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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:
Pinkpepper9 · 11/08/2020 12:49

I think that’s a lovely idea, I would just leave a quick note to say you had a clean about as the cat had made a mess with their litter tray. Just in case they’re sensitive.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 11/08/2020 12:50

I'd do it!
"Neighbour, I know you mentioned the other day you had to scrap your Hoover so I've given the ground floor a quick flick round with mine to help til you get another one"

Wipe over the surfaces but don't mention that.

EatsFartsAndLeaves · 11/08/2020 12:52

I'd normally say no and hate someone cleaning my own house, but given you know their hoover broke I'd be really grateful if you brought your hoover round. Above and beyond on your part though.

IncrediblySadToo · 11/08/2020 12:54

You sound lovely 🌷

Personally, I'd be thrilled. Especially if my hoover had broken & I had a cat!!

You could just say the cat must be trying to shed its entire coat in this weather!

Some people are weird, take no notice of the MN Professionally Offended!

2bazookas · 11/08/2020 12:55

Do it and leave a note

" I'm afraid your cat ate something that made her very sick and shitty, she seems better now but the smell was awful so cleaned up. I didn't want you to come home to that . Hope pussy is OK

love from Casschops. "

MrTumblesSpottyHag · 11/08/2020 12:55

My old neighbour once told me she had been tempted to do my washing up while I was away but she didn't want to offend me. I told her to crack on- even if I wasn't away she was welcome to do it 😂

IncrediblySadToo · 11/08/2020 12:55

Just clarify im not talking about going any further the bottom of the stairs

She might put the cat tray up in the bathroom next time 🤣

forrestgreen · 11/08/2020 12:57

I'd send a text
Dn, the cat has made quite a mess with her litter so I've run my hoover over downstairs. Hope that's ok

Then she won't be shocked when she gets home.

CaptainMyCaptain · 11/08/2020 12:57

@Rossita

Why are you in their house?
She said she's feeding their cat.

I would be tempted too but they might be offended. Just clear up after the cat.

QuestionMarkNow · 11/08/2020 12:57

I would clean the mess that the cat has done (which means I would hoover the whole of the living room where the mess was)

But I don’t think I would do more (Eg. clean the worktops).

I would mention that you are happy for them to borrow the vacuum cleaner until they buy another one (if you are confortable with that)

Jeezoh · 11/08/2020 12:57

If you feel you have to make an excuse about why you did it, you must know there’s a good chance she’d be offended if you didn’t stretch the truth a bit!

SoupDragon · 11/08/2020 12:59

Hope pussy is OK

Bit personal.

PawPawNoodle · 11/08/2020 13:00

I'd do it, and say to them when they return mention to them that you did it to keep up their usual level of cleanliness so that they didn't have to do a clean when they got back. I wouldn't mention about seeing them chuck the hoover, just say you couldn't find it so you brought your own round.

You sound lovely OP and it's something I'd do also (however I'm only lovely a small amount of the time).

fwwaftp · 11/08/2020 13:01

Dn, the cat has made quite a mess with her litter so I've run my hoover over downstairs. Hope that's ok

I think I'd say that too.
I'd probably say the cat vomited on the kitchen worktop so I gave it a wash too.

I wouldn't exaggerate the cat being sick everywhere if it was only sick once as that could cause worry and they might even take it to the vet unnecessarily.

I don't think my cat babysitters have ever washed my worktops or hoovered the lounge but they've definitely swept up cat litter as I know what a mess my two can make with that sometimes and I've never come back to cat litter scattered around

samG76 · 11/08/2020 13:02

I would vacuum and if necessary make up an excuse. I knew someone whose friend was a bit of a hoarder (think unable to get into rooms due to piles of papers). When the friend went on hols the friend ordered a cleaning company in. Home owner came back to find place tidy and papers etc in storage - had nervous breakdown and called police. Never a good deed goes unpunished, as they say.....

Fleurchamp · 11/08/2020 13:02

I'd do it OP.

I had to go into my neighbour's house when they were on holiday because their house alarm kept going off. They had left food out on the work surface (their breakfast things, they obviously just rushed out) and there were mouse droppings in the kitchen.
So I cleared it away and cleared up the mouse droppings. I mentioned it in a text and they replied that they do have a mouse problem (which is nice to hear when we share a wall!) - not bloody surprised if they leave food out like that!!

BakewellGin1 · 11/08/2020 13:02

I would love to come home to a cat hairless and vomit free home. I would stick to downstairs but Id be over the moon if my worktops and carpet were free of cat mess and it smelt fresh and tidy.

You seem lovely

1940s · 11/08/2020 13:04

I would definitely hoover and wipe down the sides. I would blame the cat and mention it casually either face to face or on a note left on their worktop 'naughty cat flicked his biscuits everywhere and was sick yesterday too - I ran the hoover and mop round I hope you don't mind'
I wouldn't go into any other rooms or do the bathroom ;)

theemmadilemma · 11/08/2020 13:05

OP I would. Cat being sick is the perfect excuse. Maybe even a 'and I tripped and caught the litter tray a bit too... couldn't leave that for you to come home to, so I hope you don't mind I quickly ran my hoover over for you.

I think most people would be fine with that.

Chloemol · 11/08/2020 13:06

@Rossita

Perhaps if you reread the post you will see why she is in the house

Badassmama · 11/08/2020 13:07

Omg if someone cleaned for me while I was away I would be so damned grateful. Just don’t mention you’ve done it unless they ask, you can leave them a little note saying “hope you had a lovely holiday, cat all good, see you soon!”

FlamingGalar · 11/08/2020 13:11

I think it’s a really kind gesture, OP and I would be over the moon to come home to a paw print and cat hair free house.

Whenever I’ve looked after a pet or house sat for someone I’ve cleaned up after the pet or myself. I would find it incredibly rude if someone was looking after my house or pet and left a mess for me to come home to! Ive never considered it may offend to do the basics (not talking a full on deep clean or cupboard rearranging!). Part of looking after a pet for someone is cleaning up their mess surely?

I’m baffled as to why so many would take this as a slight on their cleanliness. I would always assume it was a kind gesture and take it as that.

ViciousJackdaw · 11/08/2020 13:13

I feel quite sad for those of you who would be offended. Has nobody ever done something nice for you purely out of kindness? More to the point, have you never done anything for a neighbour with no expectations before?

I'd just hoover up. If you text in advance, they are likely to say 'Oh no Cass, you've done enough for us as it is. We'll sort it when we get back.' Leave a note, say Mog is a messy sod and you had a quick tidy up. BTW, you seem like a v. nice person.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 11/08/2020 13:16

I'd be delighted if a neighbour did this for me....only on here can people turn a good deed into something that offends them.

pinkprosseco · 11/08/2020 13:17

You sound very kind. I'd blame it on the cat and do the cleaning