AIBU - PIL smelly sheets

[MRex]

We stay sometimes in PIL holiday flat and are there now.

Before DS I'd change the sheets and then change again to clean ones or put back on the PIL used sheets, depending on what MIL asked for. Last year MIL said she'd put on clean sheets and we came with baby DS, who had norovirus from the first evening so the sheets were all vomited on and had to be changed several times. At this point I discovered that MIL was double-stacking sheets and pillow cases; weird but anyway. The washing machine broke, so my mum did washing for us throughout the week including sheets a few times.

We've only just come back; again MIL said she's put clean sheets on and to then just leave the beds. The bed started to stink during the night, it smells of sweaty FIL, who's lovely but doesn't wash enough. I'm as certain as can be that she's put clean sheets on top of his stinky sweaty sheets, so now they're all smelly. DS's dear little head stinks like FIL's 3-day unwashed armpit. DH claimed he can't smell anything, I can't even sleep in it.

So, I think I need to change the sheets and leave all 3 sets for MIL, I'll have to explain when we get home so she knows to bring more clean sheets when they come. I love her dearly and I know she'll feel embarrassed about me thinking they're dirty. She's been unwell recently, but I don't think that's related to her shortcut, I think she's just unaware of how much FIL smells or she'd surely make him shower more. If I don't tell her then she'll just do it again each time we come and we'll always be faced with stinky sheets as a "shortcut". But then DH doesn't even think it smells, so maybe I'm being over-sensitive and unreasonable?

Other options I've come up with

1. Get my mum to wash both sets of sheets, dry and return them; this isn't really feasible before Monday.
2. Live with it - but it's so grim, it smells awful.
3. Buy new sheets, then swap back for dirty ones and hide the clean ones in the suitcase PIL will be bringing back for us.
4. I've no idea if there's a launderette and we have no car.

I would buy new sheets and duvet cover and mattress and pillow protectors - maybe from amazon as you don’t have a car. I’d strip everything off the bed and might just take a taxi to a launderette to wash the lot. Tell MIL there was a wee in the night/spilled drink/other minor disaster.

We have a JL washer dryer which is good at washing but very slow to dry. I wouldn’t recommend it for doing sheets in a hurry.

You are being precious imo. If it’s really that bad...even though your dh can’t smell anything...walk the whole mile to the launderette and wash them.
Total non-problem and to me, an outpouring of criticism for the in-laws for the sake of it.

I think the OP has been quite balanced - she's said how lovely and generous her PIL are repeatedly, but she's also said that FIL has a hygiene issue. Some people have a stronger sense of smell than others.

OP: I would make the trudge to the laundrette, by cab if need be. I know a laundrette wash isn't as good as a home wash, but it should improve matters and you can have everything changed inside a day.

the launderette is over a mile away

So? Can't you drive or something?

NoSauce are you the smelly, stinky FIL?

Didn't OP already say they don't have a car?

Seriously, just go to the launderette. Cheaper than new sheets. Dry enough to use. Only a mile.

A mile is a fair way when you're lugging dirty washing.

@NoSauce Look, love, it's you who is getting your knickers in a twist. You waded in to this thread with nothing constructive, simply a full blown rant about it being PIL bashing and unintelligent. Are you a PIL? Want some sauce for that huge chip you are carrying?

The OP clearly notices her FIL smells all of the time. Saying it is very noticeable in the flat is not making some general, unrelated comment about PILs per se.

Yes, she emphasises his smelly pits and why not? It's to make it clear this is the reason for the smelly sheets.

How anyone can suddenly extrapolate that to 'Oh you are using this as an excuse to 'bash' the parents in law is beyond me.'

People are making ridiculous suggestions - yes, she could carry 2 or 3 sheets in her suitcase, which may exceed luggage allowances , yes she could go to the laundry and have the PILs washed, but FFS this is supposed to be a holiday!

Easiest answer is not to go at all.

End of.

Profile ah missed that! But still....DH and I had no car for ages and he used to cycle to the launderette with a rucksack of our washing! It's only three sheets...there must be a bloody bus!

Or soak them in the bath with some powder and a bit of dettol...hot water...good soak. Then hang them out after a rinse. Not quite as good as a washing machine but not terrible. Probably smell better if soaked in dettol anyway!

I could carry a set of sheets a mile. I’m not bragging or anything...I just could. They are not heavy and it is a short distance.

A set of sheets really doesn't weigh that much, and a mile isn't far - unless you have some kind of health issue, you will be there in 25 minutes at the outside.

^Or soak them in the bath with some powder and a bit of dettol...hot water...good soak. Then hang them out after a rinse. Not quite as good as a washing machine but not terrible. Probably smell better if soaked in dettol anyway!*

Yeah, great fun to spend your week doing this

There may be no bath- maybe just a shower. This may not be the UK- there may be no buses . There is probably no washing line- it's a flat.

But there is a launderette...and close to hand too.

LivingtheDreams Since when did it take a WEEK to soak some sheets?

Chuck them in, leave them alone...then half an hour's worth of swishing them about to rinse.

What protected lives people lead! If they think it takes a week to wash some sheets by hand!

@MRex ok - it's hard to know what to suggest then.

LivingTheDreams Jesus wept. As if you could be that invested. I haven’t waded in or had a full blown rant for a start.

I don’t care I just think this could have been worded differently. No need for the OP to be so mean about her kind PILs.

End of

Pict I agree....Launderette is best but OP is all "but it's a mile away!"

Update - DH has done a sniff test and says there is definitely a strong scent of FIL from the mattress protector. So we think MIL has put 2 clean sheets (I don't know why 2) on top of the unwashed mattress protector and didn't realise there was a smell that would come through. I've done a re-sniff and the pillows, duvet etc are all fine. It looks like less hassle to go to the launderette than to a shop for extra sheets, so we'll get cleaning tablets and take the mattress protector and sheets to the launderette.

Those asking why we stay - it's a family flat, it's nice to stay here and PIL like it being used. Stuff breaks and is a bit old, but that doesn't make a whole flat unusable. I was just a bit upset from unexpected smells in the night that stopped me getting back to sleep. We can bring fresh sheets next time and we'll get a spare mattress protector later in our trip that we can leave for future use (blame it on the baby).

My FIL is a lovely, kind and decent man, it's just factual that he gets a bit smelly sometimes (and happily admits it himself!). I wouldn't "bash" my PIL because they're nice people who I get along very well with, there's none of that drama to be had here I'm afraid.

Are you pregnant? Only asking as I became super smell sensitive.

I hope your DH and extended family never see this.
God forbid it is picked up by the DM.

Un Intelligent, yes, very. She couldn't work out a solution to her 'problem'?

Needed to share about FIL's 'stinky armpits' and 'unwashed smell' and inability to wash.

FFS I hope they tell you and your norovirus infected DC's to bugger off as their standards are worthy of complaint on a public forum.

@HennyPennyHorror No one said it would take a week. Did they? I said there is prob no washing line so how does one dry these sheets? There will be more than one as there is a child too. Lifting wet cotton sheets out of bath - hard work. They weigh a tonne. Done it. Got T shirt.
@NoSauce you were the over invested one, love. Calling it 'unintelligent' , 'nasty' and so forth. Chill darling, it's not 9am yet

X posted

Ok. Fair enough.
With there being a launderette in the vicinity I couldn’t understand your dilemma so assumed you were complaining for the sake of it. Apologies if I picked up the ball and ran with it.

@NoSauce you were the over invested one, love. Calling it 'unintelligent' , 'nasty' and so forth. Chill darling, it's not 9am yet smile

I haven’t said anyone was unintelligent or nasty, just calm down and get your fact straights.