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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DP's household hygiene, what to do?

158 replies

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 12:17

Been with DP 5 months but have known him 15 years.
This is our second time round trying the relationship thing.
We've always had chemistry, friends have always said we should be together, we generally get on great and laugh a lot.
From a DP point of view he is caring, generous, helpful and gets on well with DD ( who he also knew already before we got together through mutual friends get togethers that kind of thing, )

12 mths after I split from now XH, DP was the first person I dated. It didn't work out because I couldn't stand his lack of hygiene/attitude to housework type stuff.
DD was only 3 at the time ( he never met her then ) but I just kept thinking that I couldn't ever take her round there because of the dirt, dust etc
To clarify it wasn't just a bit of dust, it was inches thick, the kitchen was filthy and I hated eating or drinking there.

We still saw each other occasionally over the next few years through mutual friends events
And got on fine.

This led to us having the occasional night out together purely as friends but we always had a great time. During this time we were both on OLD sites too but nothing ever worked out except bad dates!

We talked a lot about our dating disasters which eventually got me thinking that perhaps we should try again. He jumped at the idea and said that going forward I needed to make sure I communicated clearly to him anything I was unhappy about.

This time He appeared to take on board everything I said about the state of his house and how much it affected me. Plus I scrubbed his kitchen top to toe so I felt better about being there ( just once I'm not doing it again )
Since we split the first time he has acquired 2 pets as he wanted the company. This however means more dirt and smells.

Every time I go round to his now he very proudly tells me how much he's cleaned up and tidied etc but as soon as I walk through the door the first thing that hits me is thesmell of the pet food. He leaves it out all day and the pets are messy eaters so it's all over the floor.
His solution is to burn a nice smelling candle by the front door to mask the smell!

Whenever I get a glass, mug or plate out of the cupboard to use it's inevitably dirty, greasy and has bits of stuff encrusted on it. So does the cutlery. If I take something off the drainer to use that's just been washed, it's the same.

I can't use a tea towel there because they're always manky , I opened his microwave yesterday to defrost something and it was filthy.

When I stay the night the pets always jump on thé bed and therefore walk over me too.

I've communicated til I'm blue in the face about all of this but it obviously isn't a big problem for him.
I'm also not houseproud as such but my house can be untidy but it's not fundamentally dirty. Everything gets washed and washed properly.

I'm getting to the stage again that I don't want to be in his house.
( his personal hygiene is absolutely fine and clothes clean etc )

He is the loveliest man and I feel so bad for constantly bringing these things up.

OP posts:
prettywhiteguitar · 16/06/2019 12:19

I thinks you’re just not compatible unfortunately. If it helps all that would drive me round the bend too, he’s a slob and won’t change

Blondebakingmumma · 16/06/2019 12:21

It sounds like it’s not going to work moving forward together unless you are happy having a casual relationship that you meet out or he comes to your house. It will end in disaster if you move in together unless you are prepared to do all the cleaning

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 12:22

@Blondebakingmumma I'm def not contemplating moving in with him!

OP posts:
happyhillock · 16/06/2019 12:22

I finnished with an exboyfriend over the very same thing, his flat was a filthy disgrace, is personal hygiene was okay, i just couldn't stomach the way he lived

Pearlfish · 16/06/2019 12:23

OP, I think the two of you are just not compatible on this issue. You've explained the problem, it sounds like he's making a genuine effort to address it, but it's still a problem. I can't see him suddenly raising his standards to meet yours, however much you tell him. Either you just meet at your house, or he starts paying for a cleaner, or you split up.

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 12:24

@happyhillock i suppose everybody sees things differently and can accept different levels.
He's def much better than he was the first time round

OP posts:
madcatladyforever · 16/06/2019 12:24

I'm afraid I just can't live with a slob. I know from experience you end up being their maid for a lifetime and resenting them. It eats away at the relationship.
I don't want to be a man's personal maid, I want someone who can look after themself or nobody at all.

gumbyprickle · 16/06/2019 12:25

Well you could never live together unless you wanted to be his maid. Personally I couldn't date someone who lived like this or where I didn't want to be in their house. I would end it - I'm not sure if that's the answer you're looking for but if you feel you need the OK to break it off over this well, you've got it from me!

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 12:26

@Pearlfish he had a cleaner the first time round but I've no idea what that cleaner did!
Having said that the cleaner was a neighbour that he felt a bit sorry for

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 12:28

@gumbyprickle i don't really want to end it because In most other respects we are so well suited. Plus having been single and dating so long before getting together I know exactly how much worse the men out there are

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 12:30

I suppose I'm looking for any ideas on how to get him to up his game a bit

OP posts:
Bluerussian · 16/06/2019 12:31

All depends on what you're looking for in this relationship. If it is just going out( maybe a bit more than that), having fun, it doesn't matter about the state of his place as you're not living with him. As long as he has good personal hygiene and clean clothes, I don't see the problem.

If you are thinking you might like to make more of a commitment and eventually live together, that's quite different. He'd have to shape up a bit with housework.

Work out what you want from him.

OrangeFluff · 16/06/2019 12:32

You’ll never be able to live with him. You’ll end up doing all the cleaning, including tidying and cleaning up after him. Over time you’ll really resent him for it (speaking from experience)

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 12:37

@Bluerussian yes you're right and I currently have no plans to live with him, I'm not sure I'd want to live with any man again though.

I'm def not the type to be a housemaid either I'd absolutely resent that, my life is busy enough

OP posts:
Nicolastuffedone · 16/06/2019 13:02

Well, he hasn’t upped his game in 9 years.....

HollowTalk · 16/06/2019 13:05

Oh god, I'm not that houseproud but your post made me feel sick. I would hate to go into a house like that, never mind have a romantic relationship with the owner.

Bluerussian · 16/06/2019 13:11

In that case, IndieTara, don't worry about it, it's not your problem unless you stay with him overnight sometimes and you don't have to do that. If you do, make sure you get up and go home without doing any jobs around the house.

TremblingFanjo · 16/06/2019 13:13

Are you dating my brother? His house was like this. He has finally taken action though and has a cleaner so the kitchen and bathrooms are better. I'd never eat there though, the fridge is minging and anything that's come out of the dishwasher is caked in shrapnel grit and anything he's washed up isn't clean.

I'd be pragmatic here - you want to date him but not be at his house. How messy is he in your house?

RantyAnty · 16/06/2019 13:14

Does he actually know how to clean properly? It seems he is trying but maybe you could spend a day and show him exactly what to do and why. Show him the good cleaning products and explain what they do.

He probably doesn't realise that type of filth can make people sick.

PositiveVibez · 16/06/2019 13:18

If you want a relationship with no intention of moving in together, just don't go to his house. Ever.

AliceRR · 16/06/2019 13:20

My DH’s idea I’d hygiene is quite different from mine and in the early days it would put me off eating there etc. Over time he learned my ways a little and that I wouldn’t eat certain things eg I don’t like double dipping and if he put out a single bowl of sauce for us all (me him and his two children) to dip into then I wouldn’t have any or would suggest having our own plates - we didn’t double dip in my parents house even if it was just us. I know I’m a bit OTT. The point is we did get married and I moved into his house. I deep cleaned the whole house and tried to keep things clean. He’d do things like come in from the rain with wet shoes on without wiping his feet. Now we’ve just bought own house together and we both have to be flexible. I have to be a bit more laid back and either deal with the mess he makes or just clean a bit more. He’s not super dirty and messy but more so than I am. He also makes more effort to be clean and tidy and it works for us for the most part. I suppose my point is you might find it easier to live together (when the time is right) as you can just keep the house clean - not sure about the pets - or can he just come over to yours more?

AliceRR · 16/06/2019 13:22

Also I think some men don’t get the difference between tidy and clean. DH used to clean the kitchen which would involve washing up and bleaching the sink but he wouldn’t properly clean the surfaces and the floor line I would, he’d just sweep up. He dint dust or clean in the front room either, again, just sweep up. Probably wouldn’t have thought to wash cushion covers and the like.

RandomMess · 16/06/2019 13:27

Are the pets on wet food??? Dry food would improve that a lot...

Dishwasher?

Tell him he needs clean tea towel everyday and he needs to wipe down the microwave after use...

You need to be honest and tell him you don't want to be in his flat because of these things and it's a deal breaker but it's his choice if he wants to change or not then let him think it over.

sergeilavrov · 16/06/2019 13:28

I wonder how he behaves at your house. If he doesn’t create a general layer of filth there, and he’s otherwise great and making you happy, it might be best to just stop going to his house and have him at your home when you want a night together. If he asks why the change, tell him honestly that you tried to tell him about the dirt in his house but as it wasn’t changing you don’t feel comfortable there and would prefer to be at yours.

If he manages his own personal hygiene, I suspect he just didn’t bother learning to keep a house. Refer him to a cleaning company who can come by weekly, after a deep clean to sort the dishes and appliances.

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 13:37

@RandomMess i have said that about the pet food but he says they don't like dry food alone.

He's pretty much run by the pets, doesn't want to make too many changes because they don't like it etc. I've pointed this out to him and he credits them with being there for him when he was lonely and theyre rescue animals

OP posts:
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