Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Astrak · 06/01/2025 13:19

Wow. This man may have his positive points, but, for me, the negatives have would far outweigh them. I would end the relationship as he seems unable to change his disgusting habits.

Moanranger · 06/01/2025 14:00

@wobblychicken re anal retentive- him, of course!

TroubleMakingWitch · 06/01/2025 15:27

@wobblychicken you will have to update us after you have the call with him. I'm intrigued as to what he will say and how he will react!

katter · 06/01/2025 16:33

CashewGal · 06/01/2025 11:41

Sounds like my DH. He has probably used the toilet brush a handful of times in his life, if that. I vacated the bathroom he uses after we got another one in our loft and just pop in every so often to pour down bleach. We have a cleaner every couple of weeks. DH also flushes the toilet with his foot. What can you do?

Well not marry a man child in the first child.
Also him not changing his behavior to at least be a role model for your son.
I wouldn't do anything and just let him sit in his filth.

CashewGal · 06/01/2025 17:39

@Hunglikeapolevaulter* *Everyone uses the toilet, I'm not sure how you keep it says anything about how you keep your body, which is clean in his case. He actually washes or showers after using the toilet so that's not the issue. Although he is also a deodorant refuser. Yes I do consider divorce.
@katter His children know he's a bit unusual. It's actually a little tricky because if I make a big thing about it to my son it just means one more person cleaning up after DH.
We got married a long time ago and I didn't realise then that yes he is a total man-child who doesn't know how to behave and thinks cleaning is a total waste of his time.
Actually laughing a little at the thread because if we do split up and it's definitely possible then the next lass will have to deal with this crapola.
But he has no shame and I doubt he'd ever change for anyone.

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 06/01/2025 18:13

Everyone uses the toilet, I'm not sure how you keep it says anything about how you keep your body, which is clean in his case.

It's the leaving something behind in a gross state, and lack of respect, that would completely kill my attraction, even if he himself is clean.

BettyBardMacDonald · 06/01/2025 18:19

Cattery · 06/01/2025 11:43

@CashewGal His foot? Is he a gymnast?

I will admit that I flush with my foot in any public place.

Doubt that what is on my shoe is any worse than what's on the fingers of those who have wiped but not yet washed their hands.

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 06/01/2025 20:41

I will admit that I flush with my foot in any public place.

Please instead use a bit of toilet paper. That way you can keep your hands clean (surely you're about to wash them anyway?), but also not make the toilet a less clean and pleasant place for the rest of us.

wobblychicken · 08/01/2025 18:38

Break-up conversation had. Everything amicable and best wishes exchanged. Toilets not mentioned in the process.

OP posts:
TroubleMakingWitch · 08/01/2025 19:12

I'm glad it went as well as these things possibly can. How do you feel? Any regrets?

FenixWinda · 08/01/2025 19:58

People can be manky - I worked in the Civil Service where the threat of outsourcing was terrifying staff.
One person chose to express their view on the inside of a toilet cubicle door, in their own shit, to the effect that the incoming manager was an arsehole.
Anyways, he said he'd be going through appraisal reports to match the handwriting and identify the culprit.
I don't think he did find out who did it, but did express his concern for the cleaners !

wellitywellness · 08/01/2025 20:44

TroubleMakingWitch · 08/01/2025 19:12

I'm glad it went as well as these things possibly can. How do you feel? Any regrets?

Edited

Nope,! Elated 😁

Imbusytodaysorry · 06/02/2025 23:00

Planesmistakenforstars · 05/01/2025 17:56

Oh hell no. You've had to raise the issue to him which, as you say, is "unattractive enough to have to do towards a grown man." And after that he pisses on the seat. If it's not a lack of respect then it's a level of obliviousness that no one should have to deal with. Either way it's an attraction killer.

And shits before sex … makes it obvious and doesn’t clean it .

New posts on this thread. Refresh page