Best response to MIL telling me to clean less?

[roses2]

MIL is a staying for 5 weeks (a whole other thread). I like a clean house. I will sweep the kitchen floor every day after dinner, and once per week hoover the hallway in between the weekly cleaner visit and wipe down kitchen counters.

Her house is dirty and cluttered. She’s asking me why do I clean so much, it’s pointless. Not to me it’s not. She’s just used to living in a house with 50 years of dust build up and cupboards full of items she never uses.

Her comments about me cleaning are driving me insane.

mumsnet people what is the best response without outright me telling her that her standards are filthy?

Either keep it simple...
"Each to their own MIL...it's nice to have a clean environment"...

Or.
"DH hates living in a shit hole having grown up doing so".

'I prefer to live in a clean and tidy house'

Say the exact same thing every time she comments.

No, no , you mustn't do it

"Mind your own business you miserable old bat"

"I just don't like a messy house MIL" and repeat.

I find a cluttered and untidy house leads to cluttered and untidy mind .

Sorry but I did laugh at " dh hates living in a shit hole having grown up in one " classic that would shut her right up 😂😂

I don't know why you can't just say 'I think I clean an average sort of amount and it's how I like my home to look for me to be comfortable living in it.'

You don't sound like you are over cleaning, I have an Eufy that vacuums and mops all of my downstairs rooms every day because I have two large dogs bringing mud in from the garden and 3 cats running around and mopping less frequently would result in a filthy house especially at this time of year.

I would just say “Ah well keeps me off the streets and causing mischief” then ask if she’d like to help. That will quickly make her go in another room.

This

But if that were the case, he’d clean it himself. Unless this is one of those 1950s households? I don’t think this is cool answer you think it is. More trad-wife tragic imo.

I really like @LittleRedYarny response but my own experience with my own mum says me that any humour/ sarcasm/ hinting in this situation is pointless. I would just stick to a plain response along the lines “ I like my house to be clean”.
I suspect that it’s not about different standards of cleaning, she thinks that her standards are the right one so it’s a personality trait rather then genuine curiosity why you are cleaning here and there. If you stop cleaning she will comment on something else, so I will aim to stop commenting rather than to stop commenting about cleaning.

I’d turn it back on her
’Why don’t you clean at all.’

This is 100% what I would say! It'll be the last time she mentions it if you ask her to help every time!

I like living in a clean and tidy home, it helps me to relax better.

@roses2 and why is the dirty one living with you for 5 weeks anyway?? you must be a saint to put up with her!

'If you don't like it then book yourself into the nearest Travelodge'

Look her dead in the eyes and tell her it's because YOU aren't slovenly..... And you don't know how anyone can live in a tip...

“MIL I follow the mantra messy bed , messy head!”

Which is a saying I agree with 100% although I’m tidy I wish I cleaned as much as you - so maybe she’s jealous and self- conscious

Find a phrase and use it on repeat.
'Because I feel more relaxed when the house is tidy'
Use exactly the same phrase so that she just gets bored with hearing the same thing.

This.

OP, does your DH do his fair share of the cleaning?

My house, my rules.

My mum is a bit like this. She feels defensive seeing my house clean and tidy as she knows she didn't provide me with a very nice environment when I was growing up (like your MIL, she hoards). I let the comments roll off me. I know it's really maddening OP but try not to rise to it. People who struggle with hoarding and keeping on top of running a house often have some kind of executive functioning or emotional problem, so she's trying to make herself feel better by saying it's not necessary/waste of time etc. If you see the comments in that light (ie she's just comforting herself) they'll hopefully feel less like a personal attack

"It's how I like it"

It's her insecurities showing. If she's generally nice just say you find it relaxing to clean. She probably feels like you're judging her house (which is reasonable on both sides).

No, he takes after her!

Saying the same thing on repeat is probably the best approach. I might start decluttering too whilst she’s here as she freaks out every time I try to empty her cupboards and ask why she needs 3 cheese toasie machines!

she lives abroad and is visiting hence the 5 week stay.