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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to give my neighbours living room and kitchen a quick clean.

461 replies

Casschops · 11/08/2020 10:51

My lovely neighbours have gone away on their holidays they don't have much money although work reaaaaally hard and juggle their childcare of their 10 year old son. They have gone to stay in annex of their relations home so have an absolute minmum on their holiday, a friend even drove them their as they struggle with money so much. Im feeding their cat. I saw the man chucking their vacum cleaner in the bin the other week and he was laughing saying they can't afford a new one ATM. The cat has been sick on the floor and flicked cat litter everywhere which I have cleaned up but I can tell that for some weeks they have swept the carpet and floor and there is a thin layer of cat hair and bits in corner of the rooms. It lools like it needs a good vacum the cat has also been walking on woŕktops in the kitchen and there are footprints on things generally lookin a bit hairy and in need of a good wipe as are the windowledges where he sits.
Would they think it odd if I gave everything a wipe down in kitchen and living room as well as mopped the kitchen floor and vacuumed the carpet. I just want them to come home to a nice fresh house or is this intrusive? I am absolutely not looking for people's judgement about levels of tidiness but would it be nice to give things a quick once over or just too much? We say hi on the street and chat but have never socialized with them just to give an idea of our relationship.
Thanks for any input.

OP posts:
mumof2exhausted · 11/08/2020 22:58

We went away for 3 weeks when we had builders in the house and when we came back they had emptied gone off food from fridge and bought us some stuff for dinner and milk / bread etc. And had washed up cups etc we had left (in a hurry ) for the airport. I was made up, it was so thoughtful

SpillTheTeaa · 12/08/2020 00:10

I don't think it's rude at all. You can just say you hoovered the mess that cat made and as there hoover is broken you thought whilst you were there you'd do the downstairs.

I have a hoover I used for about 6 months just a little beldray one it's not brilliant but it's just been sat in my cupboard for 2 years. Going to sound weird but they're more than welcome to it.

aspoonfulofyourownmedicine · 12/08/2020 11:35

I would do the rooms where the cat has been and just say you couldn't find the hoover so have used yours to clean up cat litter and fur balls.

I've been looking after my neighbours house/fish last week and noticed her washing machine was spilling out with washing. I was desperate to take it home, wash, dry and fold it all for her until DH pointed out I would be livid if someone did that to me as I'm very particular with how my laundry smells Wink

changemynametonight · 12/08/2020 11:45

Please do this, such a nice gesture! So that they don’t feel you are passing judgement on their cleanliness you could leave a note and say cat puked/made a mess so you‘ve done a quick vac/clean and have got most of the puke out of the carpet. You could also leave some milk and a load of bread. Wish you were my neighbour!

NanaGary · 12/08/2020 17:30

I think it's great. Please can you come and do mine?

MollyMinniesMum · 12/08/2020 17:31

I think it would be a lovely random act of kindness

Diva66 · 12/08/2020 17:31

Personally I’d be delighted to come home to a clean, welcoming house. You sound like a lovely neighbour OP.

Nikileigh · 12/08/2020 17:33

How kind. Maybe say you knocked something over so was just cleaning up your mess. I personally wouldn’t be offended I’d be grateful for someone cleaning my house

MummyofTw0 · 12/08/2020 17:33

So kind of you and I can see the sentiment but I dont personally think it's a good idea ad they might be embarrassed

You sound lovely though x

Swelteringmeltering · 12/08/2020 17:34

Usually I would think very intrusive, however in this specific situation I'd say do it and blame it on cat litter or something... Or plant pot knocked over.

But hoovering is not throwing things away or re arranging things is it...

MadMadaMim · 12/08/2020 17:35

I think it's a nice thing to do.

I'd leave a note saying 'hope you don't mind - I know your hoover packed in recently so I brought mine round and did a quick hoover downstairs.'

Jaded1 · 12/08/2020 17:35

I think this is very nice of you, and you can do it so long as you’re cleaning up after the cat. Don’t mention it, they may think they left it in a better state than they’d thought and be relieved that they don’t have quite so much to do xx

Marmite27 · 12/08/2020 17:36

I’d do it. If they mentioned anything I’d say about the cat litter and couldn’t find their hoover so brought mine round. It’d be petty just to do one spot, so did the room!

anonimum · 12/08/2020 17:37

Blame the cat sick but say you might have got a bit over zealous and before you knew it you'd done the whole room, sorry!
But don't polish, clean the toilets or wash the kitchen floor (unless the cat is sick there too...).

Belleoverandover · 12/08/2020 17:42

I did this for a neighbour whilst pet sitting. Hoovered round (downstairs only), dusted, wiped down kitchen and got milk, bread, cheese, butter and some ham. Meant at least they came home to a tidy downstairs and items to make a sandwich (she had 3 boys) and milk for tea/coffee.

Belleoverandover · 12/08/2020 17:43

Pressed enter by mistake. My neighbour was very grateful

lonelylou09 · 12/08/2020 17:43

I'd do it but bare in mind they may not be happy about it when they return.
I looked after my friends dog once for 3 weeks while they went to Australia, luckily she lived opposite so it wasn't too bad and I brought the dog home with me overnight so she wasn't alone. While they were away I blitz the entire house as she was always working overtime and it was a bit mucky. I thought it would be nice for her when she returned and once I'd started I couldn't stop. I even emptied the kitchen cupboards. She came back and never mentioned it although I was told from her partner that she was furious! She felt insulted and thought I'd gone too far to do anything other than feed the dog.
I honestly thought she would be pleased as I know I would be. We are still very good friends to this day but we've never spoken about it. Now if she asks me to feed any animals.. That's all I do! 🤣🤣

Elfblossom · 12/08/2020 17:43

1, The first commenter who asked why you're in their house - 👏👏👏 thanks for paying no attention resulting in 20 million comments explaining the OP's OP to you! 🤦‍♀️

2, Could you have a look on freecycle/local pages for a half decent free or cheap vacuum? (I'll happily chip in) - then do a hoover, mop and wipe over - bake a cake, get a pint of milk in and leave a note saying 'saw you throwing out your old vac, I have this one spare, it's yours (if you don't want it, just say I won't be offended) I gave it a quicker road test to make sure its okay and because I know what it's like coming back off your hols, you'll be shattered etc - hope you enjoyed your break away, kitty insert name has been a dream.

So long as you're not binning their stuff or moving anything, I'm sure they'll be delighted at such a kind neighbour they're blessed with.

MrsEricBana · 12/08/2020 17:44

Well I think you're lovely! I'd do it too, and have done similar, and just say the cat made a bit of a mess but don't worry I've sorted it, hope you had a lovely trip.
💐 for you - wish you were my neighbour 😊

MovinOnUp · 12/08/2020 17:45

I would and would just think of it as part and parcel of looking after the cat.
No need to ever mention it to the neighbours and if they ask, Just say you were cleaning up after the cat as she was sick.

Margerine78 · 12/08/2020 17:45

I'd do it, I think it would be rude if it in any way looked like you were judging (which might embarrass them), but in this instance you can blame it on the cat, say the cat knocked over loads of stuff so you gave it a quick once around. I think it's a kind idea.

Margerine78 · 12/08/2020 17:47

@MovinOnUp

I would and would just think of it as part and parcel of looking after the cat. No need to ever mention it to the neighbours and if they ask, Just say you were cleaning up after the cat as she was sick.
Sorry, I just saw you posted the exact same thing I did before I got there...note to self, read the thread before firing off opinions! Great minds though...
graysquirrel · 12/08/2020 17:48

I'd do it. But just say, oh the cat flicked a bit of cat litter around and walked over the unit so I gave it a quick hoover/wipe over in case they had dirty paws. How far you go with that clean is up to you.
That way you've done a nice gesture and nobody embarrassed as it was a necessity.

Mumgonenuts2020 · 12/08/2020 17:48

I am glad I don’t have a cat!! 😄my house isn’t spotless by any means and we don’t even Have any pets!!

Hodge00079 · 12/08/2020 17:49

I think there is nothing wrong with sorting cat sick or the mess it has been made.

Bit like the cat has made a bit of a mess. I wouldn’t like to have to deal with that when I just got back. So I thought I would sort it.