Should I clean friend's house?

I agree that cleaning needs in other peoples homes are easier to notice than sometimes at home. I’m sometimes surprised by how dusty or grubby our house appears after a time away! I’m sure we must have messy ghosts!

I suspect that if her eyesight is poor she didn’t realise how bad the house was. As I said earlier, if I put my specs on I see things I’d missed.

I don’t understand why we are being so considerate to the friend.
Even if her eyesight isn’t that sharp, if someone is coming to stay in her house, she should have cleaned it.

It's affecting your health so you're quite right to do it.
Cat hair still being around is the reason to give, if your friend says anything, but don't say anything if she doesn't.

I also wonder why if you have allergies, why are you looking after her dog?

Please, whatever you do DON'T clean her house without her permission. She will be very offended if you do and could lead to an unnecessary argument which would leave you both upset it. Is it really worth it just for the sake of a clean house which will soon be dirty again?

No need to ask first.

Clean the areas that you’re using and then if you have time just lightly clean the rest. Ugh!

If it is affecting you and making you wheezy, clean it. I could not sit amonst dog hair and congealed food for 10 days.

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.

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

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 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

MargotLedbetter:

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

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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.

X post Curlywhirly