My Husband’s Friend Moved In and Expected Me to Clean—So I Taught Them Both a Lesson

When my husband and I lived there, my house was immaculate. However, as his friend arrived, arguments and altercations started.

My husband didn’t give a damn about my feelings or the sorrow I expressed. When I took issues into my own hands, everything eventually fell into place.

Without my permission, my husband provided his friend asylum at our house. I had no idea that having his longtime friend there would turn into a nightmare. I was forced by circumstances to take severe action in order to make things better.

After Alex, my husband’s best buddy, stayed with us for a few weeks, this picture was taken of the bedroom. I can’t tell you how it smells, but trust me, it’s disgusting and intolerable! Because his house was undergoing significant renovations, Alex moved in with us.

To tell the truth, my husband asked his friend to move in with us without first talking to me. This arrangement didn’t sit well with me, so I asked, “How long will he be here? Additionally, why didn’t you consult me before taking such a severe action?”

“I’m sorry, my dear. I was unable to think clearly. “I let my excitement get the better of me,” he said. I gave in since the poor thing seemed serious when he apologized. However, I had no idea that would be a major error on my behalf.

It was initially intended to be a temporary agreement, but weeks quickly became months. Jake, my husband, felt that having his best friend around would be entertaining. However, he failed to account for the additional effort it would require on my part.

Jake responded, “Don’t worry, babe,” when Alex showed in with a box of video games and his duffel bag. “It will be similar to the past. We’ll have a great time. He also promised not to bother me and to keep out of my way.

On the inside, I was already hating the clutter and the thought of sharing a home with two men, but I faked a grin. Since college, Jake and Alex had been inseparable, united by their passion for sports and video games. However, I enjoyed my calm and order.

The house changed in a matter of days, and not in a positive way! Snack wrappers were all over the place, empty beer bottles were scattered over the living room, and Alex’s room was overflowing with filthy clothing! Alex and Jake used to stay up late.

Since our friend arrived, all they have done is play video games or share a beer. As I tried to sleep with a pillow over my head, their laughter reverberated throughout the home. The additional cleaning I had to perform left me feeling completely overwhelmed.

In addition, I was beginning to feel more and more alone. The kitchen was in ruins one evening after a particularly demanding workday. The floor was coated with an enigmatic sticky material, the counter was covered in crumbs, and the sink was piled high with soiled dishes.

It got to be too much for me! “This has to STOP!” With my fists balled up and my teeth tightened, I said to myself. I made the decision to deal with my husband and Alex alone. However, he and his companion were inseparable, making it challenging to get Jake alone.

I made the decision to face my spouse when I eventually found a small opening where he was alone. “Jake, can we talk?” Alex was knee-deep in another video game in the living room, and he was engrossed in his work when I called from the doorway of his home office.

“Yes, darling. What’s going on?” He spoke while maintaining eye contact with the laptop screen. “The amount of cleaning is too much for me to handle. Here, I need some assistance.” Jake stopped what he was doing and waved dismissively at me.

I must admit that I was surprised by his answer, and it was quite painful. He dismissed my worries, saying, “Oh, don’t be so negative! The fact that everything is not about you is simply intolerable to you. Additionally, there is just one more room to clean. It’s not a huge concern.

His remarks were painful! Just as I was about to respond, I saw that he had returned to his job! He was no longer even acknowledging me! I left, feeling hurt and enraged at the same time. I listened to the childhood pals having a blast while I lay awake that night!

I immediately began preparing my next course of action. I made the decision to demonstrate to Jake what “not a big deal” actually meant. I reasoned that he had to see it for himself. I got up early the following morning and collected all of Alex’s rubbish.

They were going to wake up a lot later than me because they slept in late. I gathered the half-eaten food, soiled clothes, and empty cans and disposed of them all in Jake’s office. The room appeared to be a war zone by the time they awoke!

“Hey, what the hell?” My husband opened the door to his office and shouted. Since Jake worked from home, I knew that putting all the trash in there would have the biggest effect. He had to be able to use that area.

I knew why he was yelling, so I didn’t bother answering or addressing him. Rather, Alex interrupted and exclaimed, “Whoa, dude! Your workspace is disorganized! If you want to finish any work, you should take action on that.

He left to make some food and then returned to the couch! Instead of confronting me, Jake moved everything into a corner so he could go inside and get to work. The accumulation of leftover food, shabby dishes, and random socks in my husband’s office over the course of the days made him panic.

He yelled, “I can’t work like THIS!!!” across the entire house. I smiled sweetly as I entered. “Jake, you only have to clean one room, so get it done. It’s not a huge deal, is it? Even though my husband was furious, he was unable to refute my reasoning. Alex, however, appeared bashful.

“I’m sorry, dude. He said, “I didn’t realize it was that bad.” I said, “Maybe you should help out more,” and then I let them handle the situation on their own. For several days, everything got better. Though their efforts were at best sporadic, Jake and Alex made an attempt to keep the house neat.

The clutter returned, and I became irritated once more. I approached Jake one Friday night because I could stand it no longer. He accused me of being a party pooper, which led to a heated argument. Alex even tried mediating, but because he was the main cause of our stress, I told him to keep out of it.

My spouse attempted defending his friend but it made me angry. I decided I’d had ENOUGH! I packed a bag and contacted my best friend, Lisa. “Can I crash at your place for the weekend?” I inquired. “Obviously, sir. “What’s happening?” she asked.

She embraced me when I told her what was going on. I relished Lisa’s apartment’s tranquility and cleanliness that weekend. It was a welcome respite from having to clean up after others.

Jake called me on Monday morning, and my phone buzzed. “Please come home,” he pleaded, feeling humiliated and desperate. “I can’t find anything I need, and the house is a complete mess. It’s impossible to live with Alex. After remaining silent for the whole weekend, this man had the audacity to phone me.

Though I remained steadfast, I still felt a twinge of sympathy. “I’ll come back when the house is clean, and Alex is gone.” Jake let out a sigh. “All right, all right. We’ll tidy things up right away. Please, my love, just come home now.”

I said, “I’ll think about it,” not wanting to commit to anything and give him the impression that he had won. He surprised me by sending me a video showing them cleaning the house in a matter of minutes. I didn’t respond to the message, but I did decide to return home after talking to Lisa about it.

When I came back later that day, the house was immaculate! My husband’s friend had packed his things, and Jake and Alex had thoroughly cleaned the entire place. A bashful “Thanks for the hospitality,” he said. “I’ll find somewhere else to stay until the renovations are done.”

Jake grabbed me into an embrace as Alex walked away. “I apologize, sweetie. I was unaware of the amount of work involved. I ought to have paid attention to you. When I saw the sincere remorse in his eyes, I softened. It’s alright. All I need is for us to work together, not against me like you and Alex do.”

After that day, everything became better. Jake helped out more and tried to keep the house tidy. Our bond deepened and our house was once again a peaceful environment.

After my husband’s best buddy resided with us for a few months, here is a picture of the spare bedroom. I can’t tell you how it smells, but trust me, it’s blissful! The agony of hosting Alex is now only a recollection of a lesson that was learned.

Jake put his arm around me and grinned. “And one we won’t forget.”

Although life resumed as usual, the encounter strengthened our bond.

We discovered how crucial it is to respect one another’s personal space and communicate. And I was confident that we could overcome any obstacles if we banded together.