MaeMo's Profile

I think it is rude in a houseguest situation. In fact, it has happened to me.

We spent hours cleaning and tidying up in preparation for MIL's arrival, only to have MIL come in and start scrubbing the place down like it was toxic to her health. Meanwhile, I was trying to get her to sit her ass down on the couch and visit, converse, etc. I asked her to stop cleaning and she refused. Not only that but she emptied wastebaskets in my office which may have contained important papers...then used that as an excuse to go through our trash. Twice!!!

My own mother wouldn't do any of this, so it really rubbed me the wrong way. The only appropriate time to clean without permission would be in cases of illness, depression, or a really tough time in someone's life. NOT when everything is fine and you walk into a tidy house that isn't infested with disease. Babysitting or housesitting may also be fine for LIGHT cleaning.