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A domestic !

(129 Posts)
NanKate Sun 08-Mar-20 17:42:48

I’m sadly lacking in the domestic side of our marriage of 48 years.

Today DH was huffing and puffing whilst taking the washing out of the washing machine as he had found a mangled tissue which had spread throughout the machine ? I said it wasn’t mine and he said it wasn’t his. He put all the little white bits on the kitchen floor beside him and asked me to get the dust pan and brush out to clear it up. I said ‘do we have a dust pan and brush?’ He assured me there was one in the downstairs cupboard. I asked how long it had been there ‘About 5 years he said’. Well that was a surprise to me. I dutifully got out said dust pan and brush and swept them up. I felt really hot doing it and told him I could have the virus ? he assured me I had not as I wasn’t coughing.

Well that’s the last bit of housework I’m doing this Spring. ?

Are you a domestic goddess ?

NannyJan53 Mon 09-Mar-20 07:30:26

I do most all of the housework here as other half works full time and I am retired, so it is only fair. I am no goddess though, I tend to do jobs as the need arises, I keep meaning to have a set day, but that never seems to happen. It is only a two bed house though, so doesn't take long.

He is a perfectionist, so I do get some eye rolls sometimes, but I just ignore them. I prefer to go out after years of being stuck in an office.

We don't have a cleaner as I would feel the need to tidy up before they arrived grin so defeats the purpose really.

Someone told me once, cobwebs will still be here in a 100 years, long after we have gone smile

NanKate Mon 09-Mar-20 06:45:24

Just to set the record straight we do have a cleaner who works like a whirlwind around the house so in fact it is quite presentable.

I am naturally quite tidy and like clean worktops in the kitchen. My DH is a perfectionist and often takes over doing jobs as he wants them just right so I am more than happy to let him do that.

Lemongrove I will tell DH you think he is superb, he will like that. ?

annep1 Sun 08-Mar-20 23:28:29

Callistemon grin

Paddyann I do not know where you get the energy to do all that. My beds are lucky they get changed once a week and windows are washed once a month when window cleaner does outside.(apart from window at sink)

NanKate I honestly thought you were joking. I couldn't imagine not knowing where the brush and dustpan are - or the vacuum Luckygirl.

We tend to share the work as much as possible although my husband is good at finding jobs in the garden that take a long time and require earphones and ipod.

janeainsworth Sun 08-Mar-20 23:24:18

who actually peels mushrooms these days?hmm

Me actually....doesn’t everyone? Unless they’re those very little squeaky clean button ones.

Callistemon Sun 08-Mar-20 23:12:31

When they come home, as they do very occasionally, they have obviously had a lovely time rolling around in the dirt, no amount of washing whilst singing Happy Birthday ten times gets them clean again.

grannyactivist Sun 08-Mar-20 23:07:52

Callistemon I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but in fact your wandering dustpan and brush are by no means unique. Mine take themselves off to the garage, to the allotment shed, to the attic and to various other places where they hide themselves away until I have purchased yet another dustpan and brush, which I know will eventually give in to wanderlust. I used to think that it was simply carelessness on the part of The Wonderful Man, but apparently not. hmm grin

Grandmafrench Sun 08-Mar-20 22:58:19

What Shirley Conran said was "life's too short to stuff a mushroom". This was when she wrote against the great 70's wave of feminism which was seeming to promote the concept that women could have it all ! She wrote that they can't and they'll always struggle unless they prioritise. She said "What is a home?" "A home is a myth". "A home is the Forth Bridge, one damn long, never-ending cleaning job which nobody notices unless you don't do it!" ( She did have staff and I don't think she was big on dustpans and brushes!) grin

TrendyNannie6 Sun 08-Mar-20 22:40:59

Your post made me giggle NanKate , it’s horrible when you find bits of tissue in the washing machine, no I’m not a domestic goddess, I do have a dustpan and brush and I know where it is, I do like some aspects of housework mainly hoovering and ironing, hate dusting

boheminan Sun 08-Mar-20 22:34:18

True lemongrove - apart from which, who actually peels mushrooms these days?hmm

janeainsworth Sun 08-Mar-20 22:32:23

I thought I was a domestic goddess, but it appears I’m not.
This morning I stripped the bed, washed the sheets & pillowcases, and even hung them outside to dry on the line?

But it’s now 10.30pm and I’ve just realised I forgot to put clean sheets back on the bed ??

Hetty58 Sun 08-Mar-20 22:24:23

We always had a cleaner when I was growing up. Mum only did some ironing and cooking, so it's not my fault that I wait for somebody else to do it!

lemongrove Sun 08-Mar-20 22:13:34

Mind you, Shirley Conran had cleaners ( and quite possibly other staff!) grin

boheminan Sun 08-Mar-20 22:07:06

I think it was Shirley Conran who stated many years ago 'life's too short to peel a mushroom' - that applies to housework for mesmile

sodapop Sun 08-Mar-20 22:04:57

Love the image Dottydot grin

I can't settle if certain jobs are not done daily, vacuum up dog hairs and wash floors. Clean the kitchen and bathroom. Beds made.

Hetty58 Sun 08-Mar-20 21:57:37

I just can't be bothered until things get really bad. I've noticed that the windows need cleaning now that the sun's been shining. I can't see out. Maybe I'll ask those nice window cleaners to do the inside glass.

It's muddy paws time of year anyway (dog-floors, cat - furniture and windowsills) so what's the point?

The only time I spring into cleaning mode is when I'm expecting visitors. I'm exhausted when they arrive!

Tangerine Sun 08-Mar-20 21:50:17

I don't mind cleaning, washing and ironing.

However, when I had a family at home, I did get fed up with cooking meals. My husband did cook some meals, I admit, but I did it mostly. I got fed up with thinking of different things to cook.

Now I live alone and I find it easier from a preparation of meals point of view.

ClareAB Sun 08-Mar-20 21:48:17

BlueSapphire Lots of cheeses, crackers, olives and chocolate. Dark choc brownies are delicious with a full bodied red wine smile

lemongrove Sun 08-Mar-20 21:46:36

NanKate grin
I think Mr NanKate is suberb, when I find a tissue in the wash, the air turns blue!
I am a bit of a domestic goddess as it happens? although Mr L will help out when prompted, I do all the main cleaning and cooking and quite enjoy it.I always have the radio on, mainly music which helps. We are both naturally very tidy so the house always looks ‘guest ready’ even when it’s just us two.
It has to be very clean as well as tidy ( no clutter other than books.)Shall I come and give you a hand, show you where all your cleaning stuff lives? ( under the sink and in that cupboard you have under the stairs!) grin

Missfoodlove Sun 08-Mar-20 20:44:37

I will confess to enjoying all aspects of housework!
I see it as therapeutic and great exercise.
I don’t work full time so have no truck with donning the rubber gloves.
It’s so satisfying and I love the end result.

BlueSapphire Sun 08-Mar-20 20:42:26

I do just the same as you, NanKate. I'm on my own now, but always did most stuff anyway. Though DH did do the washing up....sometimes.
I will have to do a big clean and tidy up in a week or so, as I am hosting our next ladies' wine tasting. My head is aching trying to think of what I am going to provide for food.

Callistemon Sun 08-Mar-20 20:34:47

We do have a dust pan and brush somewhere, in fact two I think.
However, ours arenjnique because they have legs and they walk outside and into the garage.

BlueSapphire Sun 08-Mar-20 20:30:59

I don't have a dustpan and brush..... it's often on my shopping list, but somehow seems to get overlooked.

harrigran Sun 08-Mar-20 20:15:10

Oh dear me, I thought that was my post, it sounded familiar. Last month I bought a dustpan and brush, went to put it in the cupboard and guess what there was one hanging there already, that was a surprise.

eazybee Sun 08-Mar-20 20:11:52

I have never aspired to being a domestic goddess. Why would you?
But I do have a long-handled dustpan and broom and a short one, both bright pink, and I know where they are.

paddyanne Sun 08-Mar-20 19:55:57

1950's is alive and thriving here I do all the cooking cleaning shopping washing ironing childcare and work part time .I used to work full time but we're heading for retirement.
I like things done MY way so I keep everyone out of the kitchen ,it my domain.I like beds made a certain way so nobody touches them or I remake them when guests are "helpful" and do their own.As I do all the cooking I like to pick the food I cook although I do cook things I dont eat,like fowl for the others .
I change beds twice a week ,clean windows on Fridays ( must be a tradition) at night so I can check for smears and I even jetwash the bins.
I've never thought I was fussy ,my house is a home .There are magazines on tables ,things on the stairs to be taken up and cat toys scattered where they leave them .I think I have a happy medium ,it suits us .