When my MIL used to visit, she would find places to clean that I didn’t even know existed. She would look for cleaning supplies that I never used. And DH wondered why I never asked for her help and why I felt insulted when she cleaned when I wasn’t looking.
Funny! @Marilyn
When our first daughter was born and my mom was healthy, she insisted my H clean the outside windows and she and I cleaned the inside. The windows were fairly clean, but mom is Swiss and wanted to have everything sparkling clean. That was the one thing she could find that wasn’t up to her house standard. Since we have high ceilings, H was out on extension ladder and roof…
I am now cleaning/decluttering for upcoming family coming for DD’s wedding. Painters coming Monday.
When my husband and I first moved in our house, my mother-in-law visited. I caught her cleaning out the filter in the bottom of our dishwasher. Since I didn’t even know that dishwashers had filters that needed to be cleaned, I can only imagine it was pretty yucky. I guess the good news is that she already knows cleaning isn’t one of my strengths.
These comments about MILs has given me pause. When I babysit for my grandnephews, I frequently clean while they nap. I think I’m helping. In fact, I’ve become suspicious that they allow the house to become a mess, so that I will clean it up.
But now I’m wondering if I’m insulting them.
Oh, I wasn’t insulted, just a little embarrassed. You sound like an ideal great aunt to me.
@FlyMeToTheMoon, if you are comfortable asking them, it may be worth at least minimal conversation.
My ex MIL, who was generally a lovely person, "helped me"by doing things like machine washing my dry clean only expensive dresses. I didn’t want to complain, but I was very unhappy. With little kids, I’m pretty sure they are happy to have the help.
You’d have to have known my MIL to appreciate my feeling insulted. I’m sure to her it was a victory to know I didn’t live up to her impossible standards. This is the woman who would take a stack of small plates out in case anyone wanted to use one, then wash them all before putting them away even though no one but her touched them. She would take DH’s underwear out of his drawer when we visited and rewash it because she didn’t think it was clean enough. I wouldn’t let her near my clothes, needless to say.
Marilyn - this needs to be posted on the in-law thread - under how NOT to be a good MIL!
Books on tape! I also like to find a cleaner that I like the scent of (like Fabuloso) dilute it in a bucket or sink of warm soapy water and just go nuts. Feeling like I am spreading around a good scent really helps -I know it sounds a bit silly.
My mother gave me a cleaning woman one year. Best gift ever!
One thing my cleaning woman rarely cleans and that annoys me is the smudges around switch plates.
@mathmom, I am with you on the switch plates! When looking for a new home, we view a home that had been partially updates. On a wide view it looked nice, until I turn to the light switch to turn on the dining room light; it looked like years of sticky toddler fingers had touched every switch 
I never understood how they spent all that money to update, but it didn’t cross anyone’s minds to spend $1 a piece on switch plates!!