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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To clean neighbours’ kitchen

76 replies

novocaned · 02/08/2022 21:52

WWYD my neighbour has gone on hol and we’re feeding their cats. They’ve left a full bin, food mess on counters and a sink of dishes. It’s boiling here and there are loads of flies in their kitchen. AIBU to empty and clean the bin, clean surfaces and do the washing up? Will they feel judged? I would want them to do it if it were me rather than come home to house of flies and maggots.

OP posts:
ShinyMe · 02/08/2022 21:55

I would do it, for the sake of the cats who have to live in it, if nothing else. If it pisses them off then so be it, it's not right for living creatures to have to live in it.

knackeredagain · 02/08/2022 21:57

I’d drop a quick text, saying something like - it’s bin day tomorrow, want me to take yours out?

Kerrrmieee · 02/08/2022 22:02

Bin everything fly attracting and rinse plates but don't wash up.

Then just say popped your bin out for bin day.

Difficult - I'd be mortified and I am really untidy, but they can't come back to a house of maggots puke So, yes I'd remove anything fly attracting - rinse, but then leave where was rather than wash, dry and put away.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 02/08/2022 22:02

I’d just do it and say nothing.

UrsulaPandress · 02/08/2022 22:03

Hell no.

DDivaStar · 02/08/2022 22:05

I would empty the bin and clean any food and dirty dishes to stop the flies.

I wouldn't do too thorough job and wouldn't say anything. Maybe comment when they get back you put the bin out as it was so hot you didn't want it to get smelly.....

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 02/08/2022 22:06

Do the cats go outside? If you think they may take offence, could you say one brought in a live mouse and you saw it on the worktop so caught it and then cleaned as you couldn't be sure where it had been?

I agree it's not nice for the cats having to live in it if it's smelling and flies everywhere.

sunsetsandsandybeaches · 02/08/2022 22:08

It's neglectful to expect cats to live in that level of filth.

I would clean it for their sakes.

Itsthelookitsthelook · 02/08/2022 22:08

I'd do just the bare minimum to make it not disgusting and not mention it at all.

Stichintime · 02/08/2022 22:09

I think I'd have to clean it, but I wouldn't say a word unless they mentioned it!

carefullycourageous · 02/08/2022 22:10

I don't think the cats will be harmed by flies/maggots and unwashed plates for a brief period. It is not nice, but the cats will not be upset.

A580Hojas · 02/08/2022 22:10

I've done a tiny bit before when looking after neighbours cats.

Emptied kitchen bin into outside wheelie and got it on to the drive so that it would actually be collected.

Boiled a couple of kettles of water and poured it and a lot of washing up liquid over dirty dishes left in sink. Just to prevent maggots and flies. Yuck!

pinkstripeycat · 02/08/2022 22:17

Good idea by

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut

You can’t leave it. If my own cat hasn’t eaten all his food in one go I take it away because within minutes a fly will land on it and lay eggs.

cantley · 02/08/2022 22:23

Just send a text saying it's really hot and there's a lot of flies... do you want me to put the bin out and get rid of the dishes?

IllDoItButOnlyForTheAttention · 02/08/2022 22:34

I would, yeah. And I'm pretty messy myself and hate cleaning. But I couldn't leave that.

Airfriedpotatowitch · 02/08/2022 22:35

Yes as above if they come home to Maggots that is disgusting and they will be shocked you didn't do anything about it even though its not your job, rinse the food off tell her you're putting bin out wipe it down so no food then leave it

RewildingAmbridge · 02/08/2022 22:36

I'd just do it and assume they were running late before leaving and didn't get time

clippyclip · 02/08/2022 22:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

FangsForTheMemory · 02/08/2022 22:39

I'd empty the bins and chase the flies out, then stack the washing up. They haven't got a dishwasher, presumably?

FangsForTheMemory · 02/08/2022 22:42

I once went away for a couple of weeks, leaving a friend to feed my cats. At some point a bluebottle got into the kitchen and into the cat food and I'm not going to say any more but it was bloody dreadful.

maddy68 · 02/08/2022 22:43

Just do it

AllFreeOwls · 02/08/2022 22:44

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 02/08/2022 22:06

Do the cats go outside? If you think they may take offence, could you say one brought in a live mouse and you saw it on the worktop so caught it and then cleaned as you couldn't be sure where it had been?

I agree it's not nice for the cats having to live in it if it's smelling and flies everywhere.

I think this is an excellent suggestion.

Thinkingblonde · 02/08/2022 22:45

I’ve done it, neighbour had left me a key to feed her dog, let it out and take it for a walk. I went in on the first night to find the washing machine in action, she must have put it on delay. I didn’t want to leave it in the machine for a week so I pegged it out to dry. Brought it in when dry, folded it and left it on the table.

I also emptied the bin
They didn’t mind, she said she’d forgotten about the washing. Her DH’s supposed to empty the bin but forgot about it.

Veryverycalmnow · 02/08/2022 22:47

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

I hope he's ok, I think you need to start a new thread for this. Good luck

Bunnynames101 · 02/08/2022 22:48

carefullycourageous · 02/08/2022 22:10

I don't think the cats will be harmed by flies/maggots and unwashed plates for a brief period. It is not nice, but the cats will not be upset.

Quite the contrary. It's called fly strike. The flies could eventually lay eggs on the cats then the hatching maggots will eat them alive.

I would clean for the cats sake.

For the same reason I put what little energy I had into maintaining animal husbandry when I had COVID over the heat wave. I can rationalise my squalor and keep myself clean. My pets need help to do so and don't deserve to live in mess because of my temporary ineptitude.

Your neighbors should be embarrassed for leaving their pets to live like that while they swan off on holiday.

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