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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask husband to clean layers of dust?

74 replies

ImmyMc · 20/09/2021 15:57

For context, I am five months pregnant and exhausted. I work full time (this week, I worked 5.5 days, as I sometimes have to work Saturdays), and I am also studying for a masters part-time, which I am trying to complete before the baby is born. This masters is 20 hours a week. I work, at my actual job, between 40 and 55 hours a week, depending on the week.

My husband is not currently in paid employment, but he is working unpaid on developing his own business, and he is often working 10-12 hour days or more on this. He also wants to launch the business before the baby is born, so he is trying to get it completed before then.

The house has not been properly fully cleaned since the beginning of July (no judgements, please). By cleaned, I mean dusted, floors washed, bathroom washed etc. There are quite thick layers of dust on all the furniture, and some cobwebs in the corners.

My husband does clean the kitchen more often than me, but usually the kitchen is a state. I often leave dishes, especially at the moment as I am falling asleep at night on the couch and getting up early for work, and he usually does those dishes. He also cooks every night for us. He sometimes gives the house a tidy once a week, and often it is my clothes etc. that is lying out. However, he never actually cleans the house, and he leaves things lying out as well, for example dishes etc. all over his work desk. I don't keep the house tidy or clean either on a weekly basis, but I always give it a thorough clean during my holidays (I work term times, so I have holidays every 5 or 6 weeks or so).

Basically, his parents arrive to stay with us on Wednesday. I have been asking him for about a week to start cleaning the house, as it needs a proper clean for them arriving. It is really dirty and dusty, and I feel like I just don't have time to clean it properly, but that it's not fair on them to arrive to stay in a dirty, dusty house. For example, the tiles in the bathroom are thick with limescale that has gone pink, and the floors badly need to be washed. However, we had a big fight tonight where he said he isn't going to be "pedantic" and dust "random bits of surfaces" for his parents coming out. But I'm not talking about a normal once a week dust that isn't obvious. I'm talking about surfaces that haven't been dusted in weeks.

We had a two-hour argument about it. It seems he thinks that I was unreasonable for pointing out things that he hadn't cleaned yet, for example, the cobwebs and the tiles. I did not mean it this way - he often doesn't see dirt and dust, so I just meant to point those things out to him for him to do, but he has taken it as me being a dick about it. Perhaps he is right about that, even thought it wasn't intentional.

However, the other part of our fight is my anger that he believes that he is doing more than me because he is working sometimes 12 hours a day on his business. He thinks because I take breaks while I work that I am working less than him. I am angry, though, because I am working full time, doing my masters, pregnant, and because I also do almost everything for preparing for the baby, i.e. sorting out the welfare applications, leasing a new car, getting our documents together etc. It takes up a lot of my time, plus midwife appointments etc.

I understand my husband also has a deadline of January, but my "deadlines" (i.e. the hours I have to be at work and the essay deadlines for the university this month) are immovable. But he makes his own hours. To my mind, he could easily take a day off his work, clean the house, and then make up the hours after his parents have gone by working an hour or two extra a day. I just can't do that.

Who is being unreasonable here? Or are we both being a bit unreasonable?

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 20/09/2021 16:01

You both have a lot on your plate. Get a cleaner.

MrsRobbieHart · 20/09/2021 16:01

You’re both far too busy and tired for this tbf. Just hire a cleaning company to come in and blitz the place tomorrow.

Comedycook · 20/09/2021 16:04

I don't want to worry you but how on earth are you both going to cope when you have a baby? Even with work and study, I'm baffled that two adults can't keep their home clean.

EmbarrassingMama · 20/09/2021 16:04

Jesus Christ, your lives sound exhausting. Get a cleaner.

MrsRobbieHart · 20/09/2021 16:07

I'm baffled that two adults can't keep their home clean.

You must be easily baffled then. OP has literally explained how they are spending their time.

ScaredOfDinosaurs · 20/09/2021 16:08

He has flexibility, you don't.

Being brutally honest, he needs to do it. It's his parents coming, so in your shoes I'd just ignore the issue. If they judge you for not doing it when you're pregnant, studying and working FT then their opinions aren't worth bothering with.

If your husband thinks that his business prep is more important than cleaning up before his folks visit, so be it. It certainly isn't more important than your paid employment, studies or sleep.

Samafe · 20/09/2021 16:10

@Comedycook

I don't want to worry you but how on earth are you both going to cope when you have a baby? Even with work and study, I'm baffled that two adults can't keep their home clean.
This, not cleaning for weeks? Something has to change, I would suggest a cleaner. If you struggle so badly now it will be only worse once the baby is here
BeggingCandle · 20/09/2021 16:11

Oh this is going to end well when the baby arrives if you're already arguing over cleaning and competitive tiredness now.

FFS, just get a cleaner.

pelosi · 20/09/2021 16:11

He is waiting for you to do it.

Could you stay elsewhere whilst parents visit? Your mum’s etc?

pelosi · 20/09/2021 16:12

@BeggingCandle

Oh this is going to end well when the baby arrives if you're already arguing over cleaning and competitive tiredness now.

FFS, just get a cleaner.

Nor everyone has £80-100 to spend on cleaners each month.
SylvanasWindrunner · 20/09/2021 16:13

You really argued about it for two hours instead of both just blitzing it?

Honestly, just sort a time every day to do a 20-min whizz round with two of you. You'll get a lot done and if you're both doing it at the same time then no one feels aggrieved by what the other is doing (or not doing). Keeping the house clean is both mine and DH's responsibility so we do it together. Find a time you can both just go hell for leather for 20 mins. Or just get a cleaner if you can afford it.

pelosi · 20/09/2021 16:15

@SylvanasWindrunner

You really argued about it for two hours instead of both just blitzing it?

Honestly, just sort a time every day to do a 20-min whizz round with two of you. You'll get a lot done and if you're both doing it at the same time then no one feels aggrieved by what the other is doing (or not doing). Keeping the house clean is both mine and DH's responsibility so we do it together. Find a time you can both just go hell for leather for 20 mins. Or just get a cleaner if you can afford it.

It’s all very well saying ‘blitz it’ but she can’t make him do it

Time to have a serious chat and in the meantime leave him to manage his parents’ visit alone.

DogFoodPie · 20/09/2021 16:16

What are his parents like? Are they nice, would they pitch in with a bit of non-judgemental cleaning?

viques · 20/09/2021 16:19

That two hour argument could have been four hours of combined house cleaning! I know you are both exhausted but you need to get yourselves a bit more organised. When the baby comes you will be knackered and he will be even more involved in the business.

Twenty minutes a day each, (combined ) that is forty minutes of cleaning , it would be plenty. One of you tidy and dust the other mop or hoover. You could do two rooms a day. After the first week it will easier, you could probably reduce that time. Draw up a timetable , make sure you have cleaning cloths/products in the right places.

viques · 20/09/2021 16:21

And stop leaving your crap all over the place, pick up after yourselves like adults.

thenewduchessofhastings · 20/09/2021 16:21

I'd be more concerned about what happens when your baby arrives quite frankly as it sounds like you'll be 100% responsible for your baby,the house and all that comes with it plus returning to work undoubtedly early as he won't be able to financially support the 3 of you and you'll be doing it all plus working and covering the cost of nursery etc too.

What the hell is he setting up unpaid that takes 12 hours a day every day?

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 20/09/2021 16:23

You must both be pretty tired. But half the battle would be won if you both tidied up after yourselves. Put clothes away or in the wash, wash up dishes or put in the dishwasher. It isn't that massive if you break it down. I agree with pp that you need to do little and often to keep on top of it but in this instance either go the route of hiring a cleaning company for tomorrow (not sure what your chances are of availability) or leave it and rise above any judgement from his parents.

Droite · 20/09/2021 16:25

Off the point - or maybe not - but what welfare applications do you have to sort out?

Samafe · 20/09/2021 16:25

@thenewduchessofhastings

I'd be more concerned about what happens when your baby arrives quite frankly as it sounds like you'll be 100% responsible for your baby,the house and all that comes with it plus returning to work undoubtedly early as he won't be able to financially support the 3 of you and you'll be doing it all plus working and covering the cost of nursery etc too.

What the hell is he setting up unpaid that takes 12 hours a day every day?

Honestly from OP it sounds like they are both not doing housechores, with DH doing actually a bit more.... I think they need to find a new plan....or a cleaner.
Limejuiceandrum · 20/09/2021 16:27

My parents / well mum would just help me. But she also wouldn’t judge if it wasn’t tip top
BUT
It’s up to the person who’s parents are coming to make most of the effort and if he’s not fussed what his folks think then just don’t be fussed either

Also if you can afford to get a cleaner ASAP. You need one, and it sounds like you could possibly afford one

ScotsMumOf4 · 20/09/2021 16:28

Sorry but if you both between yourselfs can't keep up with your house while you don't have a baby then you are in for a shock. Were you cleaning during the 2 hour argument or just wasting time 🙄

Go back to basics and make up a cleaning rota or a tick list so you both know whats done and still to do. I feel like I'm being a bit nasty saying this but grow up!

Rosiiiiie · 20/09/2021 16:36

Get a cleaner! Get one before Wednesday as a one off for a deep clean or get a weekly one for a few hours to do floors and bathrooms. It’ll save your sanity in the long run!

cookingisoverrated · 20/09/2021 16:42

I agree with a previous poster: he has flexibility, you don't.

You have hard deadlines; he doesn't. Plus, he's not bringing in any money right now either,

He needs to find the bulk of the time to keep the house clean between the two of you.

iwillalwaysloveyou · 20/09/2021 16:42

the bathroom hasn’t been cleaned since july? 🤢

SylvanasWindrunner · 20/09/2021 16:44

It's just such a waste of time for both of them, though, sitting arguing about cleaning for two hours when they could have just gone and done it, even just spent a quarter of that time, and the house would be a lot cleaner!

It sounds like neither of you are keeping on top of the daily stuff, so I'd be looking at trying to find a new method that works because the current situation seems bad for you both.

If you want a clean house, you have to clean it - I know it sounds simplistic, but that's what it boils down to and it sounds silly but once I accepted that as a truth, it made things a lot easier.

Why not sit down and instead of blaming each other and arguing about dust, work out a rota or way of doing things that will mean the house is getting some attention. TOMM works well for us but there are other methods or ways of scheduling your time. Having set tasks on set days is helpful for us because we each know what we need to be doing on each day, so we just go and do it. And once the house starts to get cleaner, you'll find you want to put your stuff away. When things slip, it's easy just to fall into the trap of 'Oh well it's already horrible so what does it matter?' and then things spiral even further.

And if you keep on top of it, then you won't have to spend a whole day cleaning because someone is coming to stay or visit. I've done that, lived that life, and it's horrible and stressful.

In terms of his parents' visit, I'd get what the both of you can get done in a burst together - a hoover, mop, clear away clutter and get bathroom clean – and just leave the rest and think about tackling that after when you've worked out a better way to handle things. Think of his parents' visit as a catalyst for changing how you approach things, rather than worrying about cleaning for this one event.