Solve a marital dispute: whose job is it to clean the washing machine?

[Blithereens]

DH and I separate chores into your job/my job. This works for us. We have daily and weekly jobs.

One of my jobs is the washing, and one of his jobs is cleaning the kitchen. We share the day-to-day wiping down of surfaces, but the proper weekly clean is up to him.

He thinks that because I do the washing, cleaning the machine is my job. But I think that because the washing machine is in the kitchen, it's his job. Also I do the cleaning of the inside - run vinegar through it etc - so I think wiping down the door and the bit that sticks out from under the counter is in his domain.

Who is right? YOU DECIDE! Please note that our marriage does not revolve around domestic minutiae and the ongoing dispute is more of an eye-rolling joke than a symbol of irretrievable relationship breakdown.

His. Deffo.

it probably takes less time to wipe down than it did for you to write that post.

His job.

His job

Most cleaning jobs in this house are "his job" tbh

His job.

It belongs to both of you.

You will have the cleanest washing machine in the country.

Both.

Give it a wipe when the kitchen is done and once every so often after a wash.

You said that splitting jobs works for you, but obviously if doesn't if you can't agree who does what.

Its all part of wiping down the kitchen, same with wiping down the fridge etc.

If wiping down the kitchen is he job, then he should wipe down the washer

Yes! Thank you mumsnet

ouryve it may amuse you to hear that DH did in fact wipe it down while I was writing the post now of course he thinks he deserves an award

Wiping the outside (including outer-door) is part of wiping down the kitchen.

Wiping anything that involves opening the door (eg. seals) is a part of the washing.

I'm with chunky pickles, wiping down outside his, unclogging is you.

It's your job

I would say that it belongs to both of you, so therefore the job is for both to do.

You're right though in how you have put it, if he takes the responsibility for cleaning the kitchen, this would normally include cleaning everything within it.

Definitely part of cleaning the kitchen :-)

While it can be useful to have certain prescribed household tasks it does pay to be flexible.
OH and I have naturally fallen into certain unspoken roles that pretty much get everything done without dispute.

Blithereens- do you have children? I am guessing not if you are concerned about a weekly vinegar cleann of your washing machine.

his job.

we clearly need to clean more.

I don't think I've ever wiped my washing machine. EVER!

About once every 6 months I throw some soda crystals in and put it on a hot wash. That is the extent of my washing machine cleaning!

Cleaning the outside of it is his job - as a kitchen appliance.

Cleaning the inside is yours - wiping the seals and so forth.

Deep you guess right [blink] we hope to have them soon though :) But I only put the vinegar through monthly, and that's because we live in a very hard water area.

I imagine my standards will change when we have DC

Blink?? I meant obviously.

We are more flexible than I made it sound. The reason we have assigned lists is because DH grew up in a home where he literally didn't even have to make his own bed, whereas I split the housework with my single, working DM from quite an early age. The lists were originally to help him see exactly what there was to be done, but also so we could share in a way that meant neither of us has to do our most hated task. As a result I do the dusting and he does the litter tray! Works for us :)

Littlefish Are you joking, you've never wiped it?

Don't let this pull you apart!

Throw out the washing machine and get a laundry service

Chill blithereens. How old are you btw?

no previous agreement ? Both of you - until you agree who will do it regularly.

I don't think I have ever cleaned my washing machine.