Man’s Girlfriend Upset After His Mom Came Over To Wash His Sheets That Weren’t Cleaned For 2 Years

Aug 14, 2023

Cleaning is an essential part of one’s household routine. Wearing clean clothes or sleeping on freshly-washed and dried linen sheets are something that many people are very particular about. Some people even wash their clothes every after use, while some cannot even sleep soundly without having their linen sheets washed at least twice a month. 

For Reddit user u/Live_Housing_2344, it’s the other way around. When he took to the AITA Thread on the said social media platform on Dec. 19, 2022, the Original Poster (OP) wondered if he was in the wrong about the long argument that he and his girlfriend had. 

“For context, I have an apartment that my family gifted me 2 years ago. I currently live with my Mom and brother and stay there 5-6 nights a week,” OP wrote. 

OP described his family as “more traditional” as opposed to others, as his mother stays home like a normal housewife does – cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for her whole family. 

Meanwhile, OP said that he and his girlfriend had been dating for a year already, but she had yet to meet his parents or even go to his parent’s house. 

In one instance, OP told the thread that his relatives came by and stayed in his apartment. At that time, he had his mother come over to wash his sheets, vacuum the unit, and wash his floors. 

Shockingly, he also revealed to his girlfriend that this was the first time since the apartment was gifted to him two years prior that his sheets were washed.  

People usually judge personal hygiene and cleanliness based on the condition or state of someone's living space. Having dirty sheets is a great indicator that a person has poor hygiene practices and a lack of care for the people whom he or she is inviting inside the room.

Regularly cleaning your sheets is crucial in maintaining a healthy and clean sleeping environment. As a person sleeps, the sheets, including the blanket and pillowcases, accumulate dirt, sweat, body oils, dead skin cells, and even dust mites, according to The Sleep Foundation.

With these body wastes accumulating on one’s linen, it could very much lead to a person having allergies, skin irritations, and even respiratory issues if left unattended. 

Cleaning your sheets removes these contaminants and toxins, which could very enhance sleep quality and a person’s overall well-being. Freshly laundered sheets also contribute to a more inviting and pleasant bedroom atmosphere, which OP clearly did not have given his scenario on his rather unhygienic practice. 

“When I spoke to my girlfriend I mentioned this was the first time my sheets have been washed. My girlfriend flipped out and said I was a major AH for never washing my sheets,” OP said on the Reddit thread. 

Apparently, OP and his girlfriend’s argument snowballed into something bigger as the girlfriend confessed that she also felt “excluded” from his family and “can't deal with the situation anymore.” 

“I've been sick and she hasn't been understanding that I need more help,” OP asked. "There were other issues with my Mom not liking her that she says hasn't been solved.” 

People in the comments of the Reddit post were brutal on OP’s lack of hygiene and poor life decisions. 

“You haven’t washed your sheets in 2 years? YTA That’s nasty,” a user snarked. 

“YTA. wash your sheets, man. It's not that much work. And you sleep in them every night. Do you know the amount of sweat and skin particles and mites and stuff are in them? That's disgusting. If you are too sick to do it yourself, pay for a maid or make some other arrangements,” someone suggested. 

“YTA. If you’re old enough to have a girlfriend, you’re old enough to wash your sheets and not depend on your mother to do that for you. Also, gross. How did you never think to wash your sheets?” another commented. 

According to lifestyle expert Cheryl Nelson in a statement to Reader’s Digest, people should wash their sheets at least once a week. 

“But definitely wash sheets AT LEAST once every two weeks. That’s the maximum amount of time you should go. You’re washing off germs, sweat, saliva, body oils, allergens, pollen, makeup residue, dead skin cells, pet dander, dust mites, bacteria, fungi, and even bodily fluids/fecal matter, all of which can cause health problems,” she explained. 

The Sleep Foundation even recommended that “If you have pets, and particularly if you let them sleep in your bed, a wash every 3-4 days is recommended. If you experience allergies or asthma, it may be worth it to try cleaning your bedding more frequently to see if your symptoms improve.” 

How often do you wash your sheets? What can you say about OP’s dilemma? Do you think his girlfriend was right to dump him because of his unhygienic decisions? Let us know, and pass this on to your family and friends.