The housekeeping equivalent of wearing clean knickers in case you're run over...

[JackieNo]

If we ever go away overnight, or on holiday, I find myself tidying up the house, not just because it's much nicer to come back to a tidy house, but I find myself thinking about what would happen if we had a terrible accident and never came back. How embarrassed I'd be to think of police/relatives having to look round our messy house. So WTF am I thinking that for (if I'm not coming back, I'm not going to be able to be embarrassed), and am I alone in my morbid thoughts?

EEWWWW ALexsmum - OK you have convinced me, I will stop wearing the gloves!!!

have to say the only reason i run a flash wipe around the loo in between cleaner visits is in case people drop in unannounced.

lol! jazzi! just washing your hands afterwards is fine !

Just wanted to say that I don't mind cleaning up poo, just don't want to touch it!! If the dog decides to park one out on the kitchen floor its always me that cleans up - everyone else is too busy gagging!!!!

to return to the OP, I tidy up before I go away but it's for me - so I don't come back from a lovely holiday to face cleaning up the miserable debris of normal life. Returning to an untidy house would be a smack in the face after a carefree holiday.

And having been in plenty of very grotty houses when I was working as a journalist, I don't think the police would be shocked at anything I have to offer

Just looking at old threads. Jazzi, I assure you that you aren't the only one to wear gloves to change nappies. I always have my box of latex gloves to hand.

It is mostly a convenience thing. When I am on the go, it saves time and mess. Also, it does prevent me transferring germs to my child, which is no bad thing.

I know a few of my friends do this too, having converted me, so if you are happiest wearing gloves, why not?

You're kidding about the gloves right?

It's your child!!

I have been known to place toilet roll on the seat in public places before sitting down and I'm often called monica-ish, but GLOVES

Well you learn something new everyday s'pose.

Btw I don't use bleach and do scrub the toilets by hand. Wipe toilet with loo roll every morning.

OP- my house is at it's cleanest if we're going away.

Message withdrawn

Well, if gloves give issues, DH used to wear a decorating mask (on the 2 occassions he ever got near a nasty nappy).

Haha. Haven't got as bad as wearing a face mask yet.

Can't see the big issue with gloves, yes it is my child - but still, who wants to be covered in poo? I sort of doubt she'll be psychologically scarred by the experience. I mean, they are only rubber gloves and how many of us can remember having our nappies changed??

Also, even for things like cleaning the toilet, I far prefer disposable gloves, since I don't like the idea of keeping something covered in germs.

re:loo cleaning - I use both - hands for above the waterline and brush for below it. Any skidders above waterline get dealt with immediately with a wad of bogroll round the hand! It's only poo!

Yep I been in DD's room and then did a swift turn around and left!! She grown up and still likes it messy!! AGH!! It drives me nuts - she says I am obsessive about housework - er it's my job whilst DH goes out and earns the cash, very old fashioned DH but I like it that way!!

Pick up laundry from the floor as the cat pees on anything left there.
Make sure beds are made and bathroom towels neatly hung up. Bathroom sink and taps clean and gunk free. Shower curtain closed.
Kitchen neat and stove top clean, dishwasher run and nothing in the sink.
Bin emptied.
-- that's pretty much every day before leaving.

I wear rubber gloves for any housework that involves cleaning chemicals, but isposable gloves next to the nappies?
[going a bit too far]

I CANNOT leave the house without beds made, curtains opened, and bathroom counters wiped clean of toothpaste. Kitchen has to be spotless as well. If we are going away and have housesitters or have visitors staying then I have to clean the cutlery drawer. It normally looks awful.

My newest weird obsession is cleaning the house from top to bottom on Friday and baking something really amazing. It makes me deliriously happy for the rest of the weekend. I am old-fashioned too Boss and a total control freak.

Yes I am just wondering what the equivalent really is...