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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect a clean loo?

63 replies

Choochi · 17/10/2021 10:56

Mums' of boys, not sure how to ask this with out upsetting many, do your boys leave the toilet seat with urine droplets/ splashes everytime they've used the loo? I have no boys, just girls in the house. We have a play date with neighbours' kids, couple of boys and a girl, all under 8. I'm dreading it. When they've spent half a day here, the loo smells like a public urinal by the end of the day. Bathmats need changing once they've visited and not to mention the toilet seat 🤢 How do you deal with it.
YABU all boys are messy when it comes to a wee accept it and clean up
YNBU no not many do that, you are unlucky with your visitors

OP posts:
CatWarbler · 17/10/2021 11:04

My son was pretty good, but some of his friends were a bit like you describe. I'm trying to think back 20+ years......
It was just luck, I think? I don't remember going out of my way to teach him, but was fairly astonished at other kids' toilet habits. Not just the boys.
I tended to have a wipe round whenever I went in there to avoid it festering.

CatWarbler · 17/10/2021 11:06

I imagine I must have talked to my son about his aim.
I have heard the suggestion of putting a ping pong ball in the toilet because boys of all ages like something to aim for! Worth a try?

Angrynellie · 17/10/2021 11:09

@CatWarbler

I imagine I must have talked to my son about his aim. I have heard the suggestion of putting a ping pong ball in the toilet because boys of all ages like something to aim for! Worth a try?
But then you have to reach in and get it out? Or someone poos on it 🤮. I’d maybe start off by saying the bathroom is here and can you be careful when you use the loo please and hope for the best!!
RicherThanYew · 17/10/2021 11:10

My son splashes Angry but he cleans after himself (now), but his friend (aged 9) peed all over my floor, left it there and didn't tell me. What's that all about?

FlipFlops4Me · 17/10/2021 11:19

I used the ping pong ball method with my lad (and a designated tea strainer for fishing it out to dunk it in disinfectant). It did help, because very young boys can be fascinated by the stream coming out of them and tend to willy-wave for the fun of watching it...

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 17/10/2021 11:22

Doesn't the ping-pong ball flush away?

Original poster
Choochi · 17/10/2021 11:24

But do they actually find it hard to sit down like girls do is what I wonder. They are kids, I know but i really wish I had some way of asking in an inoffensive way before they've visited the loo!

OP posts:
SnowWhitesSM · 17/10/2021 11:25

You can get a target sticker for the back/bottom of the loo for aiming.

My ds doesn't wee on the seat as when he did he was always called back to clean it up until it sunk in that neither was his responsibility alone to wipe his own wee. He has friends that don't and it's minging Envy

SnowWhitesSM · 17/10/2021 11:25

You could just say a general - hey boys there's wee on the seat can whoever did it wipe it up please.

WeAreTheHeroes · 17/10/2021 11:26

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

Doesn't the ping-pong ball flush away?
No - they're really light and just float and can't be flushed.
Mxflamingnoravera · 17/10/2021 11:27

Tell them to sit down to piss. It is the polite thing to do and it stops piss going all over the place. I hate the way men spray piss all over the place simply because they refuse to sit down. It is normal in many countries for men to sit when using a western lav. Make it normal in your house or make them clear up their own piss. I have got my son out of bed and given him a rag and anti bac spray and told him to clean up after himself before now. I know that sounds harsh but when you are the only woman in a house full of men and boys it is just not right that you are left to clean up their mess. You have my sympathy.

GoldChick · 17/10/2021 11:29

Get a sign that says "if you sprinkle when you tinkle be a sweet and wipe the seat"

DeepaBeesKit · 17/10/2021 11:32

How old are we talking? Age 3-5 will need reminders to lift the seat & wipe the rim & help cleaning up splashes. It shouldnt be going all over the floor at any age, a child who is doing that is likely too young to be going alone without supervision.

Ds is rising 5, occasional drips on the rim but he always lifts the seat and it never goes on the floor!!

Plotato · 17/10/2021 11:33

@GoldChick

Get a sign that says "if you sprinkle when you tinkle be a sweet and wipe the seat"
This really overestimates many children's reading abilities Grin
Summerrain123 · 17/10/2021 11:33

Why can't boys sit down? Boys obviously find it hard to aim. Why can't parents teach them to sit when there is a toilet available. I don't understand it.

MintyGreenDream · 17/10/2021 11:34

Ds.7 aim is fine.As long as the seat is up there isn't a problem thankfully

lazyarse123 · 17/10/2021 11:34

Take the bath mat up when you know they're coming round. I got rid of mine. Dh and two sons none of them were bad but one pissed on mat was enough for me.

GoldChick · 17/10/2021 11:37

@Plotato could get them to make the sign?

FinallyFluid · 17/10/2021 11:39

I have been known to shame my DH and DS in front of guests by saying the toilet needs your attention, I reckon a toilet brush might be handy. Grin

You only have to do it once.

Steradent at 99p in Tesco, two of those dropped down the toilet and left generally does the trick.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 17/10/2021 11:42

My son never did this because I made him clean the loo everytime until he learned not to be messy. I dont want to live in a public urinal thank you.

CatWarbler · 17/10/2021 11:47

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

Doesn't the ping-pong ball flush away?
No, they are unflushable. I never tried it but I'm not too squeamish about donning a pair of rubber gloves and fishing it out if it needed a clean.
RonaKnob · 17/10/2021 11:48

I have a colleague, must be at least 50. He still can't aim. All over the seat and the floor and doesn't clean up. Yuk.

Phillipa12 · 17/10/2021 11:51

3 boys here. The aim gets better the older they get, my oungest is 6, oldest 13 and although I do fine droplets in the morning I'm a bit more forgiving than if I find droplets mid afternoon! My friends laugh as the only advice I give out on boys is to always check the loo seat before you sit down....

BrutusMcDogface · 17/10/2021 11:51

My son is 10 and is terrible. I’ve tried everything to get him to be more careful; he happily comes in and wipes up when I tell him but mostly just leaves it if I’m not around to notice straight away. Sad

YesitsBess · 17/10/2021 11:55

We had a stick on target! Flat so can be cleaned and doesn't acquire "residue" from anything else and boys of all ages were fascinated by it. Best £2 I ever spent!