Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

[shereads]

On the other hand, my wife has no compunction about using a pliers on a nut

How many times must she do that before you clean the house?

 

[shereads]

Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

It's not that you don't know - it's that you don't care.

There's such a thing as caring too much. My mom obsesses over the placement of a napkin holder on the kitchen countertop; until she has personally moved it one-quarter-inch to the left, she will insist that the kitchen is "a mess."

Now, Dr. Mabeuse and other husband/live-ins, a question: is this mess-blindness related to marital status? My own ex husband kept his, um, bachelor pad neat and clean but became mess-blind once he had a woman living under his roof. Is that a pattern?

 

[CharleyH]

You're a connoisseuress of bitch, Ch. I like that.

And P you are the Queen of it

 

[Boxlicker101]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Boxlicker101
Generally speaking, men and women are probably about equally good or poor at housekeeping. Generally speaking, however, men attach a very low priority to house cleaning.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And Charley H said:

It says two things or many contradictory ones:

1) I tell men what to do, and when they want sex the house is clean.
2) I am having sex more often with women, hence chaos


Although neatness of a house usually has a very low priority to men, sex has a very high one. When sexual activity is contingent on cleanliness, then cleanliness assumes the same very high priority as sex.

 

[SlickTony]

My own ex husband kept his, um, bachelor pad neat and clean but became mess-blind once he had a woman living under his roof. Is that a pattern?

I think it is. Unfortunately, my husband is living with another mess-blind person. I figure if I get the kitchen counters clean, I'm doing great, but I confess I have a tendency to notice mystery splashes on the face of the stove and dishwasher and lower cabinet doors, until someone else, usually some other woman, points them out to me.

 

[shereads]

This same man, in the house his wife kept neat as a pin had to be reminded where the salt shaker was on a semi daily basis. I wanted so badly to clean that shop up for him, but his wife would never allow it. Her simple explanation was if I cleaned it up, straightened it up, arranged everything in neat rows on the benches and wall boards so any one could find them at a glance my poor grandfather would never get anywork done, as he would never be able to find anything.

I love that story, Colly. Reminds me of "the shed" at my grandfather's place. Nobody but the man himself could have located anything in it, which is probably why he kept it such a mess. His vegetable garden was always in neat, weedless rows, but the shed was his private mystery.

Have you noticed that hardware stores lack cobwebs now that women are buying more do-it-yourself stuff? I remember visiting a hardware store with my dad that was nothing but floor-to-ceiling shelves of dust-covered sagging cardboard boxes with faded labels, and men seemed to like shopping there. Women want clear bins of hardware; no danger of reaching your hand into a box and being crawled upon, or bitten.

 

[shereads]

The problem is not that men don't want to clean or notice that cleaning needs to be done, it's just that the vacuum cleaner companies haven't got the right design. I believe this solves the problem.

Lime

Some of us women would like one of those. I love mowing the lawn; despise vacuuming the floor. All those damned "on-board cleaning accessories" are always falling off. Why are vacuum cleaners so primitive? And who decided that each one had to have a lot of clumsily attached extra brushes and hoses and tongs and what-not?

Why isn't there such a thing as a permanent car tire?

Why can't homes be designed with automatic dust-and-dog-hair-sucking baseboards?

Why is it not possible to buy antilock brakes on a new car without also buying the "Sport Performance Package?"

If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we put them all on the moon?



Well, not all of them. Just the ones responsible for designing vacuum cleaners so poorly.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

Now, Dr. Mabeuse and other husband/live-ins, a question: is this mess-blindness related to marital status? My own ex husband kept his, um, bachelor pad neat and clean but became mess-blind once he had a woman living under his roof. Is that a pattern?

It is indirectly related to marital status, or at least SO status. Obviously, you never saw his bachelor pad when you weren't there so you didn't know what it was like. Since he, like you, probably, was putting his best foot forward, he cleaned the mess up when he thought you might be over. He probably made an extra effort to clean himself up when you went somewhere together but sits around the house unshaven and in ragged jeans now. You probably did and do the same kind of things yourself. As most men will agree, cleaning the house usually has a low priority but circumstances, such as special company, can cause it to have a high one.

 

[shereads]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

Since he, like you, probably, was putting his best foot forward, he cleaned the mess up when he thought you might be over.

Honey, he never saw my best foot. Partial best was sufficient...These days, I'm more inspired.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

It is indirectly related to marital status, or at least SO status. Obviously, you never saw his bachelor pad when you weren't there so you didn't know what it was like. Since he, like you, probably, was putting his best foot forward, he cleaned the mess up when he thought you might be over. He probably made an extra effort to clean himself up when you went somewhere together but sits around the house unshaven and in ragged jeans now. You probably did and do the same kind of things yourself. As most men will agree, cleaning the house usually has a low priority but circumstances, such as special company, can cause it to have a high one.

Let's cut the crap...it's easier to have your wife pick up the damn house than it is to take time away from tuning the car, watching the game or color coding and organizing the poker chips for two hours. My husband was immaculately clean...anally so before we got married and today I've got to stand naked with my hand on the front door and threaten to streak the block to get him to pick up his damn shoes. (I know, he's got problems...)

I think motivating factors are a bunch of bullshit. I sure don't get laid any more for doing the lawn each weekend or folding more laundry than I wear...so why should he? I have other methods of getting him to do his share, but it's almost as much work holding his hand and pointing out each task as well as gathering all of the supplies needed to complete said task, as it is to clean the damn house myself. But I'm patient and determined...

~lucky (if he claims blindness...i'm going to make it so)

 

[Guest]

If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we put them all on the moon?

Today I'm with sending them all, except Petya. O, nevermind, I keep forgetting he's not my boyfriend.

Thanks for a larf. P.

 

[shereads]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

color coding and organizing the poker chips

Oh my god, you just gave me a flashback: he obsessively organized our videotapes, by spine color. When that wasn't enough, he made special matching paper jackets for them.

AAAARRRGGGHHHHH.

Also, he suffered from alarm-clock-marital-deafness. A man who, between marriages, managed to wake up and arrive on time for work, became incapable of hearing his alarm clock, except on weekends.

On the maritally-induced helplessness scale, "Why did you let me oversleep?" is right up there with "Where do we keep the milk?"



I'm getting out of this thread before I track him down so I can divorce him again.

 

[Couture]

Reasons women end up doing the housework

They are shorter, so they don't have to bend down as far.

Men are smarter than women give them credit for.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

Oh my god, you just gave me a flashback: he obsessively organized our videotapes, by spine color. When that wasn't enough, he made special matching paper jackets for them.

AAAARRRGGGHHHHH.

Also, he suffered from alarm-clock-marital-deafness. A man who, between marriages, managed to wake up and arrive on time for work, became incapable of hearing his alarm clock, except on weekends.

On the maritally-induced helplessness scale, "Why did you let me oversleep?" is right up there with "Where do we keep the milk?"



I'm getting out of this thread before I track him down so I can divorce him again.

As I sit here and look at our DVD collection that is arranged alphabetically by genre...and think about how there are hundreds of professionally labeled little drawers and boxes in the garage for all shapes and sizes of nuts and bolts...and the way his c.d.'s are arranged in the flip book...and the way I have to stick an elbow in his ribs to get his ass up and moving in the morning...I wonder if it's not the same guy.

~lucky

 

[Couture]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

Oh my god, you just gave me a flashback: he obsessively organized our videotapes, by spine color. When that wasn't enough, he made special matching paper jackets for them.

AAAARRRGGGHHHHH.

Also, he suffered from alarm-clock-marital-deafness. A man who, between marriages, managed to wake up and arrive on time for work, became incapable of hearing his alarm clock, except on weekends.

On the maritally-induced helplessness scale, "Why did you let me oversleep?" is right up there with "Where do we keep the milk?"



I'm getting out of this thread before I track him down so I can divorce him again.

It's a good thing you divorced him or he might have ended up back in the womb. Hmmmm....marriage...sex...womb...men turned into helpless babies....maybe I'm onto something here.

 

[shereads]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

As I sit here and look at our DVD collection that is arranged alphabetically by genre...and think about how there are hundreds of professionally labeled little drawers and boxes in the garage for all shapes and sizes of nuts and bolts...and the way his c.d.'s are arranged in the flip book...and the way I have to stick an elbow in his ribs to get his ass up and moving in the morning...I wonder if it's not the same guy.

~lucky

Holy god. I'm afraid to ask.

Just out of curiosity, which number are you? (Number of his current & former wives.)

 

[Just_John1]

The other side...

Perhaps ungodly tidiness just doesn't really matter in the grand sceme of things. She wants the house clean at all times. She sees dirt that I just can't see. I can clean the kitchen then she'll come and clean it behind me. After doing that for 20 years I've been trained that I can't do it right. Why should I continue to try?

I know she likes it clean when she gets up. After the kiddies have gone to bed I'll straighten and clean. Before that it'll just get messed again. Yes, I wonder sometimes why they think its ok to drop whatever piece of clothing they take off where they stand and I will pick it up after they go to bed but it just doesn't make sense before they go to bed. If I leave it there long enough they'll put it back on... eventually.

And the withholding sex thing?... I do expect to have sex again in my lifetime... with another person... just not very soon.

JJ1

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

Holy god. I'm afraid to ask.

Just out of curiosity, which number are you? (Number of his current & former wives.)

I was under the impression I was the first and only, but will be tying his ass up and interrogating him properly tonight...by dangling crackers over his side of the bed and threatening to crumble...that funny vein pokes out of his forehead...sweat drips down his nose...breathing gets all out of whack. It's really quite something. I'll let you know how it goes.

Or you could save me the trouble...tallish, light brown hair, pale blue eyes, dimple in the right cheek? If this is the guy, I'm looking to pawn him off on some other unsuspecting sap and move on...any pointers?

~lucky

 

[SlickTony]

If I leave it there long enough they'll put it back on... eventually.

And then again, they might just carpet the floor of their room with clothes and tell you they've run out.

 

[shereads]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

If you're not the fourth of fifth wife, it's not the same man. He was a serial husband.

I was under the impression I was the first and only, but will be tying his ass up and interrogating him properly tonight...by dangling crackers over his side of the bed and threatening to crumble...that funny vein pokes out of his forehead...sweat drips down his nose...breathing gets all out of whack. It's really quite something. I'll let you know how it goes.

Or you could save me the trouble...tallish, light brown hair, pale blue eyes, dimple in the right cheek? If this is the guy, I'm looking to pawn him off on some other unsuspecting sap and move on...any pointers?

~lucky

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why Women End Up Cleaning the House

If you're not the fourth of fifth wife, it's not the same man. He was a serial husband.

Little consolation, I'm afraid. They've gotta start somewhere I guess. I'll just be the first.

~lucky

 

[CharleyH]

When sexual activity is contingent on cleanliness, then cleanliness assumes the same very high priority as sex.

WEll, not in my house - sex is the priority - hence the cleanliness - lol - my house is very clean

 

[shereads]

Re: The other side...

Perhaps ungodly tidiness just doesn't really matter in the grand sceme of things. She wants the house clean at all times. She sees dirt that I just can't see. I can clean the kitchen then she'll come and clean it behind me. After doing that for 20 years I've been trained that I can't do it right. Why should I continue to try?

I know she likes it clean when she gets up. After the kiddies have gone to bed I'll straighten and clean. Before that it'll just get messed again. Yes, I wonder sometimes why they think its ok to drop whatever piece of clothing they take off where they stand and I will pick it up after they go to bed but it just doesn't make sense before they go to bed. If I leave it there long enough they'll put it back on... eventually.

And the withholding sex thing?... I do expect to have sex again in my lifetime... with another person... just not very soon.

JJ1

I know the type, Just_, and you have my sympathy. My mom, god bless her, compelled her 85-year-old boyfriend to walk outside in the cold last week to move a lawn-border brick that had been knocked out of line by the lawnmower.

Yesterday, she picked up a piece of lint from the carpet and held it out to him. He obediantly held out his hand.

"Here," she said, placing the lint in his open palm. "Put this somewhere."



Is she withholding sex? Good god, I hope so. They're both heart patients.

 

[Just_John1]

Re: Re: The other side...

I know the type, Just_, and you have my sympathy. My mom, god bless her, compelled her 85-year-old boyfriend to walk outside in the cold last week to move a lawn-border brick that had been knocked out of line by the lawnmower.

Yesterday, she picked up a piece of lint from the carpet and held it out to him. He obediantly held out his hand.

"Here," she said, placing the lint in his open palm. "Put this somewhere."



Is she withholding sex? Good god, I hope so. They're both heart patients.

I know what he was thinking... about the lint and a good place to put it! Having been in his place (although I'm not even half way to his age) I have had similar thoughts. As far as being heart patients... What better way to go? I can see my conversation with the grim reaper... "What a sec bud! I'm gettin off here!" (in my very best north jersey accent) I'm not a heart patient, couldn't give a twiddly wink if the kids clothes are on the stairs, and I personally think there is something really perverse about trying to correlate clothing on the stairs with the willingness to have sex. The term shtupping comes to mind. I don't know why.

JJ1

 

[CharleyH]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Boxlicker101
Generally speaking, men and women are probably about equally good or poor at housekeeping. Generally speaking, however, men attach a very low priority to house cleaning.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And Charley H said:

It says two things or many contradictory ones:

1) I tell men what to do, and when they want sex the house is clean.
2) I am having sex more often with women, hence chaos


Although neatness of a house usually has a very low priority to men, sex has a very high one. When sexual activity is contingent on cleanliness, then cleanliness assumes the same very high priority as sex.

Can you come do my dishes, and clean my bathroom - I'm in need of a new sub

Actually edit - I'm being polite on an author thread:

GET your fucking tight ass over here and lick my dishes!