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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why am I like this? Disgusting car

215 replies

StupidFaces · 28/04/2023 07:26

I’ve always been quite a scruffy person when it comes to housework etc but in the past few years I have learnt to keep my house relatively clean and tidy.

My car however is totally disgusting. Empty water bottles everywhere, crisp packets, yogurt pots, chip wrappers, odd shoes, used tissues, random paperwork … there is nowhere to sit other than the drivers seat. It stinks.

A few weeks ago I had to give someone a lift unexpectedly and I was embarrassed - there was even a used nappy on the floor in the back. She opened the passenger door and gasped. I told her to just Chuck everything into the back but I was mortified. I gave it a proper good clean after that, got rid of all the rubbish, vacuumed it, put an air freshener up … a week later it was back to normal.

I don’t even know how it gets so bad. Am I just a lazy sod? I don’t even seem to see it until someone else needs to get into it (or DH uses it and complains about the state of it)

OP posts:
BruceAndNosh · 28/04/2023 07:28

Maybe start by having a bag for rubbish in the car? Used nappy is pretty gross

rubyslippers · 28/04/2023 07:29

Keep a plastic bag on your car so you can throw rubbish in it
when you get out each time just take the bag with you
why do you / kids eat so much in the car? Yoghurt?!
maybe stop that

Nordicrain · 28/04/2023 07:29

Weirdly I really struggle to keep my car tidy too. Not quite as bad as yours, but always full of stuff, including rubbish. For me it's (1) the kids and (2) that I/ we never take anything in when we get home. Some people swear by a car bin, I might try that.

Mortimercat · 28/04/2023 07:29

Mmm yes, you sounds like a lazy sod, seeing as you ask. Perhaps have a no food or drink in car policy?

Original poster
StupidFaces · 28/04/2023 07:31

I don’t have kids, that makes it even worse! It’s just me!

The nappy was my granddaughters who I had taken out for the day a week earlier (it was wet nappy, not poo)

OP posts:
TiredOfCleaning · 28/04/2023 07:31

I am the same. What I did was this;

First Monday of the month I do the following;

  • full car with pet5ol
  • remove all rubbish in car
  • vacuum out car (this is done at the petrol station so I don't need to faff around with hoovers at home'
  • run car through car wash

It has made a HUGE difference. In time that then morphed into me natrually just removing the rubbish in the car daily (takes seconds) because I enjoyed having it clean so much.

It's about starting small and building habits.

You CAN do it. [amile]

BruceAndNosh · 28/04/2023 07:31

My husband's car is a tip because he eats breakfast in the car before work

TiredOfCleaning · 28/04/2023 07:31

That was Smile

Original poster
StupidFaces · 28/04/2023 07:33

TiredOfCleaning · 28/04/2023 07:31

I am the same. What I did was this;

First Monday of the month I do the following;

  • full car with pet5ol
  • remove all rubbish in car
  • vacuum out car (this is done at the petrol station so I don't need to faff around with hoovers at home'
  • run car through car wash

It has made a HUGE difference. In time that then morphed into me natrually just removing the rubbish in the car daily (takes seconds) because I enjoyed having it clean so much.

It's about starting small and building habits.

You CAN do it. [amile]

I like this idea but I don’t know how to use the things at the petrol station (the vacuum and car wash etc) … is it easy enough to do? Do you need coins as I never have money on me

OP posts:
Legoladyp · 28/04/2023 07:33

How does the car get some much rubbish in a week? Is there a way to cut it down? You could make a rule no food or drink in the car?

BitchFaceResting · 28/04/2023 07:34

StupidFaces · 28/04/2023 07:31

I don’t have kids, that makes it even worse! It’s just me!

The nappy was my granddaughters who I had taken out for the day a week earlier (it was wet nappy, not poo)

That is just disgusting. No excuse for having a filthy car, but a week-old used nappy is beyond vile.
Do you bathe regularly?

BitchFaceResting · 28/04/2023 07:35

StupidFaces · 28/04/2023 07:33

I like this idea but I don’t know how to use the things at the petrol station (the vacuum and car wash etc) … is it easy enough to do? Do you need coins as I never have money on me

Show quote history

is it the school holidays and you are bored?

Original poster
StupidFaces · 28/04/2023 07:35

BitchFaceResting · 28/04/2023 07:34

That is just disgusting. No excuse for having a filthy car, but a week-old used nappy is beyond vile.
Do you bathe regularly?

Show quote history

Yes funnily enough I’m obsessed with personal hygiene and shower twice a day (3 times a day if it’s hot).

OP posts:
AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 28/04/2023 07:35

I don't really understand this. Take the rubbish with when you get out of the car - put it back in your handbag if it's a crisp packet, if you have to - and stop eating bloody yoghurt (or anything!) in it!

Doriana1 · 28/04/2023 07:35

I have a rule where anything that goes in the car that day needs to come out. The footwells get a bit muddy sometimes but other than that and my son's bike helmet I basically keep nothing in the car! Maybe you could apply that rule too?

Beamur · 28/04/2023 07:36

My DH is a bit like this. If I need to use that car I usually empty all the rubbish and tidy it up first!
Mine isn't exactly spotless either. I think it's a combination of not considering this a priority, some people like a clean tidy car, some people just treat their car as a means to an end. I also find as soon as I get out of the car I completely forget about the mess, etc.

PauliesWalnuts · 28/04/2023 07:39

I have a car bin. My friend bought it for me after seeing the state of my car. I bit the bullet after that and paid for a full valet. The car looked so nice after that I made an effort to change my habits.
I also get the Henry Hoover out once a month and vacuum. I’m terrified of the drive thru car wash so I use the jet wash - I do it when I get petrol from Morrisons and they give you a token if you ask for the jet wash when you pay for petrol.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 28/04/2023 07:39

Why do you eat so much in the car for goodness sake? Just use it to get from a to b and clear your crap out of it each time you get home. It’s not rocket science!

Jemandthehologramsunite · 28/04/2023 07:41

StupidFaces · 28/04/2023 07:31

I don’t have kids, that makes it even worse! It’s just me!

The nappy was my granddaughters who I had taken out for the day a week earlier (it was wet nappy, not poo)

OK, that's really bad. Maybe you have an issue, lazy sod sounds about right, sorry! Rubbish bag for rubbish, clear out every time and no food and drinks. I've been in two truly disgrace cars. One was about 20 years ago (he had twins) and one was about 5 years ago (she had a grown child), I still remember both. It was so disgusting. In the nicest way, sort yourself out!!

EarringsandLipstick · 28/04/2023 07:42

I can kind of understand this.

I don't have any rubbish in my car. But I find it's hard to keep clean - in my case 3 DC doing sports means there's grass / mud on a daily basis.

I mean to hoover it (or get kids to) every week but don't seem to get a chance & then a few weeks pass.

PPs suggestion of cleaning at garage is a good one.

Bimbom · 28/04/2023 07:44

A used nappy?!

I really don't see what's difficult about this. If you're capable of driving a car you're capable of taking your rubbish with you when you park it

Pinkdelight3 · 28/04/2023 07:44

Wow, I'm messy, but a week-old used nappy in a car is beyond the next level. Just as a baseline, bin nappies the same day. Same hour ideally. Start there.

HappyTrance · 28/04/2023 07:45

Why would you eat a yogurt in the car?

I went in a colleague’s car once and it was gross. She also had a used nappy in there - in a bucket of water sloshing around. I assumed her house was the same tbh.

RampantIvy · 28/04/2023 07:48

Why not just use your car to drive from A to B, and don't use it to eat in or as a rubbish depository.

Leaving a dirty nappy in it is gross and lazy.

Any rubbish I might accumulate - parking tickets or used tissues gets removed from the car when I get home. It isn't difficult.

We live rurally and have had a lot of wet weather lately so sometimes the footwear gets muddy, but that's the worst my car gets.

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 28/04/2023 07:49

My friend is like this, her house is always clean and tidy, her car is an absolute shit tip.

As others have said get a bin bag or even a car bin for starters. Or fork out £20 a month and get it done by one of those car cleaning places

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