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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

How can I address my wife's worsening hygiene and lack of contribution?

109 replies

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 17:01

I’m really at my wit’s end, I just don’t know what to do, wondering if anyone can offer advice. My wife and I have been married for over 30 years and she has always been lazy with housework, she never cooks, she only bathes once a week, sometimes only once a fortnight. We have separate bedrooms and she hasn’t changed her bedsheets since Christmas and they are covered in stains. She uses a urine bottle in her bedroom, not because she’s disabled, but because she has one of the cats sleep with her and doesn’t want to open the door to let her out. She hasn’t cleaned the bottle out for weeks and her room stinks of old piss. There are cat vomit and shit stains on her carpet which she doesn’t clean properly. She has always been an untidy person but her lack of hygiene and general lack of caring for herself or anything around the house is really starting to grind me down. We both work, she has just gone back to full time after a year off, during which time she still did nothing. I only work part-time – 5 days a week for 4 hours a day. I do all the cleaning, cooking and house maintenance. She only does anything if I ask her to, and then does it badly or shoddily. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable to have standards, which aren’t particularly high. We own our own very nice detached house and are both reasonably intelligent – just normal people. Can any offer any advice as to how I can get her to contribute more, or at least take better care of herself? I have a heart condition and have been in hospital a few times and I dread coming home sometimes because I know the house will be in a mess when I get home and have to do everything myself. Thank you for reading.

OP posts:
MammaTo · 06/05/2026 18:22

If you’ve laid your cards on the table multiple times and said to your wife that things need to change but she’s still continuing to live like this (with no reasonable explanation) then I think it’s time for a trial separation.

If we take it at face value that she’s a happy, well rounded person aside from these hygiene issues, then that says to me that she doesn’t respect herself or you enough to shower at least every other day. Personal hygiene shouldn’t be that big of an issue for someone who is happy and mentally healthy.

OhLookLouis · 06/05/2026 18:24

Regardless of your love for this woman, she is showing you nothing but contempt for living in squalor in your lovely home, and not doing any cleaning or tidying up. I'm not the world's most tidy person, but sleeping in stained sheets, with urine and cat faeces on the floor is unimaginable. If she is not struggling with mental health issues, then ask her to leave. Then get the house deep cleaned and organise a divorce.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 06/05/2026 18:25

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 18:00

It's a proper urine bottle with an attached funnel-shaped thingy especially for women to use. Honestly, I know why she pees in the bottle and there's a perfectly rational explanation for it. It's the not cleaning it out on a daily basis that's the problem.

There is no rational reason to pee in a bottle instead of going to the toilet apart from being physically unable to go to the toilet because of disability or illness. Not letting the cat out is just weird and wrong.
That you think this is ok, means your thinking is completely skewed .

This is not normal or ok

Hopefulsalmon · 06/05/2026 18:28

VeryQuaintIrene · 06/05/2026 18:04

Her poor cat! (slightly missing the point, perhaps)

Agree...why's the cat not allowed to leave the room, what if it needs to pee? The whole thing is bewildering.

Ohwhatatangledwebweweavewhen · 06/05/2026 18:31

OhLookLouis · 06/05/2026 18:24

Regardless of your love for this woman, she is showing you nothing but contempt for living in squalor in your lovely home, and not doing any cleaning or tidying up. I'm not the world's most tidy person, but sleeping in stained sheets, with urine and cat faeces on the floor is unimaginable. If she is not struggling with mental health issues, then ask her to leave. Then get the house deep cleaned and organise a divorce.

That’s really horrible. There is no evidence that she is showing him any contempt as we don’t know why she is behaving like that. Why would you be encouraging him to break up an otherwise happy relationship? Are you unhappy yourself?

Velvian · 06/05/2026 18:32

I'm sure I will get jumped on for saying this, but do you think there is a possibility of Autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).

I feel like the keeping to her room and not regularly washing is a safety thing and not wanting to let the outside in.

That said, I would expect a partner or even housemate to find strategies to wash every day and clean fairly regularly.

Does she object to your cleaning, or getting g someone in to clean @Meloniusthunk ?

Cheesipuff · 06/05/2026 18:32

Get a weekly cleaner and make sure she changes the beds. Get a carpet cleaner in

done

RoseField1 · 06/05/2026 18:49

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 18:00

It's a proper urine bottle with an attached funnel-shaped thingy especially for women to use. Honestly, I know why she pees in the bottle and there's a perfectly rational explanation for it. It's the not cleaning it out on a daily basis that's the problem.

No there fucking isn't

RealEagle · 06/05/2026 18:57

You are ok with her pissing in a bottle! OK!

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 19:01

Hopefulsalmon · 06/05/2026 18:28

Agree...why's the cat not allowed to leave the room, what if it needs to pee? The whole thing is bewildering.

Ok, this isn't going to sound great - there's a fully hooded litter tray in her bedroom for the cat.

OP posts:
TheWildZebra · 06/05/2026 19:07

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 19:01

Ok, this isn't going to sound great - there's a fully hooded litter tray in her bedroom for the cat.

So there is a cat that is not allowed to leave her bedroom full stop? Is it allowed into the rest of the house or just not outside the house.

if the former, you do realise this is something the RSPCA wouldn’t be happy with?

OhLookLouis · 06/05/2026 19:08

Ohwhatatangledwebweweavewhen · 06/05/2026 18:31

That’s really horrible. There is no evidence that she is showing him any contempt as we don’t know why she is behaving like that. Why would you be encouraging him to break up an otherwise happy relationship? Are you unhappy yourself?

He has stated with certainty that his wife does not have any mental health issues, and yes, it is disrespectful and contemptuous to be unwashed, unhygienic and to live in squalor in a shared environment.

Quite what my own happiness has to do with this scenario, is baffling.

ThisJadeBear · 06/05/2026 19:11

If you are prepared to live like this then that’s on you.
I am sure as a paramedic you saw all sorts of weird and wonderful sights.
I am disabled (physically) and sleep separately. I can walk but my husband has seen me crawl to the loo on occasion.
On the occasions when I don’t bath/shower each day, rarely, I have every type of wipe going.
It is unhealthy for any woman to be living and sleeping in her own piss. It’s full of germs. That’s before the smell and the effect on you.
I am not sure how she was brought up.
I am sure people in work have noticed. If you think you can smell, other women will be reeling from it.
I know you might do everything together but I think you would be better in separate homes. You could still be companions.
As you get older you cannot carry on like this. If you became ill you would be trapped in this squalor.
The only time I’ve used a Shee-wee is in a car and I binned it the other end of the trip.
You should not have to live like this.
You sound like a lonely man.
You deserve better.

Ohwhatatangledwebweweavewhen · 06/05/2026 19:12

OhLookLouis · 06/05/2026 19:08

He has stated with certainty that his wife does not have any mental health issues, and yes, it is disrespectful and contemptuous to be unwashed, unhygienic and to live in squalor in a shared environment.

Quite what my own happiness has to do with this scenario, is baffling.

He has also stated that they have a great marriage apart from the hygiene issues so why not be more constructive than suggesting divorce? It’s not really baffling to wonder whether you must be unhappy yourself to encourage him to divorce rather than look for more positive solutions.

SnappyUmberLion · 06/05/2026 19:18

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 19:01

Ok, this isn't going to sound great - there's a fully hooded litter tray in her bedroom for the cat.

Nothing you have described sounds great.

makemineadecaf · 06/05/2026 19:24

Does she wear clean clothes daily?

Naunet · 06/05/2026 19:28

This is so unusual that I can't help but think there must be some kind of MH issue or undiagnosed autism, but either way, it doesn't change this situation you're current living in.

The problem is you've laid it kn the line several times and nothing changes, you don't seem to be prepared to leave, so there's no consequences for her and no motivation to really change. Ultimately, you can't make someone change, all you can co trol is yourself, so you need to decide if you can live like this or not. I don't think anyone would blame you for deciding you can't.

Is she open to the idea of therapy?

UpDownAllAround1 · 06/05/2026 19:39

Why don’t you leave for a week and see how both of you cope?

OneKhakiFish · 06/05/2026 19:49

If shes not looking after her hygiene, filthy bed linen and floor, the litter tray wont be getting emptied and cleaned regularly, the smell must be horrendous, sounds like she needs to have the room emptied, new carpet and bed, when shes out at work then a have a regular cleaner, what job does she do? Wishing you luck, it sounds terrible

PurpleLovecats · 06/05/2026 20:35

OneKhakiFish · 06/05/2026 19:49

If shes not looking after her hygiene, filthy bed linen and floor, the litter tray wont be getting emptied and cleaned regularly, the smell must be horrendous, sounds like she needs to have the room emptied, new carpet and bed, when shes out at work then a have a regular cleaner, what job does she do? Wishing you luck, it sounds terrible

No not carpet! With this level of hygiene she needs a floor that can be mopped.

WishfulThinkingToday · 06/05/2026 22:43

I agree with everyone this sounds grim, and that this is not normal behaviour. She sounds depressed - no one would be happy living like this. Not even the poor cat!!!

If I was feeling really low, to the point of not being able to clean my house, it would probably be a big step to clean and would require a lot of encouragement. It would probably be overwhelming. Have you considered doing the cleaning together? You take one side of the room and she takes the other? Maybe splash out on new bed sheets and some linoleum flooring and make sure you spend time cleaning together. This way it isn’t such a stressful activity for her and would get her into the right habit.

…if she really is struggling, she might just need a little hand-hold at the start. Get her into a routine of having a ‘quick shower’ while you cook dinner or a night-time snack?

People are talking about leaving her, but sometimes a little support is needed after 30 years together and something isn’t right.

Also, let that poor cat out of the room!

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 22:49

Thank you all for your replies, but I'm not sure they've been that helpful in the main. I will say, though - she is not a skank, a minger or anything offensive like that. She is the most caring, kind-hearted, fiercely loyal, intelligent and most fantastic person I've ever known and I have absolutely no intention of ever leaving her.

OP posts:
WishfulThinkingToday · 06/05/2026 22:59

You sound like a lovely man. I am so happy that you are trying to help your wife, I hope my husband would do the same for me if I was struggling after 30 years together (20 years for us so far).

I forgot to mention (lighthearted comment)… the best way to tidy and clean a house (even though I am rubbish at this myself) is with lots of good happy music and a little dancing. This is the only thing that works for me.

Good luck OP. You have a good heart.

CloudyBayPlease · 06/05/2026 22:59

Meloniusthunk · 06/05/2026 22:49

Thank you all for your replies, but I'm not sure they've been that helpful in the main. I will say, though - she is not a skank, a minger or anything offensive like that. She is the most caring, kind-hearted, fiercely loyal, intelligent and most fantastic person I've ever known and I have absolutely no intention of ever leaving her.

What is the point of appealing for help on here then? She’s either mentally ill or an inconsiderate minger. Is she was ‘caring and considerate’ and not mentally ill, she would not put you through this.

If she’s mentally ill, get her some help.

Pippa12 · 06/05/2026 23:03

You sound like you love you wife dearly, warts and all! Makes a refreshing change round here 😂

Have you tried a rota? A whiteboard rota of tasks she could visualise? Some folk just don’t see what needs doing, they are happy to sit in mess. Perhaps a rota/task board would help?

Failing that I’d write her a letter with all your concerns, and each time she fell back into old habits I’d ask her to read it.

It’s such a shame her hygiene standards are so poor. It’s likely very noticeable which is sad as she sounds like a great person.

Have you both considered she might be neurodivergent? Perhaps investigating this might be the key to a healthier lifestyle for her.

Good luck moving forward- you sound like you’ve got a lovely marriage despite these issues!

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