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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:
TeamLucille · 27/10/2020 17:43

@yeOldeTrout

How do you gals keep the rain out, or is the window only "open"
It's usually a bit windy here when it rains, I just open the windows on the opposite side of the rain. In rooms with windows opened all day, I just open the top one.
fuckfuckingcovid19 · 27/10/2020 17:43

@yeOldeTrout I live in one of the wettest parts of the uk and tbh the rain doesn't come in the windows really. The roof shelters them I think.

Okbye · 27/10/2020 17:46

Yanbu, at this time of year I like the windows upstairs open after everyone’s showered to air it out. Only time I don’t is if it’s howling windy or absolutely pissing rain Smile

Spring/summer they’re open as much as possible or until the insects start coming in lol

Cuddling57 · 27/10/2020 18:04

Interesting thread regarding the condensation. We get loads! I'm constantly cleaning up mould too. It's a struggle. I try to open my windows but doesn't seem to fix it. Maybe I'm not leaving them open long enough!

Orcus · 27/10/2020 18:12

Not at all, it isn't particularly cold yet in most of the UK either. I get a bit nesh in proper winter but autumn airing is fine, especially as you have dogs so you'll want to be particularly proactive to avoid smells.

TeamLucille · 27/10/2020 18:15

Cuddling57
My bathrooms windows are opened (slightly) 10 hours a day! Full window opened only for an hour or so after baths and showers.

I don't have laundry in the house generally either. Clothes on radiators or heated airers are a nightmare for mould.

Original poster
SweetAlmondOil · 27/10/2020 18:29

@Cuddling57 yes, very likely. It takes a while for the fabric of the house to dry but after that you should be able to manage it easily with sufficient airing.

OP posts:
eaglejulesk · 27/10/2020 18:53

I don't live in the UK but it does get cold in winter. I have some windows which are rarely ever shut, including the one in my bedroom, and I open my back door often to get some fresh air. Having a house closed up all the time is not good - it needs to be aired. We even have people on TV in winter advising us to open windows.

Cuddling57 · 27/10/2020 19:21

Thanks for your replies.
Operation 'open window' starts tonight!

CheshireDing · 27/10/2020 19:29

YANBU. The whole back ground floor of our house is glass and I only closed the doors at 6pm because I needed the kitten to stay in.

Windows open on the latch on everyone’s rooms here overnight still and duvets folded back on the beds first thing til late afternoon.

I love fresh air 😂

SplitEndsNHairyLegs · 27/10/2020 19:33

I wouldn’t leave windows and doors open for a couple of hours in cold weather, no.

I crack bedroom windows open for 20 mins in the morning if it’s dry weather, and open the back doors that lead from my kitchen to garden when I cook.

Other than that, no. If I lived in the Mediterranean maybe, but not in London. Brrrrr.

shrill · 27/10/2020 19:58

I'm the only one that I know who opens the window daily but am shocked as I thought I was good opening them for a few minutes! I never see anyone opening their windows and I know because if I notice anyone's windows open I always think they must have a smelly room as it's so rare to see.

Now I am thinking I should build up to longer but could never manage a whole day in autumn or winter. Especially if out. How do you do it? Do you all use tumble dryers for everything? As for the question yabu for me I could not cope in a cold house.

billy1966 · 27/10/2020 20:00

Your house, your choice.

A couple of hours NO.

But 30 minutes every day.
I like a fresh house.

PumpkinPie2016 · 27/10/2020 20:09

YANBU - we often open the windows in the morning, especially upstairs and leave them for a couple of hours. No pets or anything, just like some fresh air in.

We generally leave all windows open a crack all the time unless it's very cold. We have a solid fuel stove which burns wood/coal and although it's lovely, if you don't have any air coming through it soon gets either stuffy or smells of burning coal.

echt · 27/10/2020 20:29

I live in Australia and have the bedroom sliding door to the outside open all year (with screen door) unless it's windy and rainy or too hot. Bedroom door kept open unless it's time for the aircon.

Front door left open to air the place every day first thing, and all day unless running heating. I have security screen doors so can do this.

Plussizejumpsuit · 27/10/2020 21:02

I like to air the house. But not a few hours a day. More like an hour or so once or twice a week.

PercyKirke · 27/10/2020 21:36

My DM would have windows open "for fresh air" in everything except driving rain.

DC3Dakota · 28/10/2020 04:18

I would totally have the patio doors and windows open as much as possible if I wasn't deathly afraid of spiders! They are all open all day long in summer and winter but right now during spider season it's just too risky!

Yep I know they live in walls and come through your drains etc I just don't want to encourage even more! 😱

DC3Dakota · 28/10/2020 04:21

@nokidshere

I have at least two windows open in the house all day every day until someone complains they are cold. My bedroom windows haven't been closed at all for at least 10yrs or more. I have a fan on all night in the bedroom too and one on in the living room whenever I'm alone in the house or if someone has closed all the windows.
Don't you get tons of Spiders?! Especially at this time of year
FreshfieldsGal · 28/10/2020 05:38

I go round the house opening every window. Love having fresh air in plus I never feel the cold anyway (perimenopausal)
I felt sick last night as DH had the heating on low and I felt like I was melting, I had to stand in the garden to cool off. Heating got switched off pronto 😂

cautiouscovidity · 28/10/2020 05:43

Two hours is quite a lot (not possible in our house as we leave for work / school). But we have ours open for a good 30 mins at least. It's important to air the house.

TW2013 · 28/10/2020 06:28

He also doesn't like wearing very warm clothes. He's happy with a shirt but then he's cold when he's here. I think that a cotton shirt this time of year is not enough as your only layer. Maybe I'm wrong.

You are not wrong, I often have utility room door open for the cats, helps air the whole downstairs. Dh will come in with a T shirt on complaining about how cold it is. It's not even really cold outside yet. He has the heater on full blast in the office as he currently works at home and I am sure part of the problem is that he goes from sub saharan temperature to normal British autumn temperature in three steps. He also puts the heating on all day, whereas I (permenantly working at home) prefer to snuggle in a blanket with some fresh air.

At least you know what to get him for Christmas, a lovely snuggly jumper which he leaves at your house and you produce every time he mutters about the temperature.

HintOfVintagePink · 28/10/2020 06:39

Yanbu. I love fresh air too. All bedroom top windows are left open with duvets pulled back for an hour or so whilst everyone gets showered and dressed. Downstairs windows and kitchen doors are opened when I head downstairs and closed when we leave the house, so perhaps an hour a day? Our windows are quite sheltered and we don’t open the doors in driving rain.
I do love fresh air and the outside though and would have the whole back of the house off in summer if I could!

fishonabicycle · 28/10/2020 06:45

I like fresh air and open windows during the day for a little while, even when its very chilly, but not wide open and not doors mid winter when its freezing.

Sheknowsaboutme · 28/10/2020 08:22

Im the same. Once DH leaves the house I open all!

I hate the staleness of a house. His mum NEVER opened windows. It was dusty, smoky, hot and disgusting. She had mould growing in one room so bad it ruined the walls.

You’d think he’d learn a lesson from that and how important it is to air the house