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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who is BU re gym clothes?

113 replies

Hullahoop · 05/02/2020 07:01

DH goes to the gym most evenings in the week and when he comes back home, rather than jumping straight in the shower he decides to ‘relax’ on the sofa in his gym clothes for an hour or so before showering. DH actually runs to and from the gym in addition to the workout whilst he’s there, so always returns home smelling and looking very sweaty. Our sofa is fabric material and I’ve explained to DH that I find him sitting on the sofa in his sweaty clothes terribly unhygienic. If I walk in to the living room whilst he’s in there the whole room smells. I also don’t understand how it’s possible to relax whilst sitting around in clothes soaked in his own sweat Shock

I’ve asked DH numerous times to shower beforehand, which I don’t believe is a big ask. DH says I’m being ridiculous and controlling. Apparently not one other person would have a problem with it and most people relax after getting in from the gym before showering. Please tell me who is BU here.

OP posts:
SillyLittleBiscuit · 05/02/2020 07:32

It’s grim. If I ever want 5 mins between running and showering I sit on bar stool or wooden floor.

Lockheart · 05/02/2020 07:33

In his partial defence, some people need to wait a bit before they have a shower, as they have to wait to stop sweating. If he got in the shower straight away his body would still be sweating when he got out and it would be pointless.

He should sit on a different chair or sit on a towel though.

Winesalot · 05/02/2020 07:33

Nope!

I grew up in a hot country and sweat will quickly ruin a sofa. And that was sitting on them just normally. The stains don’t come out and the sofa never smells fresh. Even big fluffy towels don’t really prevent it.

It is a good way to get rid of a couch you don’t like though.....

cologne4711 · 05/02/2020 07:37

I always come in from running and have a shower more or less right away. Apart from anything else, this time of year it is cold outside and I need a hot shower to warm up.

If he really doesn't want to shower right away make him sit on a towel!

Dozer · 05/02/2020 07:37

DH is U. Both for regularly getting sweat on the sofa and for seeking to gaslight you for complaining about it.

Sofas are very hard to clean and expensive to replace.

I often wait a while before showering after exercise, but if want to sit down use the wooden kitchen table chairs!

Monny1 · 05/02/2020 07:38

Yes, it is gross. My husband does this and l go mad. I think it is disgusting.

Crocky · 05/02/2020 07:39

I usually need to wait about 10-15 minutes after running but I do some stretches and stand in the kitchen having a glass of water. I wouldn’t sit on the settee!

Dilbertian · 05/02/2020 07:39

Damn, I guess I'm just lucky then. Dh is a long-distance runner and doesn't stink even after a marathon. On the rare occasion he does stink, we know it's time to replace that running top, as it's too impregnated with sweat to ever wash properly clean any more.

Original poster
Hullahoop · 05/02/2020 07:39

Smells rather masculine and yummy, actually

I can confirm that my DH certainly doesn’t smell masculine or yummy when he comes home in his sweat drenched clothes Hmm. The clothes are washed after each use too, so it’s not stale clothing that’s the problem.

I wouldn’t have a problem with him sitting on s dining table chair which could be wiped clean, but DH insists on sitting on the sofa.

OP posts:
TheNoodlesIncident · 05/02/2020 07:39

Shock Urgh! That is very, very grim.

Can't he put towels on the sofa, if he must sit there? My sofas have throws on them to protect them from the day to day stuff, I'd not be happy if they were getting sweat patches on them.

A couple of bath sheets should sort it, if he has to wait before showering.

londonrach · 05/02/2020 07:43

Yuk. He needs to shower or id put towels on the sofa and he has to sit on that to stop the sofa being damaged. Yanbu.

TwoleftUggs · 05/02/2020 07:43

Argh he’s gross and yanbu. My DH actually does the same thing after a run and I hate it but at least we have a leather sofa I can wipe down! He says he likes his muscles to cool down before his shower. So I feel your frustration.

Dozer · 05/02/2020 07:43

Well 120+ women agree with you OP.

AuntieStella · 05/02/2020 07:44

It's better to wait until you have stopped sweating before you shower.

Most people will have done so in way back from gym.

If exercising at home, or coming back in from a run, then a pause (stretching/talking fluids) is sensible. But it doesn't have to be on the sofa - standing in kitchen (and in summer in the garden) is fine - and what DH and I each do.

If your DH won't budge, then you'll have to get one of those dog-proof cotton throws and shout at him to put it under him every single time he approaches the sofa. And open the window whilst he's in the room as well as after

JiltedJohnsJulie · 05/02/2020 07:46

That is awful, and I have pretty low standards. I'd be piling the sofa hi with something like clean washing so he had no room to list on it and offer to move the washing while he was in the shower,

speakout · 05/02/2020 07:47

It is disrespectful OP.

Unpleasant for you and soiling furniiture.
Disregarding your feelings.

Do you wash his gym clothes OP?

speakout · 05/02/2020 07:48

Does your OH eat when he gets back from the gym OP?

Megan2018 · 05/02/2020 07:51

I sit on our fabric sofa in my horse riding gear-drives DH potty. Life is too short to be so uptight I say! It’s not your sofa, he can do what he likes on it, as can you.

TheGoodPlaceEndingSucks · 05/02/2020 07:53

Yeah, no, YANBU.

Could you compromise and ask him to sit on a large towel? DH does that too but we have the sofa covered with blankets (fleece is waterproof to a point) that get washed weekly (dogs and DC mess - plus, I am clumsy)

TheGoodPlaceEndingSucks · 05/02/2020 07:55

Also, 1001 carpet cleaner gets pretty much all stains and odours out. Follow up with some waterproofing spray for shoes (which stinks, so best at night with the window open).

username58788 · 05/02/2020 08:00

Definitely grim , a friend said this to me recently that after workout class she started doing various jobs around the house and it was a couple of hours before showering Confused. I said urgh but she didn't think anything was wrong . It's literally the first thing I do when I get in .

SunOnAll · 05/02/2020 08:03

It's disgusting and disrespectful.

He's not listening to you, doesn't care what you feel and he will continue to do what he wants. Is this normal for him?

Damntheman · 05/02/2020 08:07

@Dilbertian Or maybe your DH is just genetically amazing :D I'm very jealous, I wish I didn't smell gross after a lengthy run!

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/02/2020 08:15

He’s grim as fuck.

Does he know you’ve started a thread?.

Biancadelrioisback · 05/02/2020 08:18

Nah, I bollock DH when he comes home from rugby and sits on my sofa. It is my sofa, I bought it before I met him and it's my favourite thing I own. I take care of it having it restuffed and cleaned, but also enjoy lounging on it and snuggling all over it so it's certainly not a wrapped in plastic type sofa. But absolutely no way is anyone sitting on it if they're stinking. If DH tried I'd go get the shower curtain and make him sit on that first.