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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:
MashedSpud · 16/06/2019 15:13

He needs a proper cleaner to come by, not a neighbour he feels sorry for. Animals don’t like to live in filth either and vets bills will be high when they come down with some sort of infection.

There’s also the chance flies will lay eggs in the strewn food which will bring maggots. Cockroaches and/or vermin will be attracted and the chance of getting e-Coli or worse is a risk.

Dogparty · 16/06/2019 15:21

My husband was the same when I met him. & he still is! I do get so frustrated because I can’t sleep when the house is messy or dirty. He knows it bothers me but I don’t think he sees what I see. It’s an argument that still pops up with us (especially as we have a crawling baby) but I’ve just accepted that if I want it clean I’ve got to clean it myself. He’s wonderful in every other way so I just have to deal with it. If I had to work I’d put my foot down and hire a cleaner though. I’m not saying it’s easy, it does still grate on me but nobody is perfect and I’m sure I do things that annoy him too!

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 15:22

I just want to stress neither he or his pets are 'living in filth' and he's better than he used to be.

It's just my reaction to his household hygiene habits are what they are and I'd like to see a way forward for us both

OP posts:
sproutsandparsnips · 16/06/2019 15:38

Could he get a dishwasher in his new kitchen and a cleaner?

tuxedocatsintophats · 16/06/2019 15:48

You must have a Saviour Complex a mile wide or be a masochist for continuing to push this relationship.

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 15:58

Neither @tuxedo I just finally recognise a lovely man when I see one.
Albeit We obviously see dirt differently.

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 15:59

@sproutsandparsnips it's a good idea but not sure his kitchen is big enough

OP posts:
tuxedocatsintophats · 16/06/2019 15:59

There are lovely people out there who aren't total mingers but if you want to waste your time flogging this dead horse, because that's exactly what it is, crack on.

RandomMess · 16/06/2019 16:02

Worktop dishwasher?

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 16:04

I will 'crack on ' @tuxedocatsintophats IF that's what I decide to do.

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 16:04

@RandomMess yes also a good idea actually thanks

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/06/2019 16:15

You do need to tell him to just give the pets a bit of wet food at a time and then clear up straight away afterwards and just leave dry food down in between times. If provides wet food at key times - 1st thing in the morning and supper time they will become accustomed to that and scoff it there and then...

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 16:22

@RandomMess I had the same pet albeit only one and last night he asked me how I managed the mess.

I told him the food bowl was put onto a vinyl wipeable mat and once the food was eaten I cleaned up straight away.

I was amazed I had to explain it

OP posts:
NoNonsense234 · 16/06/2019 16:25

A friend of mine married a man who had a house exactly the way you describe, he then moved in with her after they married.
Years later they are still married but argue almost daily on their differing opinions on hygiene/cleanliness of the house. She does all the cleaning, he acts like a 2 year old leaving mess everywhere he goes for her to clean up.
Nearly 20 years of arguing haven't solved this, you can't change people so think very carefully if you think you can live like that for the foreseeable future.....

RandomMess · 16/06/2019 16:26

I do think he is possibly just clueless!

I would seriously write a list:

Dearest P this is the minimum cleanliness standard I can cope with...

Then give it to him. The slapdash approach to the milk and tea bag indicates to me that he doesn't think about keeping things clean, totally not on his radar.

If he is great in every other way then surely it's worth a try?

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 16:27

@NoNonsense234 we don't live together and I have no plans for us to do so

OP posts:
IndieTara · 16/06/2019 16:29

@RandomMess you might be right but I do tell him verbally all the time.

It does grate to have to tell a grown man how to keep his house acceptably clean

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/06/2019 16:31

My DH has a crap sense of smell and genuinely crap eyesight in glasses (can't wear contacts) - I have had to teach/tell him... he now cleans to a reasonable standard and I do thorough cleans in between.

No my eyesight is going I have realised I just can't see the dirt as easily etc...

Yes I had to point out to him that tea towels, flannels and hand towels harbour germs and need changing regularly, yes it was Confusedto me but he just never considered it despite his parents home being too immaculate.

RandomMess · 16/06/2019 16:33

Yes it grates so write a list Wink

DP your house stinks have you not been clearing up fluffies food again? Do you not like me coming over to spend time with and shag you Confused ?

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 16:35

Ha ha thanks @RandomMess that has made me laugh

OP posts:
RandomMess · 16/06/2019 16:38

We used to have a row about the bedding getting washed (he does the lions share of laundry) I pointed out I am much more in the mood with freshly laundered sheets Grin

katseyes7 · 16/06/2019 16:42

This has just reminded me of when l was visiting a friend, and we got a takeaway to eat at her house. Her home is immaculate, always has been but the tray she gave me to put my plate on had a mouldy pea stuck to it....

IndieTara · 16/06/2019 16:45

@random his laundry bedding wise seems fine but I'd be that way too.

It does make me wonder though what else doesn't get washed properly.

I'm going to tell him that his lack of hygiene is a turn off

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/06/2019 17:07

Re your earlier comment to gumbypickle,

"@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"

There are much better men out there than this one. Your own relationship bar is still far too low so how's about you upping your own standards here re men rather than settling for this low bar from him. You have a daughter, what do you want to teach her about relationships and what is she learning from you here?.

He is also an adult and is not therefore a person who needs a list re cleaning.

Elefant1 · 16/06/2019 17:08

I know you shouldn't have to explain to a grown man how to do housework but if he has never learned he may just be clueless. How about tackling one thing with him as a bit of a test to see if it really is that he doesn't know how or if he just doesn't care. For example washing up, you could point out the supposedly clean stuff, can he see that it isn't actually clean? Show him how to wash up and dry properly and help him get it all clean.
Then in a couple of weeks you can check, if everything is still good it could be that he really just doesn't have a clue and if he is an otherwise great guy it could be worth going though everything and teaching him. If things have gone back to being dirty again he clearly just doesn't care and you would have decide if you could cope with him living like that or end the relationship.

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