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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to open the back door and the windows for a couple of hours in the morning this time of year?

158 replies

SweetAlmondOil · 27/10/2020 13:20

My OH (we don't live together) says I'm obsessed with fresh air and wishes I didn't open the back door and most of the windows every morning for a couple of hours when the weather is no longer mild as it is in the summer. He's quite happy to open a window for ten minutes and that's it. When I stay at his I wish he did get more fresh air in but it's his place and he can do as he pleases of course.

I like to get fresh air in the house in the morning, especially since I have three dogs (the place - I've often been told - does NOT smell of dogs. Possibly because there is no carpet in the house and the dogs are not allowed on the beds and because of the above window opening!) and believe it's important to get rid of the overnight, stale air and also try to discourage mould/condensation, bacteria, etc. linked to not opening windows for long enough, often enough.

The heating isn't on when the door and the windows are open but comes on afterwards. I do admit that in between me closing everything and the place getting warm it takes a little while because the fresh air is cooler than the air that was in the house. So I was wondering whether IABU.

OP posts:
Zaphodsotherhead · 27/10/2020 16:10

I'm another one who opens the doors and windows for a few minutes every morning (unless it's sub zero outside) and sleeps with the bedroom window open.

XP has his house locked up like Fort Knox at all times and won't open doors or windows even in summer (in case flies get in).

I think there are just different types of people. If the house is chilly I put on another jumper rather than cranking up the heating too...

Oysterbabe · 27/10/2020 16:10

I would absolutely hate this. A couple of hours? Completely unnecessary.

yumscrumfatbum · 27/10/2020 16:12

I have the small bedroom window open all year around. Bathroom window open for a couple of hours each morning. I find the house a bit stiffling without a bit if air through. Aside from the bedroom window I do tend to shut all windows if we ve put the heating on. We have an attic bedroom if I open that window it creates an amazing breeze through the whole house Grin

Tiredmum100 · 27/10/2020 16:14

Every morning I make all the beds (3 bedrooms) with the duvets pulled back, open all the windows after everyone is dressed and downstairs apart from me, I go in the shower, dry hair etc so takes about half an hour, go downstairsopen living room window and back door to blow the air through (and get rid of the cat food smell as dh will have just fed them). Then I have breakfast get myself ready for work and the school run, then back up to clean my teeth and close all the windows before leaving for work so the house has at least a 90 min air in the morning. On weekends I do the same, but will leave the windows open for longer. We have no damp in our house. Can't stand up aired rooms or beds! I usually open my bedroom window when I get in from work and sometimes the bathroom window to get air through.

Valkadin · 27/10/2020 16:21

There is a small window open just a little in every room all year round. The only ones that get shut are downstairs overnight. We had to shut bedroom windows one winter when it was minus 17.

jonny9487 · 27/10/2020 16:25

Do know what people get up to in their houses to feel the need to keep the windows open all day in the winter 🤣

stackemhigh · 27/10/2020 16:28

I do try and leave the windows open for a couple of hours before the heating goes on, so YANBU.

ReneeRol · 27/10/2020 16:44

I have every window open for at least half an hour every morning, more now that I'm working from home. Makes the place feel cleaner for the rest of the day.

bellinisurge · 27/10/2020 16:49

Bathroom window open all day. Landing window open all day. Our bedroom window open all day. This is now we are working at home. What windows are left are generally open for at least an hour. Or they are forgotten and open all day.
Our bedroom window generally open all night too.

LakieLady · 27/10/2020 16:54

Twenty minutes or so, maybe but imo 2 hours is a bit long.

LakieLady · 27/10/2020 16:54

@jonny9487

Do know what people get up to in their houses to feel the need to keep the windows open all day in the winter 🤣
In our house, it's mostly farting!
FangsForTheMemory · 27/10/2020 17:03

I’m with you on this and am moving into a house soon and really looking forward to being able to sleep with the windows open after 20 years in a ground floor flat.

AmuckAmuckAmuck · 27/10/2020 17:05

I open windows on a sunny day. Drives DH mad and he complains I'm 'heating the street'.

We have Tado heating installed that senses when a window is open and shuts off the heating in that room anyway so unsure why he moans about it.

ChocolateCherrybomb · 27/10/2020 17:08

I had a minor ding dong with DH over fresh air this morning.

It was 26 degrees in our very well insulated living room (yeah, I bought a digital wall thermometer to stop him telling me it was freezing all the time and that I was imagining him trying to boil my face off with his refusal to turn the damn electric fire off for three seconds if the outside temperature dipped below sub tropical) so I opened the door.

Oh praise be, cool fresh air.

My lungs took it in greedily.

Three minutes pass.

Him: Do you want that shut?

Me: Not yet.

Him: You sure? I don't want to freeze you death!

It's him who wants it shut, I don't know who he thinks he's fooling because it's certainly not me.

The same thing happens every single bastard time I open a freaking door or window.

You might freeze to death! (Unlikely, you tit. UK not Antarctica!)
The neighbours might hear us! (And? So what! Will consist of 'cup of tea?', not hard shagging and discussing state secrets)
Scary flying things might come! (So? Fucking hit em with the swatter you lazy sod)
It might get windy and start banging (?????????)

He always sits there in shorts and a tee shirt going "b-r-r-r-r-r", rocking slightly with his shoulders hunched forward and his arms wrapped around his body before applying long socks and the tatty fleece he keeps on the back of his chair with a demonstrative flourish of resentment.

He really pisses me off with this routine because he makes out he wants to shut things for me.

This morning I told him that if I wanted it shut I would ask or do it myself.
He said that he was only thinking of me.
Cobblers.

TeamLucille · 27/10/2020 17:11

@jonny9487

Do know what people get up to in their houses to feel the need to keep the windows open all day in the winter 🤣
Grin

cooking, laundry, showering, breathing...

Fresh air feels nice with the windows wide opened, and left on the shortest latch in some rooms during the day doesn't cool the house down. I live in South East, not in Alaska, to put it in context

Roominmyhouse · 27/10/2020 17:12

I think people who are very warm underestimate how much some people feel the cold! I like fresh air but I feel the cold so easily so couldn’t have my windows open long on a chilly day without being really cold very quickly. Have been working in my conservatory today in thick socks, slippers, a hoody and a blanket and my I was still cold. There is no way I could have a window open too!

Original poster
SweetAlmondOil · 27/10/2020 17:14

I get you @ChocolateCherrybomb - surely in winter you should wear more than a layer? And certainly long sleeves and trousers? My OH is the same: puts on a cotton shirt and then complaints!

OP posts:
Ignoringequally · 27/10/2020 17:19

@SweetAlmondOil

I get you *@ChocolateCherrybomb* - surely in winter you should wear more than a layer? And certainly long sleeves and trousers? My OH is the same: puts on a cotton shirt and then complaints!
I hate being overly trussed up at home. I wouldn’t sit around in shorts and t-shirt in winter but equally I’m not going to wear three jumpers when I could just shut the windows!
Pesimistic · 27/10/2020 17:19

I'm a window opener, my mum and sister always comment on how I have my windows open even in winter, I like to air my house out so its fresh, if not theres all horrible stagnant air floating about, nothing wrong with lovely smelling fresh cool or cold air coming in the house for a few hours, especially if you cant get outside that day and actualy get some fresh air.

fuckfuckingcovid19 · 27/10/2020 17:21

I air the house daily too, how long for depends on my other plans that day.

Rockbird · 27/10/2020 17:21

Upstairs windows are open all day as long as someone is in the house. Same with the back door because we don't have a cat flap but we have demanding cats! This is all year round, I hate stuffy houses.

fuckfuckingcovid19 · 27/10/2020 17:26

I do feel the cold too but when the windows are open first thing I'm not sitting still long enough to get cold. I'm getting breakfast sorted then tidying that up, getting ds dressed etc, sorting the beds & tidying up then showering and dressing. By the time I've done all of that the house is sufficiently aired and we can close them :)

Jaxhog · 27/10/2020 17:28

I'm with you OP. Houses can get stale and musty very quickly. Fresh air is lovely.

yeOldeTrout · 27/10/2020 17:31

How do you gals keep the rain out, or is the window only "open" < 3 inches? I live in the dry part of the country but don't like my windowsills & floors getting soaked.

Lily193 · 27/10/2020 17:43

I like the windows open as much as possible and frequently leave our office door open so the dogs can come and go as they please all day. I hate stale houses.