Mom finds son’s house disgusting

Dear Annie: My son and his wife hardly ever really clean their house. The bathroom on the main level gets cleaned once in a while — when friends are coming over — but the ones upstairs are disgusting. When I have stayed there, I’ve cleaned the bathroom I use because I can’t stand it. They’ve lived in this house for three years, and there is dust that has never been swept up. Neither one was raised like this.

They both work, and I’ve tried hinting that perhaps they should get a cleaning service, but my son doesn’t want to do that. I am there one day a week to watch my grandchildren and have thought about offering to clean, but I don’t feel I should do it free of charge, although I don’t need the money.

I really don’t want to stay overnight again until they clean. Should I tell them that?

— At My Wits’ End

Dear Wits’ End: Everybody has different standards of cleanliness. If you don’t think it would offend them, you could offer to get them a cleaning service one time, as a gift. Sometimes we stop noticing messes in our midst after a while; seeing the house spick and span might give your son and daughter-in-law a new perspective. But at the end of the day, it is their house. As long as it’s not dangerously unsanitary — for example, resembling a hoarder’s house — clean enough for them is clean enough.

Dear Annie: I work in a large home improvement store. Customers are bringing their dogs into the store with more and more frequency. I have turned down many aisles and been faced with dogs, from very large to very small, some leashed, some not.

One time, a small loose dog crawled into a display, and the owner wanted me to get it out. Another time, a large dog was at my shoulder peering at my computer with me.

Another employee was bitten by a very large dog. She was walking past and was bitten on her finger, which resulted in her getting many stitches.

I find dog owners to be irresponsible. Recently, I was on a group tour of homes. One person brought a dog and, while we were outside, allowed the dog to walk without a leash.

I know it is politically incorrect not to fawn over dogs. Personally, I have had two dogs. I treated them well and took care of them. But people always came first.

— In the Doghouse

Dear In the Doghouse: I love dogs, but that doesn’t mean I think it’s appropriate to let them freely roam everywhere. It’s not safe for them or for people, as your bitten co-worker can attest.

What I don’t understand is why you and the rest of the staff are allowing dogs to roam in the store while being off leash. Perhaps you could talk to management about installing large signs out front that make your policy on animals in the store clear, whatever it may be.