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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that you offer your housesitters decent standards?

62 replies

Dutch1e · 05/08/2017 22:46

Originally added this as a comment on another thread but don't want to hijack.

We're housesitting/catsitting for a family in our community. I'm fine with mess but feel disappointed that the home is truly dirty dirty.

The sink was blocked when we arrived. Drano didn't work so we pulled the plumbing apart. Found ten years worth of cooking oil in the pipes. The Fat Sausage was as big as my arm and the smell was delightful when we dug it out with a spoon.

The couch smelled so bad that I gagged (I have a strong stomach). Oddly all the covers zipped off so after we washed them it was fine. It's not like a fixed couch that is impossible to clean.

The sheets were fresh for us and that's lovely. The duvets and pillows were rank. Again, with a soak in bleach and a good hot wash they came out much better.

Every drawer in the kitchen was coated with gunk and the oven is still a work in progress.

There's more but you get the picture. And I think this is genuinely the clean version of their house.

We're Airbnb hosts and we have housesitters ourselves. Our home is simple but very clean when new people arrive.

AIBU to think it's not very kind to hand over an unhygenic environment and perhaps they need a word to the wise? Or should I just shut my mouth and drift away?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dutch1e · 05/08/2017 23:33

Salmotrutta apologies, I don't mean from my local community. It's a Home Ed community that mostly communicates online as there's not many of us in this country.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dutch1e · 05/08/2017 23:36

If anyone can offer advice on the original question I'd appreciate it. Would you speak with them or just drift away?

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 05/08/2017 23:39

Oops - I just spotted you are hiuse sitting too as well as cat sitting.

Umm... I think you should possibly not wash other people's sofa covers because that's taking it a bit far.

Why don't you just check the house a few times a day then and tell them you couldn't stay because it was a bit grim?

You seemingly think it's okay to wash sofa covers, duvets etc. (which they will notice) so presumably you have the front to tell them you couldn't stay because you thought their house was manky?

Georgieporgypuddinandpie · 05/08/2017 23:39

I just wouldn't house sit again tbh, people have different standards and even if you spoke to them, they took it well and made a bit more of an effort, it's unlikely that you'll feel really comfy in their house.

Salmotrutta · 05/08/2017 23:39

house not "hiuse" Hmm

Salmotrutta · 05/08/2017 23:41

Ok I get you regarding the "community" definition.

Salmotrutta · 05/08/2017 23:45

And my second post was based on imagining that this was a "local" community thing. Not that it really changes the main point.

So, since it isn't local I think you have to still say something since you have noticeably done things like washed sofa covers etc.

SilverBirchWithout · 05/08/2017 23:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoFilthHere · 06/08/2017 00:01

Home Ed community... I think that explains the lack of basic hygiene in the house, and the lack of appropriate social barriers by the OP quite adequately.

You're out of order and a twat, HTH.

Salmotrutta · 06/08/2017 00:06

SilverBirch - don't do that. Really.

Have a wee think.

I've had my arse handed to me on a plate more than once on MN. - and rightly so - so I know how this will go down.

SilverBirchWithout · 06/08/2017 00:13

I've asked for it to be deleted, possible too much wine and too little wit on my part.
Still thinks it's a little weird to wash someone's soft furnishings, and very unlikely imho.

BlackandWhitepostcards · 06/08/2017 00:16

Not wanting to turn this thread into one defending the home ed community or anything.. but what a load of nonsense SilverBirch.
I have been involved with the home ed community as a tutor and have been in many homes and they are no different from the homes of the schooled children I visit. Why would they be? How ridiculous.
And your comment about lack of appropriate social barriers.. what on earth?? The home schooled children I tutor are actually more socially and emotionally aware than the schooled children I teach.

chocolatemademefat · 06/08/2017 00:38

It takes me hours to clean every week before my cleaner comes. Couldn't let another family have the run of the full place - they could discover all sorts of dirt I'd missed. Then talk about it on mumsnet!

CorbynsBumFlannel · 06/08/2017 00:39

I think they're on to a winner tbh. They've got their house looked after for free and a deep clean thown in. Maybe the house is only ever cleaned by house sitters?
The pp put it quite bluntly but there are SOME members of the home ed community that are a little eccentric shall we say - I know quite a few home edders.

KoalaDownUnder · 06/08/2017 00:52

It's not fucking 'weird' to wash sofa covers if you've got to sit on them for weeks! Ditto sleeping on manky beds and cooking with blocked sinks!

This isn't staying in a friend's house as a favour. It's a beneficial arrangement for the householders. Their pets have company and house has security (plus garden maintained, mail collected, etc) while they're overseas.

It's bloody grim to expect housesitters to live in your filth. Can't believe people think the OP is the one 'crossing lines' or whatever. wait, yes I can, its AIBU

NewDaddie · 06/08/2017 00:55

Yanbu. You cleaned and fixed, you didn't vandalise their home.

I would just drift away and I wouldn't say anything to them, as it's their home and they're allowed to be as filthy as they like.

But if they took offence to my cleaning while I was there then I'd point out that I'm a father and responsible for making sure the bits my own children touch and eat off are clean. They're welcome to resume filth gathering for their piglets once we're gone.

Salmotrutta · 06/08/2017 01:19

piglets?

Hmm

Do you normally refer to children as "piglets" NewDaddie?

Is this a new term of endearment - or are you using a sly term to infer the parents are pigs?

Because if you are being sly - stop it. At least own your contempt and spell it out.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 06/08/2017 01:52

Well you had no choice to clean up really

Who would want to live in a filthy house and sleep in human stink pillows

Yanbu to clean and they probably won't even notice the scummers!!

But I would stay silent and part ways to be honest

MsGameandWatching · 06/08/2017 01:57

Home Ed community... I think that explains the lack of basic hygiene in the house, and the lack of appropriate social barriers by the OP quite adequately.

What a disgusting post.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 06/08/2017 02:15

I've done this. House/pet sat (free as well as 'it would be a holiday for you') and the house was lifting. Felt a mug cleaning but it was either that or Salmonella poisoning (seriously there was fluffy mould on the work surfaces and the fridge) She didn't say a word when she got back, neither did I. I don't have a clue if she noticed I'd cleaned, tbh if you can't notice it that dirty you probably wouldn't notice if it was clean/glitter bombed/on fire.

Mxyzptlk · 06/08/2017 02:32

What would you want to achieve by telling / not telling them? Make them feel bad? Get them to mend their ways? Get an apology?
I don't think any of that would be a success.

I'd probably say I had to unblock the drain and how full of grease it was, but not mention the other stuff. They likely won't notice and, if they do, so what.

And you'll know not to house sit for them again.

reuset · 06/08/2017 02:36

If you can give them a word to the wise in a way not likely to upset them much then I'd try it. I'd never manage it, personally, I'd put my foot right in it and offend them horribly.

reuset · 06/08/2017 02:41

I agree, Mrsgame. What a disgusting, ignorant post.

Does eccentric mean dirty now, Corbynsbum?

GreatFuckability · 06/08/2017 02:48

i'd be more worried about if they are coping as a family if their sink was unusable than judging them like a cunt, but perhaps thats just me.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 06/08/2017 02:56

As someone who ended up home educated by tutors due to illness (extreme ocd about cleanliness) i find the pp about home ed people lacking basic hygiene offensive.