AIBU to have a filthy house?

[MissElaineNeus]

So many threads on here where people's houses, towels, linen are spotless - am I the only one who's the total opposite? My house gets cleaned once a week. We have a large dog who goes on muddy walks and then lies on the furniture. The sofas are old and stained anyway. After a couple of days past the clean, the floors are covered in a light patina of dirt and bundles of fur and dust can be found in most corners. That said, we're never ill and are fighting fit in our fifties. So I know I'm not BU but just hoping there are other like-minded slatterns!

We r happily untidy! We live in a very small two bedroom house and yes it can get cluttered mainly by toys. I clean when I can we don’t get any sicker than anybody else however my mum is a clean freak and she’s constantly ill....

We have a big dog. Means sometimes I find a whole second dog shed on the carpet but I’d never let him sleep on the sofa muddy and try to vacuum up after him at least a few times a week.

My children and I have always lived with huge drifts of dog and cat hair and dust. No breathing problems, and all pretty hardy. My best friend is clean to the nth degree, she loves the smell of bleach, and she's forever sick. There's a lesson there

I love a clean and tidy house but struggle to achieve it! Too much else to do that I prefer to prioritise.

We had a good clean, tidy and vac yesterday ready for family but we are not over the top. SIL says that’s why she likes to stay here because are not over the top and knew we would be happy for their puppy to stay too.

'At the worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived.'
Rose Macaulay

Well if it is cleaned once a week, in my book it can't possibly be 'filthy'. The worst it can be is ready for its next clean. I'm a middling level cleaner I think, house gets a really good clean weekly then wiped down, swept up in between if needed. It isn't show home standard but I wouldn't be embarrassed if I had surprise visitors.

It really depends. In the end, it's about your comfort and if living in your house how it is doesn't make you feel uneasy then that's fine. However, accumulated dirt will things last much less longer. If you don't clean your cooker after each meal, the grease will stick to the point that it can't be cleaned up properly. Dirt on carpets will make them go to the point of disgust very quickly.

When you reach the point where your cooker, oven, extractor fan are clogged in grease and your carpets are filthy and smelly, then it is a step too far in what it acceptable especially with kids.

I am the sane as you op. Bit untidy but try and be clean on the surface. We have too much stuff in a tiny house. I have not had a day off sick in 10 years though!
I like hoovering though so I do do that!
I just hate house work!!

SerenDippitty
'At the worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived.'

I hadn't heard that before, but it's so true. My friend with the bleach is a Catholic and every so often I say to her "When you die, your children will parade up the church carrying scrubbing brushes and a hoover, is that what you want to represent your life?"

Just waiting for someone to wade in with "kids are happier in a messy home than a tidy one coz everyone is having to much fun to care"

Does is upset you, your family or people who matter to you? If it doesn't, then it's not a problem. If you are really saying that you are not happy with it, then there are umpteen websites about decluttering and tidying.

It’s your home Op do as you please. It’s got sod all to do with anyone else. If ‘guests’ don’t like your home that’s up to them. Personally I can always find something more interesting/enjoyable to do than cleaning. If someone enjoys cleaning and having a spotless living space is important to them fine, if they don’t and it’s not that’s fine too. I’m a slattern in her fifties too (but the dogs are not allowed on the sofas. The cats are though).

You know what really annoys me? That it’s still women who are held responsible for keeping house. The cleaning and tidying. Perhaps not by her husband...my dh does his share, we’re pretty equal on the housework front...but by society in general. If someone visits a mucky or messy house they immediately assume the woman is lacking somehow...they don’t think to apportion blame to the man.

If someone visits a mucky or messy house they immediately assume the woman is lacking somehow...they don’t think to apportion blame to the man.

Yes, and it could easily be the man thwarting the efforts to get clean and tidy.

Do you have many people to visit? Obviously you are free to live as you wish, but going to someone’s house where you will leave with your socks black with grime and clothes caked with pet hair is grim.

I actively avoid visiting people with dirty houses. I love the friends but they come to me or meet out. I do think it’s rather rude though when healthy and solvent to host guests in a dirty environment.

My home is nowhere near a show home, it is a lived in family home with a moulting mud loving sofa surfing Labrador, but the dog is cleaned/dried before being allowed onto carpets and furniture (he doesn't come on the sofa unless invited) and he lies on his removable machine washable covers only.

As a guest I would think you were pushing the boundaries of acceptable and feel uncomfortable in the picture you paint of your home with stained muddy sofas. If you are letting damp muddy dog on your sofas its likely to constantly whiff a bit too.

As PPs have said, if you’re comfortable in your own home, it’s no one else’s concern.

I do get annoyed at the insinuation that if you have animals your house will be dirty. I have three cats and over the years have had assorted indoor and outdoor animals. My house is clean and tidy, floors are cleaned most days and furniture hoovered every week to get rid of any cat hair. It is a chore, we live in the countryside and there is a constant trail of muddy paw prints through the kitchen, but it doesn’t take more than a few minutes to wipe them up.

My house would not be a home without my pets, but it also would not be my home if it was dirty and messy.

If you are happy living that way then Who cares?

Personally my idea of hell. The dog smell and hair on the sofa. Just vile.

My MIL has a house similar to you describe but with cats. I avoid going at all costs and if have to go then refuse all offers of food or drink!

Well if it is cleaned once a week, in my book it can't possibly be 'filthy'.

I came on to say exactly this!

I don’t have a show home but would not be comfortable in my house if it was dirty.
If you’re comfortable in yours then it’s fine, you’re the one who lives there! It’s your house to do what you want with.
I’d probably decline invitations to visit and sit in your sofas though (joking)

I don’t get Ill either but I don’t put it down to having hygiene standards in the house!

With you OP.
I've been eye rolling at the ostentatious cleaning threads this week.
Life's for living, not washing towels and anti bac wipes.

It's your choice but personally I am more comfortable in a clean and tidy house. I want my children to grow up respecting their surroundings and not to be embarrassed to have friends round. Likewise for me, I'd be mortified if my house was dirty and someone popped round unexpected.

Meh. I reckon that's gross, but whatever, it's your home, be as gross as you like in it.