Mildew Smelling Towels, Compost and other annoyances

[Ratatosk]

My inlaws own a seasonal lake home and while they're fairly good about most most things -- they're driving me insane on a couple things.

First of all -- swimming. DS can't swim. He's in swimming lessons, has been off and one for 5-6 years; however, about 2 years ago he suddenly refused to put his head in the water. My MIL complains to me constantly how she wishes DS would swim so he could go tubing and jump off the pontoon with his insane cousins. Even if he could swim, not so sure we'd allow him to do those things because -- hello? Insane cousins! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Also, tell me dear MIL... How the HECK does one make a 7 year old swim when he doesn't want to?!

My other issue is towels. Whenever I've used one in the shower out there it's smelled mildewy. Apparently my inlaws throw wet towels in the hamper and wash them when there's a big enough load and after a couple days in a warm moist environment = mildew. So we bring our own towels.

The latest annoyance is a countertop compost container. I used to compost, I used to have one of those containers on my cupboard. Since we've had DS, we discontinued doing both due to concerns with having moldy rotten produce sitting in a container in the kitchen. My inlaws claim they empty it daily. Last weekend, but super sensitive nose picked up a wiff of nastiness despite the charcoal filter.

Sigh! These items are all just minor annoyances. And maybe I'm overreacting, but my feelings on the topics listed above are real to me.

Oh and previously I posted about my FIL's use of hankies and my aversion to phleghm. It makes me just about vomit. I know... Ironic. Last week at the lake DS had an accident, so I did a load of clothes and in the bottom of the clothes basket was a hanky so vile, I started dry heaving and almost puked in the washer. So I go inside and tell DH and my FIL I just about hurled in the washer and FIL says -- I spilled coffee in the truck and used a clean hanky to mop it up. Phew! Otherwise I was going to have serious anxiety about the condition of his sinuses. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

My inlaws own a seasonal lake home and while they're fairly good about most most things -- they're driving me insane on a couple things.

First of all -- swimming. DS can't swim. He's in swimming lessons, has been off and one for 5-6 years; however, about 2 years ago he suddenly refused to put his head in the water. My MIL complains to me constantly how she wishes DS would swim so he could go tubing and jump off the pontoon with his insane cousins. Even if he could swim, not so sure we'd allow him to do those things because -- hello? Insane cousins! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Also, tell me dear MIL... How the HECK does one make a 7 year old swim when he doesn't want to?!

My other issue is towels. Whenever I've used one in the shower out there it's smelled mildewy. Apparently my inlaws throw wet towels in the hamper and wash them when there's a big enough load and after a couple days in a warm moist environment = mildew. So we bring our own towels.

The latest annoyance is a countertop compost container. I used to compost, I used to have one of those containers on my cupboard. Since we've had DS, we discontinued doing both due to concerns with having moldy rotten produce sitting in a container in the kitchen. My inlaws claim they empty it daily. Last weekend, but super sensitive nose picked up a wiff of nastiness despite the charcoal filter.

Sigh! These items are all just minor annoyances. And maybe I'm overreacting, but my feelings on the topics listed above are real to me.

Oh and previously I posted about my FIL's use of hankies and my aversion to phleghm. It makes me just about vomit. I know... Ironic. Last week at the lake DS had an accident, so I did a load of clothes and in the bottom of the clothes basket was a hanky so vile, I started dry heaving and almost puked in the washer. So I go inside and tell DH and my FIL I just about hurled in the washer and FIL says -- I spilled coffee in the truck and used a clean hanky to mop it up. Phew! Otherwise I was going to have serious anxiety about the condition of his sinuses. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

My inlaws own a seasonal lake home and while they're fairly good about most most things -- they're driving me insane on a couple things.
<br />
<br />First of all -- swimming. DS can't swim. He's in swimming lessons, has been off and one for 5-6 years; however, about 2 years ago he suddenly refused to put his head in the water. My MIL complains to me constantly how she wishes DS would swim so he could go tubing and jump off the pontoon with his insane cousins. Even if he could swim, not so sure we'd allow him to do those things because -- hello? Insane cousins! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Also, tell me dear MIL... How the HECK does one make a 7 year old swim when he doesn't want to?!
<br />
<br />My other issue is towels. Whenever I've used one in the shower out there it's smelled mildewy. Apparently my inlaws throw wet towels in the hamper and wash them when there's a big enough load and after a couple days in a warm moist environment = mildew. So we bring our own towels.
<br />
<br />The latest annoyance is a countertop compost container. I used to compost, I used to have one of those containers on my cupboard. Since we've had DS, we discontinued doing both due to concerns with having moldy rotten produce sitting in a container in the kitchen. My inlaws claim they empty it daily. Last weekend, but super sensitive nose picked up a wiff of nastiness despite the charcoal filter.
<br />
<br />Sigh! These items are all just minor annoyances. And maybe I'm overreacting, but my feelings on the topics listed above are real to me.
<br />
<br />Oh and previously I posted about my FIL's use of hankies and my aversion to phleghm. It makes me just about vomit. I know... Ironic. Last week at the lake DS had an accident, so I did a load of clothes and in the bottom of the clothes basket was a hanky so vile, I started dry heaving and almost puked in the washer. So I go inside and tell DH and my FIL I just about hurled in the washer and FIL says -- I spilled coffee in the truck and used a clean hanky to mop it up. Phew! Otherwise I was going to have serious anxiety about the condition of his sinuses. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[JORDYSMOM]

I'm laughing so hard at that dirty hanky thing! Bet you thought the FIL had some nasty stuff growing in his sinuses. LOL I do think it's ironic that you are so grossed out by mucus. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

The towel thing is gross. Who wants to dry their face with a stinky towel?! They could at least hang them up to air dry while waiting for a full washer load. Or, call me crazy, but they could do a small load. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I'm all for composting too, but outside I think. There's no reason to attrack insects into the house.

Stacey

 

[JORDYSMOM]

I'm laughing so hard at that dirty hanky thing! Bet you thought the FIL had some nasty stuff growing in his sinuses. LOL I do think it's ironic that you are so grossed out by mucus. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

The towel thing is gross. Who wants to dry their face with a stinky towel?! They could at least hang them up to air dry while waiting for a full washer load. Or, call me crazy, but they could do a small load. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I'm all for composting too, but outside I think. There's no reason to attrack insects into the house.

Stacey

 

[JORDYSMOM]

I'm laughing so hard at that dirty hanky thing! Bet you thought the FIL had some nasty stuff growing in his sinuses. LOL I do think it's ironic that you are so grossed out by mucus. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />The towel thing is gross. Who wants to dry their face with a stinky towel?! They could at least hang them up to air dry while waiting for a full washer load. Or, call me crazy, but they could do a small load. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />I'm all for composting too, but outside I think. There's no reason to attrack insects into the house.
<br />
<br />Stacey

 

[hmw]

You can't force a kid Max's age to enjoy being in the water if he doesn't want to... esp if at age 5ish something happened that suddenly scared him off. If he 'suddenly' started refusing to put his head in the water, it wouldn't surprise me if he either had a scare where he felt out of control in the water (even if not in danger, felt that way) or if maybe the insane cousins did something like dunked him or were splashing him right in the face and making him gag on the water. Trying to FORCE it will only prolong how long it takes to get him feeling water-comfortable again. It will happen when he's ready... and maybe in pools (smaller, more contained) well before something like the lake/beach. Tell mil to take a flying leap off the pontoon and go wash her towels. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">

Ick on the towels. I know you've tried to deal with this before... bringing your own is really the only practical solution now but YUCK. I don't understand how WHY they'd choose to deal with the constant smell of wet towels steeping in the hamper and mildew when they dry off every day!

I doubt they empty the composter daily. Don't those things depend on NOT entirely ever completely emptying them in order to work the way they should...? The stuff needs time to break down after all. I would ask if they could move it to the porch or something (or move it yourself) while you are there. You obviously aren't in the position to tell them they can't have one, but moving it while you are there is reasonable due to the mold concerns.

LOL about the coffee stained hanky. I can picture your reaction to that and your difficulty managing clear phlegm... a wadded up stained brown with what you understandably thought came from his sinuses... roflol. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

Vent away. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> That stuff can make us nuts when they are constant grating issues!

 

[hmw]

You can't force a kid Max's age to enjoy being in the water if he doesn't want to... esp if at age 5ish something happened that suddenly scared him off. If he 'suddenly' started refusing to put his head in the water, it wouldn't surprise me if he either had a scare where he felt out of control in the water (even if not in danger, felt that way) or if maybe the insane cousins did something like dunked him or were splashing him right in the face and making him gag on the water. Trying to FORCE it will only prolong how long it takes to get him feeling water-comfortable again. It will happen when he's ready... and maybe in pools (smaller, more contained) well before something like the lake/beach. Tell mil to take a flying leap off the pontoon and go wash her towels. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">

Ick on the towels. I know you've tried to deal with this before... bringing your own is really the only practical solution now but YUCK. I don't understand how WHY they'd choose to deal with the constant smell of wet towels steeping in the hamper and mildew when they dry off every day!

I doubt they empty the composter daily. Don't those things depend on NOT entirely ever completely emptying them in order to work the way they should...? The stuff needs time to break down after all. I would ask if they could move it to the porch or something (or move it yourself) while you are there. You obviously aren't in the position to tell them they can't have one, but moving it while you are there is reasonable due to the mold concerns.

LOL about the coffee stained hanky. I can picture your reaction to that and your difficulty managing clear phlegm... a wadded up stained brown with what you understandably thought came from his sinuses... roflol. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

Vent away. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> That stuff can make us nuts when they are constant grating issues!

 

[hmw]

You can't force a kid Max's age to enjoy being in the water if he doesn't want to... esp if at age 5ish something happened that suddenly scared him off. If he 'suddenly' started refusing to put his head in the water, it wouldn't surprise me if he either had a scare where he felt out of control in the water (even if not in danger, felt that way) or if maybe the insane cousins did something like dunked him or were splashing him right in the face and making him gag on the water. Trying to FORCE it will only prolong how long it takes to get him feeling water-comfortable again. It will happen when he's ready... and maybe in pools (smaller, more contained) well before something like the lake/beach. Tell mil to take a flying leap off the pontoon and go wash her towels. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />Ick on the towels. I know you've tried to deal with this before... bringing your own is really the only practical solution now but YUCK. I don't understand how WHY they'd choose to deal with the constant smell of wet towels steeping in the hamper and mildew when they dry off every day!
<br />
<br />I doubt they empty the composter daily. Don't those things depend on NOT entirely ever completely emptying them in order to work the way they should...? The stuff needs time to break down after all. I would ask if they could move it to the porch or something (or move it yourself) while you are there. You obviously aren't in the position to tell them they can't have one, but moving it while you are there is reasonable due to the mold concerns.
<br />
<br />LOL about the coffee stained hanky. I can picture your reaction to that and your difficulty managing clear phlegm... a wadded up stained brown with what you understandably thought came from his sinuses... roflol. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />Vent away. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> That stuff can make us nuts when they are constant grating issues!
<br />

 

[Ratatosk]

They claim they rinse and empty the countertop composter daily; however, it DID smell and it was full of coffee grounds and rotten veggies. I guess I'd be more comfortable if they just would fill up a paper bag and take it to the backyard composter after they were done chopping or scraping plates. But no, the countertop crock is soooo cute, it's red and matches the decor. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

They claim they rinse and empty the countertop composter daily; however, it DID smell and it was full of coffee grounds and rotten veggies. I guess I'd be more comfortable if they just would fill up a paper bag and take it to the backyard composter after they were done chopping or scraping plates. But no, the countertop crock is soooo cute, it's red and matches the decor. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

They claim they rinse and empty the countertop composter daily; however, it DID smell and it was full of coffee grounds and rotten veggies. I guess I'd be more comfortable if they just would fill up a paper bag and take it to the backyard composter after they were done chopping or scraping plates. But no, the countertop crock is soooo cute, it's red and matches the decor. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">