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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:
ememem84 · 11/08/2020 11:57

I’d do it. And I’d also appreciate it if someone did it for me.

If cat has sucked and got litter everywhere surely the easiest way to get the litter is to hoover it? And you’d need to clean the sick anyway.

Thepilotlightsgoneout · 11/08/2020 11:57

Leave it as you found it. So clear up any mess made by the cat while they were away, but nothing more.

hammeringinmyhead · 11/08/2020 12:00

I don't think it has to be a big deal. Just leave a note saying I cleared up the cat hair, paw marks and litter at the end of the week, hope that's ok, love neighbour.

Casschops · 11/08/2020 12:00

Just clarify im not talking about going any further the bottom of the stairs. Just the living and kitchen area which is all one open plan space we have tiny houses so cat litter gets walked into everything. Im not proposing to move furniture or tidy up as it is all immaculate in that way. I just k ow what its like trying to clean up cat hair on a carpet witha brush.

OP posts:
TheTrollFairy · 11/08/2020 12:03

If the kitchen was clean before they left then I don’t think giving it a wipe over is intrusive at all, same if the cat has flicked cat litter on the floor and you hoover it up. You aren’t wanting to Mrs Hinch their house, just the basics of looking after a cat. Depending on how long away they are, I would get something like milk in for the fridge but maybe call them and ask if they want any bits in (like milk) for when they return so they can relax after they travel.

It’s a nice thing to do, I think you are over thinking it!

Haffdonga · 11/08/2020 12:04

Yes. Just the cat mess in the areas you are going in to.

They won't know anyway. They left it clean. They'll come home to it clean. My guess is they wont be demanding to know where the cat sick and litter has gone.

mrsBtheparker · 11/08/2020 12:04

I hate coming home to the destruction of our getting ready to go on holiday.

You are clearly not my former neighbour! They had everything ready the night before then when her OH and children were sitting in the car she went back in, dusted and hoovered the whole house!!!

TeaOneSugar · 11/08/2020 12:06

This is exactly why I won't ask ex MIL to feed my cat, I'd rather pay for a cat hotel or not go away.

PishPashPop · 11/08/2020 12:07

I'd give it a clean if it was me

My friend was rushed to hospital recently and she has a puppy. I went round to take puppy to my house and I gave her downstairs a quick do over

If people are struggling then they see it as a nice gesture, especially if your close already,

I didn't mention it to my friend but when she got home she was grateful. I would especially if their Hoover is broke

If you feel funny you could say the cat got the squirts and it was everywhere or it was sick,

userxx · 11/08/2020 12:08

You are clearly not my former neighbour! They had everything ready the night before then when her OH and children were sitting in the car she went back in, dusted and hoovered the whole house!!!

I'll be like that when i grow up, all organised and in control.

RandyLionandDirtyDog · 11/08/2020 12:11

I’d love you forever OP if you did this when I went on holiday.

Justaboy · 11/08/2020 12:12

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:(

minnieok · 11/08/2020 12:15

I would vacuum and wipe down the work tops. I would also have a look on Freecycle and make discreet enquires to see if anyone has a second vacuum cleaner they are giving away, we do but I know you aren't near me as we are locked down, no family visiting. I've been in the position of your neighbours, it's horrible to not be able to replace broken things

Purpleice · 11/08/2020 12:15

I would do it- it’s the mess left by the cat that you are cleaning up.

crosstalk · 11/08/2020 12:16

OP can you come and look after my dog cat?

I would text if you can (I wouldn't leave a pet to be looked after without some contact details but who knows?) and just say the cat's made a bit of a mess do you mind me sorting it out.

Or just sort it. I can understand people getting unnerved when an overbearing relative comes in and tidies/cleans and reorganises. But otherwise anyone objecting is being far too sensitive.

Under the stress they seem to be, given they are house proud, I think they'd welcome it.

alreadytaken · 11/08/2020 12:17

I'd clean up - but not mention that I'd done it. I'd just say the cat was sick and I didnt know why but it was only once and ..days ago.

You have to mention the cat being sick, in case it indicates a problem, you dont need to boast over cleaning up.

As their vacuum is broken I wouldnt consider it offensive, it would be if it wasnt broken.

If they mention it to you just say you know their vacuum was broken so you cleaned up after the cat made a mess.

Newnamenewopenme · 11/08/2020 12:17

Can you casually mention you dropped the cat litter so gave it a clean as a result?

Justgivemesomepeace · 11/08/2020 12:18

I would. Id just say 'I just ran the hoover round because I know yours broke and the cat had made a right mess.'

minnieok · 11/08/2020 12:18

They obviously are accepting some help because they did get the lift. He also did mention the broken vacuum so "here's a second hand one" is appropriate

WaltzingBetty · 11/08/2020 12:18

Do it OP
it's very thoughtful of you

RatanPostmaster · 11/08/2020 12:19

@FiveShelties

I would do it, but blame the cat for making a such a mess as to the reason I did it.
This.
Hotandknackered · 11/08/2020 12:21

I think it's lovely just do it. I'd literally love my neighbours for this!

ekidmxcl · 11/08/2020 12:22

I think you could reasonably say that the cat puked on the floor and got hair everywhere in the main room (lounge?) so you wiped and vacuumed it. Anything else could be overstepping.

Bargebill19 · 11/08/2020 12:22

I would. But then I would put milk. bread, cheese and butter in their fridge the night before they came home so they could have toast and a cuppa once they get home.
Someone did it for me when we were stoney broke yet had to make an emergency trip for family and I was so thankful they thought to do it.

Pobblebonk · 11/08/2020 12:22

Could you say the cat's been shedding an awful lot of fur because of the heat and also has been treading the litter around so you gave the place a quick once-over due to that?