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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To break up over toilet hygiene (or lack thereof)?

313 replies

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 17:44

Name changed for this one.

So I've been seeing a new chap for several months - my first relationship since divorcing over three years ago, and with a lot of dead-end online dates in the interim. I.e. quite a big deal for me to have entered into. Lovely chap, very like-minded, considerate high-achieving professional, seems into me, etc. - and the relationship is exclusive.

I need a sense of perspective on this issue - not the only emergent niggle in the relationship, but the most "in your face" (as it were) in recent weeks.

Most of our "sleepover" dates are at mine for various reasons. I've noticed bad toilet hygiene at mine in terms of weeing on the seat / leaving poo stains, which I wasn't overly impressed with, but didn't say anything at the time. Last week I was at his - not the first occasion, but this round time the toilet / bathroom was pretty grim. Not Trainspotter bad or anything - but think piss and pubes caked into the ceramic and bristles / toothpaste residue all over the sink. The rest of his place is cluttered but clean enough.

I was again due to visit him at his today, and - after some agonising on the subject - sent a message during the week that he'd need to give the bathroom a once over first, to which he replied already on the list. And he did clean up, and even made a point of asking me if it was acceptable when I arrived.

Later that afternoon, we were taking it to the bedroom and I made a quick pit stop - only to find massive poo stains down the pan and wee over the seat from a visit he'd made in the meantime. It's hard for me to address these things directly, but I basically came out, said it was a massive passion killer and that I didn't expect to find the toilet like this at his or at mine, and if he wanted bedroom activity he'd need to factor in bathroom activity. He did clean it, apologised (blaming not having his glasses on - he did have his glasses on) and said my views were fair enough. I left soon after without re-initiating any sexual activity.

It's not the mess in itself that bothers me - I'm not a clean freak, and have literally used some of the worst toilets known to man in my time. It's the lack of respect it indicates - especially coming from someone so otherwise clearly intelligent / senior, etc. and not otherwise seemingly unhygienic. And the fact that I'd already pointed this out once before coming round - which is already unattractive enough to have to do towards a grown man. In his shoes I'd personally be dying of embarrassment, not making a mess of things that very same afternoon. Unless he was doing it deliberately to make a point right back to me, but that doesn't seem like him at all.

Either way, whether deliberate or just obliviousness, it's not attractive. I made a vow at the end of my last relationship that I wouldn't tolerate man children / incompetence (whether strategic or otherwise), so maybe I'm overthinking this one - but yeah it's irked me a lot.

Please do tell me if I'm being unreasonable on this one! I wouldn't end things "only" cause of this, but genuinely not sure if I'm just being a massive priss on this. TIA!

OP posts:
wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 20:46

Honestly I had no prior concerns on his personal hygiene. Which is what makes this whole thing all the more confusing. He's not a stinker in general.

OP posts:
Avatartar · 05/01/2025 20:46

He’s meant to be on best behaviour this early in a relationship- it won’t get better. I couldn’t live with it.
It’s not important to him and it’s gross.
You don’t want to see his leftovers or feel them and have to wipe it off if you sit in it, every time you go to the toilet.
It’s a relationship killer

safetyfreak · 05/01/2025 20:47

Playgroundincident · 05/01/2025 20:24

He probably wipes his arse and makes food without washing his hands. If he's like that in thr bathroom what is going into the food. Grim fucking grim. Dump.

Yes, I agree. Its really grim.

I wonder if its a power play as he doing it in OP toilet too? eurgh.

WellsAndThistles · 05/01/2025 20:49

That's gross sorry, he needs a Mum not a girlfriend.

(Ever considered how often he changes his bedding?)

socialdilemmawhattodo · 05/01/2025 20:49

Gwenhwyfar · 05/01/2025 20:07

"Can you just not tail it off? ie not reply to texts for a few days, not be available for telephone calls or catch up, not able to meet for weeks due to work pressures/family issues, etc."

After two dates that might be acceptable behaviour, but it seems they've been going out for 4 months. He deserves a conversation at least!

This was my suggestion. Because I felt OP had been disrespected, regardless of limited time together. When younger I would always speak to boyfriend directly to end the relationship - they didn't care how I broke up with them. The relationship was over and not of their choosing. This much older man has clearly shown that he does not want to make the basic changes required. OP has stated they have other concerns. Just get the ending done. If he can't work out why, that's on him.

Zebedee999 · 05/01/2025 20:51

Bad parenting imo. Everyone should be taught as a child to check the pan after they've been. I too am sick of finding poo/pee/blood on or around the toilet. I always leave them cleaner than I find them! Often cleaning up what I already find there too!

oakleaffy · 05/01/2025 20:53

@wobblychicken That is absolutely repellent.
Doesn't he look to check the pan after a flush?
That's really nasty.

It's definitely be revolted and turned off.

He may not wipe properly either, OR wash his hands.

Justsaywhatyoumean123 · 05/01/2025 20:54

If you can train him, it could be worth a shot, but it reminds me a bit of neglected kids—like when someone’s been left to fend for themselves too young and hasn’t had the chance to learn properly.

Starsandall · 05/01/2025 20:54

Oh op similar here. But at his house. Tidy but rarely cleans bathrooms. He is extremely body conscious but yes it’s not great. I’m thinking say something for some reason he needs training!

Tidbit · 05/01/2025 21:00

MJconfessions · 05/01/2025 20:20

He’s 53. He knows exactly what he’s doing. I’m half your age and guys my age would know exactly what they’re doing if they were him. You’re giving him way too much credit.

Shy, geeky, nerdy good hearted guys would be extra conscious about making things perfect for you. You had a conversation with him asking him to clean the bathroom. He agrees and says he will. He then leaves the toilet covered with shit and piss marks right before you have sex with the implication that you deal with the mess. He’s putting you back in your place.

You are giving this man who is of an advanced age, way more credit than he deserves

I 100% agree with this.

From my understanding (correct me if I am wrong) the timeline goes something like this:

BF leaving dirty messy toilet at OPs house over course of few weeks.

OP visits BF house and sees bathroom a mess with pubes etc (bad but not totally gross)

OP tells BF to clean bathroom ahead of her next visit.

BF complies and asks OP to inspect/approve when she arrives on next visit - all fine.

Later on this same visit OP visits loo to find "massive poo stains down the pan and wee over the seat from a visit he'd made in the meantime."

So much worse tha she'd seen to date, on the same visit where he had cleaned ahead and asked her to inspect/approve --- he goes to these great lengths?

This isnt careless - he's just out to degrade and humilate.

WhereYouLeftIt · 05/01/2025 21:01

He's 53. There is no way a man gets to that age without working out that pissing on the seat without cleaning it up afterwards risks the next user of that toilet sitting in his piss. I would not be willing for that person to be me. And there is no way he didn't see the shitstains he left behind either, glasses on or off.

I'd be asking him - 'since you piss on the seat and don't clean it up, does that mean next time you take a dump you're sitting in your own piss as well?'. It's a valid question! As is 'How do you think toilets get cleaned? By magic?!'.

FFS, I've got the ick and I'm never going to come into contact with this man.

TomatoSandwiches · 05/01/2025 21:01

The thing is that plenty of people who have poor sight and need glasses keep their toilets clean because they know they may be missing something so they take extra steps to be conscientious and make it a habit... because they have the standard in the first place.
Needing glasses isn't an excuse.

Personally I'd be upfront about his lack of hygiene being a turn off, you gave him a chance that he shouldn't have really needed being the age he is and he didn't take it seriously and gave you the absolute ick, once that's happened there's no going back.

Husbandrippedmeoff · 05/01/2025 21:04

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 19:06

I shit like a fucking dinosaur myself. My toilet is clean within 2 minutes.

Just out of interest, how do you do it? Tips please!

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 05/01/2025 21:16

FeralWoman · 05/01/2025 18:14

And I'm not a clean freak, I've just read about too many manky men dripping sweat mixed with shit onto their partner during sex 🤢

Jesus, I've made myself queasy just typing that.

@AMurderofMurderingCrows That’s disgusting. Is that a thread on here somewhere?

No, it was a tiktok made by a woman that it happened to and that started it off with other women saying it had happened to them and how men weren't washing the crack of their arse when in the shower 🤢

Gwenhwyfar · 05/01/2025 21:25

socialdilemmawhattodo · 05/01/2025 20:49

This was my suggestion. Because I felt OP had been disrespected, regardless of limited time together. When younger I would always speak to boyfriend directly to end the relationship - they didn't care how I broke up with them. The relationship was over and not of their choosing. This much older man has clearly shown that he does not want to make the basic changes required. OP has stated they have other concerns. Just get the ending done. If he can't work out why, that's on him.

What your exes did in the past is quite irrelevant. This guy has just not been as clean as OP wanted and he still deserves to be treated respectfully.

poemsandwine · 05/01/2025 21:28

OwlFeatures · 05/01/2025 20:26

@wobblychicken you seriously would want a phone call explaining to you that the man you've been dating is binning you off because you leave shit and piss in the toilet?

I mean, it takes all sorts but I personally wouldn't love that so much.

He knows why. All this hand wringing. By all means give him chapter and verse but for me, a message after a few months of dating is sufficient

Yeah, this. Just text him. In this instance, it's kinder.

Gwenhwyfar · 05/01/2025 21:29

"This isnt careless - he's just out to degrade and humilate."

That's really jumping to conclusions.

He cleaned before OP came around then he used the toilet again and neglected to check straight afterwards because he doesn't usually.
Unless there's a huge backstory there's no reason to believe he's doing it on purpose.

PeppyGreenFinch · 05/01/2025 21:29

wobblychicken · 05/01/2025 18:34

Cat already in possession! 😁

It's annoying as now it's going to look like I'm breaking up with him just because of this, rather than this in the context of a few other emergent niggles. I haven't broken up with anyone I've dated in nearly twenty years - might need some help from you lot to effect!

Do tell us the other niggles!

But the toilet hygiene is more than enough to end things on. It will get worse if you ever move in together. He will stop even this bare pretence that he values your feelings about it and expect you to just clean it because it bothers you not him.

PeppyGreenFinch · 05/01/2025 21:32

WellsAndThistles · 05/01/2025 20:49

That's gross sorry, he needs a Mum not a girlfriend.

(Ever considered how often he changes his bedding?)

I don’t think mums should be subjected to this either. My DH was taught how to clean toilets and vacuum as a tween.

ChristmasKelpie · 05/01/2025 21:36

Michellesbackbrace · 05/01/2025 19:37

Really? I honestly would say you’ve found the holy grail of husbands there!

I wouldn't have married them if they left the toilet in a state and both understand the concept of the "courtesy flush" Glad to say they both had Mothers that had high standards and taught them how to use a bathroom.

ThePoliteLion · 05/01/2025 21:40

I once had a boyfriend with a dirty bathroom and, disgustingly, no sheet on his mattress (he slept directly on the mattress). Foolishly I overlooked these nasties. He was clever, interesting, blah blah blah. But then he dumped me callously. I now realise that his horrible hygiene was the manifestation of his big bad issues. Eugh. I’d get rid, OP.

katter · 05/01/2025 21:44

Eugh...
Seriously I've met guys in my twenties who couldn't clean properly but I'm way to old to train anyone. If he hasn't figured out how to clean a toilet by now he ist quite frankly not the brightest bulb. For that reason I would throw him back.
Also I bet you if you ever move in together he'll leave all the cleaning up to you the lazy twat.

Tidbit · 05/01/2025 21:50

Gwenhwyfar · 05/01/2025 21:29

"This isnt careless - he's just out to degrade and humilate."

That's really jumping to conclusions.

He cleaned before OP came around then he used the toilet again and neglected to check straight afterwards because he doesn't usually.
Unless there's a huge backstory there's no reason to believe he's doing it on purpose.

Unless there's a huge backstory there's no reason to believe he's doing it on purpose.

The fact that this character was delighted 'to finally get a girlfriend' and that the OP has other earlier relationship issues with him which she has chosen not to disclose on here (fair enough) will mean that there is a huge back story.

Cleaning the toilet was front of mind for both on this date/encounter.

I would find it humilating and degrading to be exposed to this just once.

I would find it humilating and degrading to have to address it with him.

I would find it humilating and degrading to have to inspect and approve it.

I would find it humilating and degrading to then have to walk in on something even worse within a couple of hours of the above.

I would then find it humilating and degrading to have to bother myself to find diplomatic words to spare his feelings...

Maybe the OP didnt find any of this humilating and degrading.

He wasnt careless - it's PA power trip to subjugate her feelings.

nomoremsniceperson · 05/01/2025 21:50

If he's kind, thoughtful and considerate I would give him another chance tbh. He probably had poor hygiene modelled in his own home growing up and doesn't realise it's weird and gross. People learn to not even notice these things. In my twenties my hygiene wasn't great, I often forgot to brush my teeth and I was bad at remembering to clean the toilet after a poo. No wee on the seat etc but I also didn't notice things like dust buildup or stains on the floor. He's apologised and cleaned up, it's likely he's embarrassed and may start noticing it more himself. Give him a week at least to redeem himself.

Gwenhwyfar · 05/01/2025 21:52

"He wasnt careless - it's PA power trip to subjugate her feelings."

You just don't know that. We can only go on the info we have so far and OP hasn't told us what the other issues are.

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