Should I clean friend's 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!

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!

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.'

???

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

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.

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 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.

You must certainly clean the bedroom you are sleeping in!

I'd clean it.
If her eyesight isn't great she probably won't notice, and I wouldn't mention it.

I would definitely hoover and get rid of as much dog hair and dust as I could. I would also clean the kitchen doors, worktops and sticky bits but not inside the cupboards. Also the bathroom. I couldn't stay in a dirty house for ten days without cleaning it to some extent.

I agree with other posters that if the lady has vision problems she may not be able to see the state her home is in. It must smell pretty bad though with all that fur around.

I like to think my eyesight isn't too bad and I only wear reading glasses. However, when I have them on when I am not actually reading, I can see the crumbs, cobwebs and dust that I was blissfully unaware of without them on.

I agree, do what you need to by getting rid of the dust and fluff in the rooms you’re using and just clean up after yourself in the kitchen and bathroom. And don’t mention it.

I thnk you notice other people's dirt more
I would do whatever you feel comfortable with. I wouldn't be offended if you cleaned my house, I'd be over the moon

Yes, go ahead and clean whatever you deem necessary and desirable. Good on you (but sorry you've found it necessary). Please don't mention a word of it to her when she gets back.

I agree. with AGA, just clean what you need to use. The dust and pet dander is a serious health hazard so perhaps point this out when your friend gets home.
Definitely do not spring clean the whole property though, that's not your responsibility, just make the place safe for the duration of your stay.

As the others have said. Clean the bits you need to, to make it habitable for you while you're there. If she mentions it, be honest. 'The dust set my asthma/allergies off.'

Your health comes before her feelings. Get rid of all the dust and thoroughly air the place. It's not acceptable that the house is so dirty that you are wheezing and sneezing. Asthma is a serious condition.
I would just clean some crockery and cutlery for your own use not the whole lot.
Only clean what you have to.

I remember a friend telling me that her mother had said after she had cataract surgery "why didn't you tell me the house was so dirty" so that would obviously be a factor plus she has obviously let things slide during covid . I would do the as much as you need to do for your own peace of mind if she takes offence it's her loss she will have to find another dog sitter next time. But I bet she either doesn't say anything or apologises for letting things slide so much.

Definitely clean the bits you’re using. Sorry but too bad if she is offended !!

Well done Margot no need to mention anything about it when she gets home. At least you might stop wheezing.

Can you take the dog to your home and dog sit there?

If you clean her home, you are risking to offend her

Thank you. I'm going to start now. I think I need to begin with a marathon hoovering and dusting sessions. Unless I can get rid of as much pet hair and dust as possible I'm not sure I'll be able to cope here for 10 days. I have doors and windows open in the hope of getting fresh air in, but that's just stirring up the dust. I'm going to concentrate on my bedroom, the living room and the hall and stairs, which are carpeted and I think have a lot of dust and hair embedded. Obviously I won't go into her room or her study. I don't know if I'll be able to shift much of the furniture on my own but I just got down and looked under my bed and there's a thick blanket of fluff wafting around. No wonder I'm wheezing.

I suspect I sound as if I'm really fussy and a bit of clean freak but I'm honestly not. This is beyond ordinary everyday levels of dust and fluff.

Not without her say-so. Or at least very discreetly.
A friend and I did exactly that for an older friend who was in hospital after a heart attack.
We thought she would be pleased, she was mortified tgat we had deemed it necessary.
Maybe do it now and hope it has reverted to its original condition by the time she gets back?

I would clean but not mention it when she came back, this happened to my friend whilst waiting for cataract surgery she was mortified when she could see how bad things had become.

Agree with VS