To not open windows at home ALL THE EFFING TIME

[R1cciteddy]

My mum is driving me mad with this… she constantly has her windows open at home. No matter the weather. Strangely it’s the kitchen windows she keeps shut. She’s always having a go at me for not opening my windows enough. I’m sick of it I don’t want to freeze. I do sometimes open windows when it’s cold for a bit of ventilation but NOT ALL THE TIME! Yes, my dad pays the bills, not her. Ps my bathroom and kitchen windows are open often. Please help as I’m made to feel like a bad person and that my daughter will have respiratory issues when she’s older due to ventilation. Yes my mother is nuts so they will be open when she visits! AIBU not to open them enough!?

You don't open the windows and have the heating on though - it's one or the other.

We haven't had the heating on at all since March, and we sleep with the bedroom windows open all year round (bar really stormy weather) too.

Personally I get a really bad headache if the heating is on too much or on too high - I'd rather have the windows open and use blankets, but everyone is different.

Yep, exactly the same approach here.

Not sure what your dad paying the bills has to do with anything.

I always open windows for at least a few minutes a day. Otherwise my house would smell.

Because to me its just an automatic thing to do each morning, houses need ventilation. I have my trickle vents open all year round and my bedroom windows (top) are always on the first latch so never fully closed.

You sound like my Dad. He hates having the windows open. My mum on the other hand loves having them open. She usually wins!

I love having the windows open.

YABU.

Well it's none of your mum's business so Yanbu there.

I'm a window opener, can't bear a stuffy house so windows in each room are open every day for a bit of fresh air (not when the heating is on though and not necessarily wide open). Stale air with added air freshener to cover it isn't nice.

I can't sleep without a window open (unless it's -3!).

Cold nose and warm snuggly body is perfect.

I sound like a dog 🐶

I always open the windows in the morning for a hour. I live up north and gets bitterly cold, I still do it.

If you don't your home can become damp and mouldy.

I keep the windows open a crack all the time in the bathroom and our bedroom. They get damp and smelly otherwise.

Upstairs windows open for a bit every morning regardless of weather all year round.

Does mum or dad have a lung condition?

Someone in my family is pretty keen on open windows and that's because she can feel it in her breathing when the air quality and oxygen level in someone else's home is low.

She once arrived at a relative's house, and immediately ran back outside and threw up on the lawn because the air inside was actively toxic.

(Fly spray and no ventilation, but she's not keen on plug in air fresheners and no ventilation either.)

It's not really any of her business but maybe she is trying to tell you that your house is a bit stuffy or smelly.
My mum doesn't like having the windows open, she thinks it looks 🙄 untidy🙄especially if the curtains get sucked out or flap a bit.
I can really tell the difference, their house does feel a bit stuffy.
I think my house is lovely and fresh, my mum probably thinks it is drafty and stuffy.

Our vents are open, bathroom windows occasionally opened, thats it in colder months. I wouldn’t open windows as I hate being cold. No damp or condensation. We have a big house with big rooms and doors between rooms are mostly left open, which helps.

I'm exactly the same. Woof woof.

Thanks I think I’ll air more often in the mornings then…. We used to always have bedroom window open all night as I get hot at night but don’t do it as much because we have a baby and don’t want her to get cold!!

I don’t think my house smells as I do open the windows regularly, just not constantly open

I'm confused by many people saying how they don't have the windows open when the heating is on but that they still have them open even in winter etc. For anyone worried about energy bills this is not very sensible. Even if you only have the windows open when you don't have heating on, you'll be causing the temp to drop inside (in winter) and then whenever you do put the heating on, you'll be using more energy to heat than if you'd just kept them closed! I'm definitely not doing this in this current climate (both economically and temperature wise!)

ventilation is quite important and a a general rule if the room is occupied then a window being open, even if it’s a few cm is advised, particularly if there are 2 or more people in the room. Hot air ( our breath) will encourage condensation if it’s cold outside and condensation can lead to mould and mould isn’t good for anybody. You really don’t need to worry quite as much if the room is unoccupied although I’d generally let some constant airflow. Obviously it does depend what kind of windows you have and sash windows that open from the top are ideal.
Importantly, you are very unlikely to freeze.

You might be quite right in saying your mother is nuts - let’s face it, most grandmothers are a bit dippy, but it may be she, like every other grandmother on the planet, is being a little overprotective and only wants the best outcome for you and your children.

perhaps a ventilation fan in the room is an option

"I tried to point out to him that some people will just open the windows anyway no matter what you tell them and will not keep them shut, but he said no they would keep them shut and it would be fine.

Go figure."

Easy, he's a bloke

We have some fancy air exchange system that keeps the house ventilated and trickle vents on every window. I still open windows when hoovering etc and if not cold, to get some fresh air in. Always have en suite windows open after showers etc.
Id not have the windows open when the heating is on / that’s wasteful.

So your Mom has all the windows open while the heating is on? Madness.
We don't have windows open in the cold and wet especially if the heat is on. All the trickle vents are open, and the cooker vents to outside and is on if we are cooking or baking, and both bathrooms have vents on when ever the light goes on and for a while after. House doesn't smell, we clean it.

Our bathroom window is permanently open and I open the bedroom windows for an hour or two most mornings.
The back door is also opened every day for a little bit, usually to let the fluffy overlord in and out 🐈‍⬛
I like to get fresh air into the house and eliminate the smelly stench of 2 teenage boys and their Lynx habit!

Same! I feel like I'm suffocating.

Even if it's minus degrees outside I always open windows for a bit during the day, otherwise the house feels dead and musty.

Same here 😂

I wake up with a stinking headache if our bedroom is too warm and stuffy.

My bedroom window is open all the time, unless rain is coming in or we are out. I open the kitchen window sometimes too and the velux on the stairs. I hate hermetically sealed houses.

I open all or most of the windows every morning. If it's cold when I get home from work I'll close them, if not they'll stay open. OH closes them before bed but I'd usually be happy with them open all night too!