Should I clean friend's house?

You must certainly clean the bedroom you are sleeping in!

I have once or twice cleaned houses or flats I was living in temporally and in all cases the owner was very grateful, but I have never done it for a close friend.

The chances are, that if she has cataracts and she probably hasn't cleaned properly because she cannot see the dirt. If you cean it up, she won;='t notice either.

If she does, just say, I could see how badly your cataracts were affecting your eye sight, so I have just done a bit of dusting and hoovering to bring your house back to normal before your surgery.

I was in a similar position once (years ago) and spent the week cleaning because I couldn't live with it. I didn't know the person all that well so I don't know if they were offended or not - but I was offended by the dirt! You are doing her a favour so your needs count too!

I must admit to sometimes finding things are not quite as I thought when I put my specs on. Ignorance is bliss unless an unexpected visitor arrives.

Hi OP. When are you available to dog sit here? ?

???

Clean away to your heart's content.
My mum hadn't noticed the limescale building up in the bathroom sink and was quite upset after her cataract operation that people had seen her 'dirty' sink.
I agree with MOnica If she notices (chances are that she won't) just say 'I just did a bit here and there ready for your eye surgery.'

Oh, I couldn't live in those conditions and I'd have to clean every room I was using. If the friend has bad eyesight, she won't noticed that rooms have been cleaned anyway. It may cause offence, but as has been said, it is a little offensive to invite someone to stay in a dirty house!

If her eyesight is poor she won't notice that you have cleaned.
Just clean the rooms you will be using, eg bathroom, kitchen (not the cupboards but definitely the surfaces and the sink) and your bedroom.

I remember we rented a house for few months once - it was really disgusting when we arrived, including what looked like cat or dog hairs in the bedroom drawers and a condom under the bed! I sent DH out for the day with our young children, I put on my Marigolds and cleaned and cleaned!

X post Curlywhirly

I would have to clean the rooms and things I use and TBH wouldn't be happy staying there. I agree with MissA, do it and don't say anything.

I've been busy hoovering and cleaning the skirtings with the brush tool. I have just emptied the vacuum container for the seventh time. It seems to me to be mostly pet hair. I don't think the poor dogs have seen so much action for a while. We've had the windows open all day and I think I can already feel the benefit. I'm very sensitive to cat hair and I suspect that that was what was making me wheezy. I've wiped all the bedroom furniture down quite carefully, just in case. Hoping this and antihistamines will do the trick.

I can see the difference it's made but I don't think anyone just walking into the house would notice, which is good. I'm going to clean the kitchen doors and handles before making something to eat and then that will be it for today.

Thank you for your opinions, they helped me get over a blip.

Apparently white cat hair is the worst for allergies.
I read that somewhere.

I was told, when I first developed my cat allergy after looking after a friend's cat that kept drooling over me the doctor explained that it's something in cat saliva that triggers an allergy response. The cat licks its fur, the fur sheds and the allergens waft around. But who knows.

Don't wear yourself out cleaning for someone else will you? Clean your bed room and bits you are using and shut the doors on the rest.
I've had both cataracts removed, and its true that, although mine weren't very bad, I noticed a seriously large amount of general dust after they were done.

I think it's a lovely thing to do for a friend.
Whether she notices or not.

I agree with MissA.
And of course,if she does notice you did it because you were bored/started having sneezing fits etc.
She may even hope you will do it,sneaky but possible lol.

MargotLedbetter

Would you like to house sit for me when we go away?
I'll fill the (clean) fridge and freezer with whatever you like and leave plenty of natural cleaning materials ?

No dog to walk now either

Haha, Callistemon — and I could do the gardening too, couldn't I! Sorry to hear about about the dog. Mine had to be helped on her way 18 months ago. These two dogs are quite old so they're not expecting a lot of walking to do. They're very sweet and I think we're going to be happy together.

There's quite a lot of boxes and stuff around which I don't think has helped the cleaning situation. She'd been collecting and sorting donations for Ukrainian refugees and there's quite a lot of stuff waiting to be dealt with. I've had to move boxes to hoover but I had a bright idea. I've videoed the rooms so that before she's due back I can make sure everything is where it was when she left.

It's quite complicated, this house-sitting lark isn't it? Do you clear the kitchen table so you can work or eat at it, or open the newspaper? Or are you supposed to leave everything just as you found it? I think when I've done this sort of thing in the past people have left their houses tidier and there has been more discussion of the dos and don'ts.

I'm not sure I understand this cataract business. My friend is only in her late 50s and she's still driving and using a computer for her work. Is it just a bit like turning the lights down? You can see, but not in detail?

I was just thinking the same MissAdventure, if she couldn’t see it was dirty, she probably won’t notice it’s clean
I think though, that’s it’s pretty bad to expect someone to live in your home if it’s dirty. Even if her eyesight is not great, you would think she would make an effort to clean up.
Sorry, but it sounds horrible to me, I would just take the dog back home with me.

MargotLedbetter:

'I know a lot of people would be dreadfully offended'

I'd be delighted - would you like to stay here?

I would clean her house, as I just couldn’t stay in a house that was dirty! But I wouldn’t mention it to her when she arrives back

I’d clean all the areas I’d be using. Definitely don’t mention it!
She probably won’t notice but will be grateful you’ve looked after her pets

I’m actually a little bit perplexed at why having a house guest clean the house they’re staying in might be deemed offensive.

Because somebody might feel it was saying they were dirty or not cleaning properly themselves.

I would clean what you have to for your own use but not go overboard or into rooms/areas you are not using.