Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My lodger stinks!

76 replies

chillwinston17 · 18/06/2018 07:53

I recently starting letting my spare room to a friend. He is fine and mainly keeps himself to himself, except for the smells!!

Twice a day he uses the bathroom and it stinks out the entire house for hours - even with the windows open.

His bedroom stinks of 'man' - he doesn't always close the door and it seems to deep into the whole house.

He doesn't shower every day so when he's walking around he smells.

I don't know how to deal with this! He's a friend so I can't really tell him and I don't want to kick him out. But we share the bathroom and my house is lovely, I don't want it to stink! Have tried air fresheners but honestly the bathroom stench is something else.

What can I do?

OP posts:
Postymalone · 18/06/2018 07:54

Get rid of the dirt bastard. And NO, I don’t care if it’s a mumsnet diagnosed medical condition.

EssentialHummus · 18/06/2018 07:55

When you say bathroom smells, do you mean poo? Otherwise something like, “Sorry to have to bring this up, but I think the deodorant you’re using isn’t working?”

Original poster
chillwinston17 · 18/06/2018 07:57

I mean poo but didn't want to be accused of being a troll haha...

OP posts:
Singlenotsingle · 18/06/2018 07:59

Buy him a selection of strong deodorant, soap and air freshener, parcel it up and say it's a welcome pressie. Hopefully he'll take the hint.

EssentialHummus · 18/06/2018 08:00

I haven’t tried it myself, but something like that VIPoo product? You have my sympathies, it’s not something you want to think about!

stonewashed · 18/06/2018 08:01

Get a reed diffuser for the bath room but up ontop of the cabinet or on a shelf

eggncress · 18/06/2018 08:02

Tell him he has to wash or find somewhere else as visitors have commented on the smell and thought it was you and it’s bloody embarrassing!
As for the bathroom smell .... don’t think you can do much about that other than kick him out.

MinaPaws · 18/06/2018 08:03

Burn a candle in there. Gets rid of the smell pretty quickly. Do you have bloo loo or similar inside the toilet bowl to clean it each time it flushes? That might help.

Is he staying for long? If so, you may need to find a way to say something about the BO, though it's not easy.

PollyBanana · 18/06/2018 08:03

I know it gets slated on here, but VIPoo is very effective.
I have quite toxic IBS and using it means people don't faint if they have to use the bathroom after meBlush

madcatladyforever · 18/06/2018 08:06

This is why I only take in female lodgers.

Rudgie47 · 18/06/2018 08:07

Get that spray OUST from Home Bargains it a pound and tell him he needs to spray round as soon as hes been to the loo for a poo.
I'd just tell him that he smells and people are commenting and its your house so he washes and is clean in it.
Otherwize he needs to move out.

Fluffyears · 18/06/2018 08:07

The poo one is difficult as he has to poo, however he could wash every day and change his bedding each week to keep himself and his room clean. Do you do your bedding weekly? Ask if he wants his washed at same time since you might as well fill up the machine.

BrownTurkey · 18/06/2018 08:12

If its not working for you, and you think he is hoping to stay long term, then I think you are going to have to say its not working for you and think about giving him (a long) notice period.

shakingmyhead1 · 18/06/2018 08:14

if hes a mate... just say
OI! jack you stink man! go take a fucken shower for gawds sakes

Juells · 18/06/2018 08:16

I'd just say you hadn't realised that you didn't like sharing your house, and lovely as it's been blah blah blah here's a month's notice goodbye.

He's never going to solve the poo smell, and probably won't solve the BO to your satisfaction either. He's just a big smelly shite who isn't your problem, and it's your space.

trojanpony · 18/06/2018 08:18

Jesus I wouldn’t be working around that.
Ignoring the bathroom, stuff general lack of washing and general stinking is not okay.

I’d just say sorry it’s not working and maybe give them a month, ultimately the friendship will be in the toilet (pardon the pun) because your resentment will just build.

Original poster
chillwinston17 · 18/06/2018 08:21

Thanks for the replies, I thought I would get flamed! The reed diffuser idea is a good one, I could put this in his room when he's out? He probably wouldn't notice the difference in smell. To be honest the bedroom smell annoys me more as I understand some people have stink poos. But he's a 30 year old man! Should know how to open a bedroom window and wash a sheet I guess.

OP posts:
Tallyhooo · 18/06/2018 08:38

Just buy a ton of airfresh/plug ins/diffusers/etc and put them everywhere in sight....then a basket of shower/wash products and leave them outside his room.....hint subtle?!

Maybe a subtle comment to him like 'have you noticed the house has started to smell'.....??? He may think 'that might be me....' and do something about it…?

If it was me and he was a friend I'd honestly just tell him to wash and light a match.....!

Original poster
chillwinston17 · 18/06/2018 08:41

I've been pretty tolerant of other things - hoarding dishes in room, loud snoring etc as they don't really impact me all the time but I literally HATE bad smells in the house - it's one reason I hate houseshares!

OP posts:
Fluffyears · 18/06/2018 08:41

Tell him you would like him to open his window for 1/2 hour each day (I open my window every day just to get air circulating and prevent smells and damp even in winter.)

Bibesia · 18/06/2018 08:51

You have to woman up and tell him to wash regularly and use effective deodorant. You'll be doing him a favour, he'll have trouble at work and with his friends if he doesn't sort this out.

And if he's so embarrassed/offended that he moves out, win/win!

MinaPaws · 18/06/2018 08:54

Hoarding dishes? No wonder his room smells. Can you just call up to him every evening to bring his plates and cups down as you're loading the dishwasher?

Ditto bedlinen. Just tell him the sheets get changed on Saturday mornings and expect him to do a laundry load then.

And find an excuse to move him on. He doesn't sound housetrained and that's not your job.

ijustwannadance · 18/06/2018 09:00

Sounds more like a grubby teenager than a 30 year old man. Does he work?

Tell him straight op. Sort the stench or leave.

eggncress · 18/06/2018 09:00

He sounds like he hasn’t got past his teenager years and you are being like his mum.
Maybe not a time for subtle hints then but just give him some basic house rules and if he can’t stick to them he’s out.

Original poster
chillwinston17 · 18/06/2018 09:02

He has a good job and he used to rent his own flat but his landlord sold up so he had to move out.

OP posts: