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!

I have a 5 year old, a 3 year old and a dog (who isn’t allowed on the furniture!) so it’s never going to be spotless. DH and I share the cleaning though.

I would love to have a show home and pre-dc I was a clean freak. Now with 3 dc, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a dh, that’s all gone out the window! The house is still quite clean and I don’t allow the animals on the furniture, especially after a walk. It’s not sparkling but it’s always neat and tidy and gets a deep clean once a week. That’s about as good as it’s gonna get! I do hoover several times a day though otherwise the house would be full of dog hair.

@froufroufoxes and @juells it is possible to outsource the cleaning you know! Even if not people who have clean homes can have fun too there are 7 days in a week.....

I love a tidy home but do not love housework myself. We have dogs and horses but the dog is not allowed on the furniture and has a washable dog bed.

You should at least hose the dog down after muddy walks for its own good.

Bit grim in my opinion

Wait for the people who can’t get up yet because they were out last night having fun. I bet they won’t care if you have a clean house

what a stupid comment. Stop making nasty judgements about other people because you feel bad about your own life. I don't care how your house is, but if you care to have an opinion about others, it must be an issue for you.

OP, it's your home, you live your life the way you want. As long as you are not a tenant damaging somebody's property, it's really nobody's business.

I have 2 dogs, and kids, and my house is clean and tidy because I like it that way. Chores are done first thing in the morning, and a quick run around before bed time is enough for us to keep on top, weekends are chore-free. It works for me, because it takes me a lot less time to keep things clean than having to go through the whole house once a week, and it saves me a lot of time and stress when I can find everything immediately. I enjoy my house more when it's not a tip, and anyone can pop in unannounced we're as ready as we can ever be bother to be.

If you are happy to come home, happy to chill in the evening on your sofa, happy to have a cup of tea in your home first thing in the morning, then it's absolutely fine. Your home works for you so why should it be a problem?

Your house sounds errr lived in? but hey! it's your house and if you are happy as it is then that's is up to you.

Personally, I prefer a clean house and with loads of animals I wear myself ragged. Whose to say I am right?

Erm, I don’t feel bad about my life. It was a lighthearted comment. I am so glad you came to give us a fascinating rundown of your cleaning routine though. Phew, what a life! How do you contain your excitement?

And tenants don’t have to keep their homes clean either! How does a bit of dirt damage a home?

WereYouHareWhenIWasFox
you read it, so it obviously is a fascinating subject for you!

You sound terribly judgmental, why is that?

If you're happy and healthy I don't see a problem. Many of us love the idea of a show home to look at but find it impossible to attain those high standards in reality because we actually live in our homes - we have people, animals, hobbies and interests.

I live alone in a tiny house with a cat whose main aim in life is to drift through leaving fur everywhere. I gather this together on a daily basis or the place would look even worse. I have hobbies and interests (sewing and reading) and have never had enough storage so it's a bit cluttered. However it is clean - I make sure the kitchen and bathroom are hygienic. Visitors have never refused to sit down and have a cup of tea with me so it can't be that bad.

I love looking at glossy interiors magazines but know that in RL I'll never attain this standard of perfection so don't compare your happy home with others - it can only lead to dissatisfaction.

Hmmmm, I'm not sure. There's a huge difference between being untidy and unclean and I don't think there's much excuse to be "filthy". But your house, your rules!

Yes, it sure was. I am taking notes. I will be doing all my chores in the morning now. If I can be arsed to get out of bed. I don’t actually think mine was the most judgemental comment on this thread, you are being a little too sensitive. Maybe take some time off from your rigid routine to do something more fun?

If your happy that’s fine, I do like a clean and tidy house I would guess mine is at the very clean and tidy end of standards but everyones different. I have only ever been in a couple of house that I would consider actually grubby. One had an overflowing cat litter box in the kitchen and the other had stuff like a bucket of dirty water with the mop in left in the kitchen and so much stuff on the counter tops it would have been a struggle to make space to make just a cup of tea.

My house is a tip. It sounds ridiculous but I’ve genuinely never been able to keep on top of housework even when It was just me. I start things and wander off leaving a mess.
It’s not dirty but very untidy. I’m not a bad person my son is happy and life is too short to sweat it!

I exaggerated a little for fun! The dog is hosed down outside, but it's never perfect and the sofa does suffer. We do wash up and we're fairly tidy though.

DH is now hoovering the sofa - I think telling him about this has awoken his cleaning genes. I'll do it more often.

We do have visitors and no one has complained, but we're an easy going lot.

I’m naturally untidy but my husband is very neat so I’ve learned to be organised and tidy, it wasn’t my usual state but it’s actually second nature to me now.
My mother is a hoarder and it’s I like living in a clean space so much better.
I find if you put things back after yourself and do a little but every day it’s so much easier than doing a big clean every week.

WereYouHareWhenIWasFox

Having a job and a family, I don't waste my mornings in bed unlike some by the sound of it. My house is pristine, Christmas is ready, and by the time I come back from work mid-afternoon we can all start celebrating with friends and family coming round.
Sounds a lot more fun to me than making petty judgement and feeling superior because you are on MN when you could use your time in bed doing more fun activities. I am just killing time until my train arrives, but at least I am paid for this.

YANBU, presumably you have a quick blitz before you have people round? Living with animals is good for your well-being.

WereYouHareWhenIWasFox
Wow - worked full time, had kids, entertained a lot but still managed to keep a clean and tidy home. The idea that those who live in a clean and tidy home are dullards is ridiculous.
No way could I live in a dirty messy home.
Still - if it suits people to do that, no problem.......but don't imagine they are all 'living the high life' while others are chained to their dusters!

The idea that those who live in a clean and tidy home are dullards is ridiculous.

This.

Equally, the snide comments about people who don’t clean as much aren’t fair either.

Live and let live ffs. There are some right arseholes on this thread, on both sides.

There’s a difference between a house being untidy and a house being dirty.
Personally I think it’s very unreasonable to allow a muddy dog to climb on furniture and have visible piles of dirt and dog hair.
I have 2 toddlers, so my house is rarely tidy - I tidy the living room, and in minutes few, there’s toys all over the place again. There’s often crumbs from their snacks on the floor/sofa, but it takes 2 minutes to quickly run the hoover around. DS is suddenly taking an interest in the potty, so removes his nappy in lightening speed and sometimes doesn’t make it on time - I’m straight in with my cleaning products, it takes seconds to clean up a little piss puddle. I can deal with that - it’s part and parcel of having young children. But I couldn’t leave visible dirt and just live around it until next week’s clean.

If you don't mind if then that's ok surely?
I couldn't stand it personally.

I am just killing time until my train arrives, but at least I am paid for this
There's ways to be paid for being in bed doing fun activities. Just saying

Oh my mornings spent in bed are definitely not wasted! Sorry you have to work today though, that can’t be fun.