NBR: Husbands and cleaning question, please come in!

vtgirl

Ok so I am dying to know how you would handle this. DH was home all day while C and I were at my sisters shower. He offered to help out with some things around the house (very sweet and thoughtful) but he did them kinda half-assed. Like I said that he could vacuum the basement steps- he did, but only the rug runner, not the wooden sides, so they are still dirty/dusty. This means I need to go behind him and do it again- do I say anything, or just be happy he volunteered to help out?!?! WWYD?

goodheartedmommy

Thank him for the help, and next time he offers to do something, just remind him to do whatever he missed. DH always half-asses everything with cleaning, too. I think they just aren't as detail oriented.

LeisureSuitLauren

Eek.  I have learned to just smile and say thank-you and then quietly go re-do the task. When I have tried to say something about it, it usually back fires and DH gets all offended and swears off ever helping me again.

buffalo_buckeye

goodheartedmommy:

Thank him for the help, and next time he offers to do something, just remind him to do whatever he missed. DH always half-asses everything with cleaning, too. I think they just aren't as detail oriented.

This.

winery

Just be gentle when you tell him to be more thorough next time. 

But, really, your H?  Just ask him to clean sans clothes and you watch.  Who cares how good of a job he does? 

co18co

LeisureSuitLauren:

Eek.  I have learned to just smile and say thank-you and then quietly go re-do the task. When I have tried to say something about it, it usually back fires and DH gets all offended and swears off ever helping me again.

This is how it has to be handled at my house...DH tries really hard, but it's just not going to be the same as if I did it.

Bellisimo

I would thank him profusely (because men need that ego stroked) and I would, in the future, kind of show him exactly how it needs to be done but not in a way that screams, "You SUCKED the last time you helped out!"  I'm kind of in YH's position.  I clean, do things my way, but DH sees things under a much more critical and perfectionistic microscope.....hence the maid we hired to do the cleaning to higher standards than I'm sure I'd do.  I used to clean but couldn't take the criticism when it wasn't done the way DH is used to things being done.  I blame his mother! lol  ;-)  It's just easier to avoid that conflict all together and have a "pro" come in and do it!  But definitely notice that he helped and thank him for volunteering and following through. 

Jen2004

Thank him, sometimes if DH does something and its not the way I do it, I'll say something like "Oh last time I __________ed I tried this/did ______ and it looked good/worked" He usually gets the hint.

However I hate to admt it DH is WAY better at cleaning than me. I do it but I don't half a$$ it but DH might spend 10 more minutes on a cleaning project than I just to get it really clean. If I know something needs a good scrub I give him that room.