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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How often do you clean your doorstep?

112 replies

ChiaraRimini · 16/08/2021 19:12

NDN being weird AF...always bothers me, with young DC, how friends and family bring dirt into the house, especially with COVID. So I always clean my step everyday as well as mopping downstairs floors. Neighbour thinks I'm being obsessed who's right?

OP posts:
Booboosweet · 16/08/2021 20:54

Never

Meatshake · 16/08/2021 20:54

Fuck me, every day?? 1930s called... They want their donkey stone back 🤣

MadeOfStarStuff · 16/08/2021 20:56

You have far too much time on your hands if you’re cleaning your doorstep regularly

steppemum · 16/08/2021 20:56

we have pvc door, with white step, so I do clean it, about once a year! Which is about as often as I wash the outside of the door.

Inside we have huge cir mat and then carpet. Gets hoovered once or twice a week. but only because we have a dog. Before that once a week.

ProfessionalComplainer · 16/08/2021 20:59

Doorstep gets washed when it rains.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 16/08/2021 21:01

First key washing-now this.

And I have never known anyone in real life who made people take their shoes off when they entered their house. Not one. I have lived in 2 countries-lots of different locations and it has never happened.

Spidey66 · 16/08/2021 21:05

Occasionally shake the mat and sweep the step. I did it the other day. About twice a year?

Spidey66 · 16/08/2021 21:10

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

First key washing-now this.

And I have never known anyone in real life who made people take their shoes off when they entered their house. Not one. I have lived in 2 countries-lots of different locations and it has never happened.

I'm with you on this. I do take my shoes off at home but it's not all the time and it's not a rule. I work as as community nurse and occasionally when I'm doing home visits I'm asked to. (Often in Muslim families, not sure if there's a cultural thing in place there.) But outside of that I don't think I'm ever asked to remove my shoes.

But in the parallel universe that is MN, I'm a minority and I'm a filthy slattern as well.

FangsForTheMemory · 16/08/2021 21:13

I don't.

Singinghollybob · 16/08/2021 21:16

I've never cleaned it. It gets brushed twice a year when I cut the hedge and clear away the leaves but that's all

FlowerArranger · 16/08/2021 21:16

I always clean my step everyday as well as mopping downstairs floors

How often does your husband clean step and floors?

MrsClatterbuck · 16/08/2021 21:17

This brings back memories. My DGM used to scrub outside her front door on her knees. Last house I might once in a blue moon pour hot water with bleach over the door step. If I had got down on my knees to scrub it the neighbours would have thought I had lost my marbles. I don't have a proper doorstep in new property as it's just a continuation of my front path.

Dontwatchfootball · 16/08/2021 21:23

A couple of times a year when I think of it. It would never occur to me to do it every day!

Daisy62 · 16/08/2021 21:26

Sweep it very occasionally. Haven’t washed it yet as I’ve only lived here 30 years…

SomebodysMum · 16/08/2021 21:27

@OhGiveUp

Once a week when I clean the front door, wash the doormat cover and sweep the path. Just something I've always done.
Wait what we’re supposed to clean the door too?! 🤯
Shodan · 16/08/2021 21:35

I wash mine whenever I power wash the crazy paving in the front garden. Usually once every two years or so.

I like using the power washer and will try and clean anything nearby, if it doesn't move fast enough Grin

steppemum · 16/08/2021 21:37

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

First key washing-now this.

And I have never known anyone in real life who made people take their shoes off when they entered their house. Not one. I have lived in 2 countries-lots of different locations and it has never happened.

well, in large parts of Asia it is automatic and everyone takes shoes off, to the extent that if you have a party there is a pile of shoes outside the door.

Right across South Asia, South East Asia, Central Asia, Middle East...

It is also common in many countries where there is snow in winter, eg in Canada, Russia.

pretty much every muslim country too.

So I really don't think that the 2 coutires you have lived in are typical.
If anything, Uk is unusual in this.

Aisforharlot · 16/08/2021 21:47

Every 6 minutes. Anything more would be neurotic.

HintofVintagePink · 16/08/2021 22:06

We have a white doorstep. The window cleaner washes it down every six weeks. I might sweep it if I’m watering the outside pots and notice it needs some attention. Perhaps once every few months I wipe down the doorframe and front door itself.
You’re not weird OP!

SofaSpuds · 16/08/2021 22:08

@Aisforharlot

Every 6 minutes. Anything more would be neurotic.
Anything less is just squalid 😂
Ninkanink · 16/08/2021 22:15

We sweep/tidy our step, path and stone stairs maybe once a month. We wipe down/wash the front door when the windows get done which is also about once a month.

I’m not in thrall to the ridiculous notion that my home must always be spotless. I’ve got better things to do with my time than be an unpaid housekeeper.

BakedTattie · 16/08/2021 22:17

I didn’t even know this was a thing.

LuaDipa · 16/08/2021 22:17

I’m so glad the general consensus is never, I can breathe easily having only occasionally swept mine.

My dear departed Nan would think us all very slovenly, but in fairness she will already be turning in her grave at the fact that I just sling my whites in the washer without first boiling them in detergent in a huge pan on the hob.

RiverSkater · 16/08/2021 22:18

Never - I hated seeing my mum scrubbing the doorstep.

tootiredtospeak · 16/08/2021 22:21

I dont have a doorstep