loo and sink a good bleach and get everywhere spic and span for my return, I left a half full bin bag in the kitchen bin once and genuinely had to give myself a Stern Talk that it really didn't matter and to relax.

Oh and if i manage to give the fridge a clean out prior to departure I leave very very happy indeed (need to get a hobby).

OP posts:
Redredredrose · 08/05/2017 18:07

I leave it as clean and tidy as it usually is. I wouldn't make a special effort to make it spotless, but it's usually 'visitor-ready' anyway because I get twitchy if it's really untidy or grubby so I datesay it's clean enough for the burglars not to feel disgusted at my housekeeping.

ArcheryAnnie · 08/05/2017 18:07

I always plan to tidy for the burgulars, but often don't manage a proper clean. (If I go away without taking laundry with me, then I count that a win...)

I love my flat, and love coming home, but especially if I've been staying somewhere a bit swish, coming back to a dingy tip can be a bit of a depressing homecoming,

gluteustothemaximus · 08/05/2017 18:07

The idea is that I clean the house completely so when we come back it's lovely and all we have to do is chill out and unpack.

The reality is, this never happens, and we come back to chaos.

One day though...

Littlepond · 08/05/2017 18:12

My house is at its best just before we go on holiday! Hate coming home to a messy house. Absolutely we tidy for the burglars lol

Letmesleepalready · 08/05/2017 18:12

Oh, I think I'd rather tidy for the burglars than what we call it here: tidying in case we die when we are away. I read about that somewhere and it stuck! Luckily so far, we've only tidied for ourselves!

SleepFreeZone · 08/05/2017 18:13

I always clean and tidy before I leave and am always ecstatic that I did when we come back from holiday and the only thing I have to sort immediately is laundry.

Oldraver · 08/05/2017 18:15

I like to come home to a clean tidy house so always have a whizz round.

Plus...the house frequently looks like we have been burgled

JigglyTuff · 08/05/2017 18:15

I clean and tidy and put fresh sheets on the beds if I can. Then all I have to deal with is the mountain of post and laundry when I come home

AlletrixLeStrange · 08/05/2017 18:16

I'm going away in 9 days and I have a to-do list with tasks for every day so every room gets a deep clean before I go, furniture out, inside cupboards cleaned etc.. I don't know why I always do it?
Maybe it's a little less of a crash back to reality if I come home to a super clean house than an okay-tidy one

AliTheMinx · 08/05/2017 18:17

I always tidy before we go away. Yes - it's stressful, but so nice to come back to a clean and tidy house. I could never leave it in.a mess... What would the burglars think?!

Equimum · 08/05/2017 18:17

My mum always does a deep clean (freezers out and cleaned behind, all windows cleaned etc.) before she goes away. This is because, if anything should happen to her, she doesn't want anyone to think she was a dirty person!

Obviously they wouldn't think that if anything happened to her six months after her last holiday,since when, the freezer wouldn't have moved Confused.

emmyhNL · 08/05/2017 18:19

I always clean before going away and this includes the beds etc. I thought everyone did it! Nothing like returning from holiday to fresh sheets and a clean home!