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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:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 13:39

@sergeilavrov there have been a couple of incidents at mine eg he didn't screw the milk bottle top on properly, put it back in my fridge and next day I found milk everywhere.

Dripping teabags over the work surface and bin when throwing away. That kind of thing

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 13:41

He is also getting a new kitchen put in which will help but as it's his habits causing the dirt and crustiness it won't stay clean long

OP posts:
AyBeeCee10 · 16/06/2019 13:44

It sounds utterly disgusting. He may be a lovely person, but his filthy hygiene means that you will never be able to live together. The fact theres such a huge difference in how you see cleanliness means that you will end up cleaning after him if he does live with you. I would not put your child through that.

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 13:47

@AyBeeCee10 I will never be the type of partner who does that. I don't clean up after him

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/06/2019 13:52

Then just hand the issue over to him and tell him you understand that he doesn't want to make changes but it means parting ways.

sergeilavrov · 16/06/2019 13:57

Wow. Those are quite basic things. If it was things like washing dishes, laundry - a professional cleaner could teach him how to do those things properly. But screwing a milk top on? That seems like a bigger issue. Is he disorganized in general? Is there potentially a mental health reason behind this?

I commend you on your patience, much better than I would be for sure!

Musti · 16/06/2019 13:57

Not sure many women or people could put up with that. Having said that I know a few people who have untidy houses and a bit dirty but they and their clothes are immaculate. What's he like at your house? Maybe just don't go to his house

gumbyprickle · 16/06/2019 13:57

*, put it back in my fridge and next day I found milk everywhere.

Dripping teabags over the work surface and bin when throwing away.*

Did he clean it up?

80sMum · 16/06/2019 14:01

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)

Yep! That pretty much sums it up! Be careful OP! I've been married to someone like your DP for 40-odd years! We had not lived together before we married and although I was aware that he was untidy, I didn't realise how dirty also!

So, I've been the "maid" for 40 years! I can't keep up with it all nowadays, because DH is retired and I'm still working. He has more time to make the mess and I don't have enough time to clear it up!

It does get me down sometimes (often!). I prefer being out of the house if possible. Coming home just reminds me of everything that needs to be done!

Iwantacookie · 16/06/2019 14:09

Op my dp was like that when I first got with him. His place was disgusting but having always been just him he never bothered.
We've been living together about 5 years now and although he doesn't have the same standards I do he does try (I say try because he looks so proud when he's washed up/vacuumed) But hell only do half a job. E.g hell just vacuum the lounge not the hall Confused
Don't get me wrong I was worried when he first moved in but the thing that really got me was not long after we got together he told me he prefers coming to my house because I take pride in it.
I think it helped him because I'm already quite clean and tidy so he just follows suit.

BiscuitDrama · 16/06/2019 14:12

You don’t need to teach someone how to wipe a surface with a damp cloth.

He clearly just doesn’t feel the need. I’m afraid I agree that you’re just not compatible. He’s quite unusual though...

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 14:13

@sergeilavrov MH issues because he didn't screw a top on properly??

No there are no MH issues I imagine he just hadn't realised he hadn't screwed the top on properly!

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 14:15

@gumbyprickle he cleaned up the drips because I noticed them while he was still here and told him to.

Didn't realise about the milk until the following day but I cleaned it up because he wasn't here.

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 14:16

@BiscuitDrama I'm not so sure he is unusual reading some of the responses on here

OP posts:
tuxedocatsintophats · 16/06/2019 14:16

Look, Indie, life is way too short to put up with this. He's happy being a minger. He will not ever change. It's revolting, but he's fine with it. Just move on. You're flogging a dead horse. Just split up for good.

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 14:17

@Iwantacookie no plans to move in together

OP posts:
SuzieQ10 · 16/06/2019 14:18

I wonder what the bathroom looks like.

It would be a big issue for me, I'd have to explain that I don't feel comfortable with his lack of cleanliness at home. He's possibly trying a little bit, but it's not enough and it's not working. Give him a chance to sort it out and sustain some order / cleanliness at home but if not a lot improves I'd have to call it a day. I find that sort of thing very off putting. Knowing someone lives in a filthy, smelly house just isn't sexy. Could you be pretty blunt about it?

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 14:21

@SuzieQ10 trust me I could not be blunter! When we got together because of this issue the first time round he told me to communicate and tell him when I'm not happy about something.
So I do. Every single time.

OP posts:
LoafofSellotape · 16/06/2019 14:23

Either accept that he's like this and very unlikely to change or move on. Don't waste time trying to get him to be cleaner,he didn't get it this first time and he's not getting it this time either.

GreenTulips · 16/06/2019 14:29

DD has a friend like this, only nobody has ever taught him to be clean. He didn’t know mops existed, or that he needed X stuff to clean Y.

He never had a routine, never thought to wipe the fridge or descale the washing machine or that windows needed cleaning.

It just isn’t on his radar.

Can you draw him up a schedule of what needs doing and roughly when?

Monday - clean bathroom, wipe sides, mop floor empty bin
Tuesday wash bedding and iron a weeks shorts
Wednesday - empty all bins, clean fridge, mop floor

So it’s in weekly chunks

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 14:36

@GreenTulips I honestly dont think I should have to do that. He's 56 and lived on His own a long time

OP posts:
sergeilavrov · 16/06/2019 14:39

@IndieTara ... I specifically mentioned mh issues in relation to if there was a wider trend of disorganisation. Sometimes these concerns manifest this way, especially as he's referenced his pets so much as providing him comfort and companionship during a lonely period of his life, and - in your words - them now 'running' his life. Sorry you didn't read that properly.

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 14:40

@sergeilavrov in which case apologies I didn't get that

OP posts:
BiscuitDrama · 16/06/2019 14:45

By saying he was unusual I just meant your standards were more commonplace.

BedraggledBlitz · 16/06/2019 15:01

My ex was like this and it broke us.

Before we lived together I spent weekends tidying up his house, helping him.get on top of it. By the next weekend it would be mess.

Then we lived together. Omg. I did all tidying, bin emptying, dishwasher loads, the lot. Felt like a maid so I'd try going on strike, but he just wouldn't help at all. Baby came.along and it broke me. I'd be tripping over.stuff with baby in arms, bathing him beside disgusting toilet. I stopped trying to excuse him and got angry and we split up.

Now my child lives in a messy but clean house and has an understanding of how to maintain basic tidiness.

So in short, end it!

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