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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:
Michellelovesizzy · 12/08/2020 19:54

Yeah hoover and just say that the cat was sick and u cleared it up x

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 12/08/2020 20:01

They already gave you permission to enter their house to look after the cats. The cats have messed up the floor, then I think that is part of looking after the cats and its a kind idea of your to bring your own hoover. TBH, they might not even notice as they don't know how much mess the cats have made unless you tell them. I probably wouldn't mention it or apologise or explain though.

NeiceyKnows · 12/08/2020 20:01

Personally I think it’s a really nice gesture. However I can see how some people might find it a bit intrusive so it is a tricky situation. I do feel that even if the vacuum cleaner broke they could still sweep up the cats mess and wipe down surfaces. If they didn’t feel a need to do it, then I don’t think they are all that bothered. If they have left you in charge of feeding their cat did they leave a contact number?? Maybe you can call and explain the cat has been sick and is shedding hair everywhere and as you’ve seen them throw away their vacuum, You’d like to give it a quick once over.

SurroundedByIdiotsEverywhere · 12/08/2020 20:02

Why not? Their vacuum has been chucked so just say you had a bit of spare time and thought you'd give it a once over for them...

catsmother · 12/08/2020 20:07

One of my cats bought in a live magpie while I was on holiday. It evidently (I saw the photos later) flew all round the kitchen pooing absolutely everywhere and when it was eventually re-caught, after feathers flying, was eaten and its bloody remains discovered by the person feeding the little monsters. Bless them - they properly cleaned and disinfected the kitchen, so I didn't have that to come back to and also bought me a new toaster to replace the one that had been well and truly shat in (obviously I repaid them).

Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with the OP doing a quick spruce up. It's a kind gesture and not judgemental. Apart from anything, with no one keeping on top of the cleaning, all the cat mess like spilt food and litter, plus fur shed, has been accumulating in the meantime and it's not hygienic to leave it especially when it's so hot.

MibsXX · 12/08/2020 20:11

@Justaboy

Very kind of you to do what your proposing but hells bells they can't afford a vacumm cleaner these days?

Thats I suppose, really poor:(

Any vacuum worth buying ie one that actually picks stuff up and has a chance of lasting, would cost me more than I earn in two weeks of hard work, just for some perspective here
ShonaClap · 12/08/2020 20:19

I would bloody love you if you did this for me. No need to even mention it to them. They will see youve taken good care of cat and house and be grateful.

TigerDroveAgain · 12/08/2020 20:20

Just clean it. Say nothing. Anything else is virtue signalling and will cause embarrassment

Cactuslockdown · 12/08/2020 20:26

It’s a lovely thought OP but I wouldn’t just in case

Ezzabean · 12/08/2020 20:26

I would absolutely hate it, I’d be embarrassed that someone thought they ought to.

Mere1 · 12/08/2020 20:39

Make it as clean as you can. Blame the cat suck/mess, if it’s mentioned.

Tattoocrazymum · 12/08/2020 20:51

You sound like a lovely neighbour who wants to help.
I wish my neighbour was that nice when she came in to feed my cats (2) while i went away for the weekend.
I came home to my hallway carpet saturated in cat piss and poo. She didnt change the litter tray once, and left the cat shit on the carpet (she offered to watch them, my BIL was originally going to)
I was going to pay her and get her some wine, i changed my mind after i seen my £400 carpet.

newmum332 · 12/08/2020 21:01

I’d definitely do it but tell her upfront you had to have a bit of a clean because of the cat being sick etc.

bloodynamechangethe3rd · 12/08/2020 21:34

I don’t have a cat, but if you want to come and water my plants while I go and camp in a field for a few days, and have a tidy up while you’re here I’d absolutely bloody love it.

ApplesandCustard · 12/08/2020 21:34

I think that it's lovely that you have been thoughtful. As others have suggested blame the cat litter and maybe say that you wanted to clean it up as it rolled everywhere but couldn't find their Hoover so brought yours round to do it as you didn't want to leave it in a mess. If you wiped the surfaces sooner rather than later, the smell of the cleaning stuff may go so you may not have to mention that.

aivilodraw · 12/08/2020 22:01

You are the neighbour dreams are made of haha, I think to give their living room and quick hoover and tidying their kitchen would so sweet just say the cat had made a bit of a mess with footprints and you didn’t want them to think you’d just left it. I don’t think your OP was judgey at all, we all know how hard it is juggling life with kids etc so to have a neighbour vacuum and wipe down the sides I’d be really grateful. As long as you don’t put things away etc how can they possibly be offended or annoyed?

Lubeylube · 12/08/2020 22:06

I wouldn't do anything. I used to feed the neighbour's cat whilst they were away. One day I walked in and it stank. I tracked the smell down to a room upstairs where it had pooped and I cleaned it up. When they came back the accused me if snooping upstairs! Never again.

Loreleigh · 12/08/2020 22:20

Our neighbour was feeding our 2 cats once when we went away for a few days. We came home and she's done the few bits of washing-up we'd left by the sink as well as got a few basics like bread, milk & biscuits and she's made the cat a cardboard box/house with a new throw in it! She's a lovely neighbour and we were very grateful. We feed her guinea pigs when she goes away and she didn't mind that we donated some fresh veg to them and left some in her fridge. We trust our neighbour and know if she did anything it would be with good intentions only. I think as long as you are not nosy or judgemental they might appreciate you clearing up 'after the cat' :) Maybe if you have more than one vacuum cleaner you could offer them one, or at least mention in passing they are welcome to borrow yours if they need to until they can replace their broken one. Some may see it as intrusive, others would see it as being a good neighbour.

Whiskas1Kittens · 12/08/2020 22:29

Maybe the cat 🐈 could have brought a bird in too 😉 so the feathers were everywhere?

hilariousnamehere · 12/08/2020 22:35

OP, I think this is a lovely gesture and would in no way be offended. With the heat and extra grooming, my fluffy cat is puking more than normal so I keep a very wary eye out for little hairballs meaty mucusy piles and I would cry if they were still lurking after holiday. Litter is a nightmare too so if you have time to wipe down and put hoover round, absolutely do.

But if you take a PPs suggestion to leave flowers, please check they're cat safe - lilies for example can kill quickly!

sjonlegs · 12/08/2020 22:35

I can't lie I'm a bit on the fence here - but I think your heart is in the right place and I actually think it's a really kind gesture.

I often went above and beyond when helping out my neighbours and friends, and as much as I'd probably be a bit affronted if friends did it in my house - I'd be equally appreciative.

You could easily use the excuse that the cat has made mess - as you mentioned here.

If you're wanting to help I think leaving some fresh bread and milk when someone has been away is also a really kind gesture.

Good luck

scubadive · 12/08/2020 23:32

You sound lovely but I think you dont know them Enough so best to leave.

Casschops · 13/08/2020 00:01

I'd love to blame poor tiddles for bringing in a bird but he is a house cat. Hence all the cat hair and cat litter accumulation.

OP posts:
Dazzedandconfused · 13/08/2020 00:05

I think that would be nice of you given the fact the cat has made a mess and it would be horrible to come back to. If you have their number give them a courtesy text explaining cat was sick etc but you've cleaned it and they seem to bit you'll keep an eye on it.

MairzyDoats · 13/08/2020 00:20

@donquixotedelamancha

I think that’s a great idea to blame the cat!

Dunno, I think if the cat has never vacuumed before it seems a bit unbelievable that it would start now.

This made me snort 😁