What's the first 'dirty' thing you notice in someone else's house?

[Anonymous]

If they wear shoes inside and if there are piles of stuff in every room... not just one one desk or in one room. Also if the floors look dirty or if there is just stuff all over the floor.

If I see your clothes on the floor I know you are a pig and need therapy to value yourself and others more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always notice smells first. Smoke, litter box, perfume, air fresheners, wet dog, stale fridge, pet food, stuffy air, gross food odors, dust, dirty upholstery.

We have cats but I can't stand the bad smell of most cat homes so am super careful to keep our home's pet odors neutral and we air our place out daily.

I like the smell of air fresheners and perfume. Fresh air is nice too. But when the house is all closed up it's nice to have a nice scent wafting in the house. I am really surprised by how many people can't tolerate any sort of scent. Do you use scent free detergent for your clothes and scent free hand soap? I don't.

[Anonymous]

^What about fresh flowers? Is that too much of a scent too?

[Anonymous]

When it's so bad they are nose-blind- like an overflowing garbage can no one notices....

Also it's like their eyes are eye-blind to it when there are grubby switchplates, doorjambs and air vents, right at eye level that look to have never been cleaned.

Also dirty sinks- or spots where you can clearly see someone spit and didn't run the tap- gross.

[Anonymous]

Leaf and debris strewn front porches. Dirty front doors and fingerprint smudged doorbells. Cobwebs. Untended shrubs and plants. And that's just outside....

I won't even get started on the inside. Call me The Judge.

[Anonymous]

oh my god. I could hardly get through the first page of this thread. I didn't realize I was such a neat freak. I always feel like my house is so messy and dirty, but I shudder to think what your houses look like!

What stands out to me is when the faucet and mirror are covered in dried water and toothpaste droplets. Drives me crazy! But after reading this thread I'm thinking: if that's the only dirty thing I see in my friends' houses, I'm fortunate to have some very clean friends.

[Anonymous]

Ha. I spent this morning vacuuming and cleaning (washed the couch cushion covers) because I was paranoid of my house smelling like dog!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A relative is 1) a hoarder and 2) has pet hair everywhere and 3) dirty bathrooms. Her house is just gross. Last time I checked she had a cleaning lady who comes once every-other week. It's not enough....

This is my mom minus the cleaners. There is literally a decade of cat hair and dust and crumbs under her cabinets. I use gas station bathrooms when I visit instead of hers since the gas station one is cleaner.

[Anonymous]

Honestly? It depends.

Are they a childless, able bodied couple? Then yes, I will judge the pee on the toilet seat. I will judge you if your floors are a mess.

Are you a senior or someone with a recent illness/mobility issue? Then I will overlook everything.

Do you have kids? Young children? I will definitely excuse pretty much anything. MY house is spotless, but my son is still learning potty training and has to be more diligent about cleaning up after himself.

I am grossed out about vermin though. I went to a friends house in the middle of the day. It was a total mess but she has lots of kids and works. I totally freaked out when I saw mice running around openly in the middle of the afternoon. She was totally nonplussed and talked about getting a cat. Lady, vacuum and set some traps! Also, never forget the time I was dating a guy in college. Went to his apartment and saw roaches everywhere. I faked an illness and totally ghosted. No way I was ever going to date someone THAT dirty. Yuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leaf and debris strewn front porches. Dirty front doors and fingerprint smudged doorbells. Cobwebs. Untended shrubs and plants. And that's just outside....

I won't even get started on the inside. Call me The Judge.

I agree with this. I have friends with beautiful houses, but such disheveled entryways. One friend has a lovely catered holiday party but to get to the front door you walk through piles of fall leaves (past the time when it is charming), past the big trash and recycling cans (right next to the front door), etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly? It depends.

Are they a childless, able bodied couple? Then yes, I will judge the pee on the toilet seat. I will judge you if your floors are a mess.

Are you a senior or someone with a recent illness/mobility issue? Then I will overlook everything.

Do you have kids? Young children? I will definitely excuse pretty much anything. MY house is spotless, but my son is still learning potty training and has to be more diligent about cleaning up after himself.

I am grossed out about vermin though. I went to a friends house in the middle of the day. It was a total mess but she has lots of kids and works. I totally freaked out when I saw mice running around openly in the middle of the afternoon. She was totally nonplussed and talked about getting a cat. Lady, vacuum and set some traps! Also, never forget the time I was dating a guy in college. Went to his apartment and saw roaches everywhere. I faked an illness and totally ghosted. No way I was ever going to date someone THAT dirty. Yuck.

I hate ants too. I know that you can have a perfectly clean house and still get them but it is probably why I always do dishes right away. I once left some Easter candy in my closet as a kid and months later the floor of my closet and all of my shoes had ants all over them. Made an impression!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oh my god. I could hardly get through the first page of this thread. I didn't realize I was such a neat freak. I always feel like my house is so messy and dirty, but I shudder to think what your houses look like!

What stands out to me is when the faucet and mirror are covered in dried water and toothpaste droplets. Drives me crazy! But after reading this thread I'm thinking: if that's the only dirty thing I see in my friends' houses, I'm fortunate to have some very clean friends.

Did you mean to sound so condescending?

[Anonymous]

The neighborhood - on the downswing, stable, or premier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always notice smells first. Smoke, litter box, perfume, air fresheners, wet dog, stale fridge, pet food, stuffy air, gross food odors, dust, dirty upholstery.

We have cats but I can't stand the bad smell of most cat homes so am super careful to keep our home's pet odors neutral and we air our place out daily.

I like the smell of air fresheners and perfume. Fresh air is nice too. But when the house is all closed up it's nice to have a nice scent wafting in the house. I am really surprised by how many people can't tolerate any sort of scent. Do you use scent free detergent for your clothes and scent free hand soap? I don't.

Yes, I use unscented products and hate the artificial smell of chemical air fresheners. It gives me headaches.

I do like the smell of fresh flowers. Don't mind cinnamon and cloves boiling on the stove or fresh baked cookies. But those fake air fresheners it scented candles are gross to me, and generally are doing a poor job masking a bad smell.

[Anonymous]

I notice clutter! I'm a minimalist so when you're house is overrun by tons of junk I notice. I once was at a friends house and used the bathroom and could barely wash my hands for all the stuff on the counters. And things just kept falling in the sink.

Other than that the pet smell.
Because I have two dogs myself which I have to vacuum multiple times a day and still never feel clean so I notice the smell because of my own insecurities. And yes I realize my house probably smells like dog