A mother has confessed she is reaching breaking point due to a deeply concerning habit of her son's live-in girlfriend, which she simply cannot overlook.
The Unbearable Situation at Home
The stressed parent explained that the young woman is currently residing with her family for an indefinite amount of time. While they initially had no issue with the arrangement, a major problem has emerged: the girlfriend "hardly ever showers or washes her clothes."
This has resulted in a powerful and persistent body odour that the mum finds increasingly intolerable. "It has got to the stage where I dread giving her lifts anywhere, because of the smell in the car," she shared. "I can even smell when she's been in a room, let alone when she is still in it."
Failed Attempts to Tackle the Issue
The concerned woman revealed she had tried to subtly address the clothing issue by taking some items to wash under the pretence of making up a full load. She has also demonstrated how to use the washing machine, and her son, who washes his own laundry, regularly offers to help. However, the girlfriend consistently declines.
Feeling she had to act, the mum decided to raise the sensitive subject with her son on 01 January 2026, hoping he would handle it delicately. She wrote, "I decided to raise the issue with my son as I felt someone needed to say something to her, in case she was unaware."
She added context, suggesting the girlfriend "hasn't had the best upbringing and may not have been encouraged into good habits." To her dismay, her son acknowledged he was aware of the problem but appeared unbothered by it. Despite her suggestion that he speak to his partner, she doesn't believe he has done so.
Family Tensions and Seeking Solutions
The situation is causing significant distress, affecting not only the mother but also her husband and daughter. It became acutely awkward during a family visit on Boxing Day, where the mother was painfully conscious of the odour.
She has ruled out shyness as the root cause, noting her son showed his girlfriend how to use the shower and that she uses it very occasionally. In desperation, the mum even contemplated running a bath for her, using a current bad cold as a pretext to suggest it would be beneficial.
Online commenters were shocked the son wasn't more concerned. One advised, "He absolutely needs to address this with her... I would say to him that he needs to ensure her clothes are clean and she washes herself at least every other day; otherwise, she can’t live with you."
Another shared a personal story of being a teenager with poor hygiene habits while living with another family, crediting them with gently modelling good routines without direct confrontation. "I can never be more grateful to them for taking me in and gently teaching me without pointing anything out," they wrote.
The mother is now left wondering if she is being unreasonable to insist her son addresses the issue, as the problem continues to negatively impact the entire household.
