Someone Asks People To Share The Grossest Thing Their Partner Does, And 30 Don’t Hold Back
Interview With Expert
Being in a relationship with someone often means loving them for who they are. That includes all their flaws and weird habits. Nobody is perfect in this regard – both you and your partner likely have traits that drive the other one crazy. And the answers in this thread might just be proof of that.
Not sure if you should get into another fight with your SO over their dirty socks lying on the floor again? Check out these answers, and you'll feel way better about your own nasty habits. Some are maddening, others – hilariously disgusting. And if you have a gross habit of your partner's that drives you crazy, Pandas, share it with us in the comments!
We here at Bored Panda wanted to know more about how weird and distasteful habits can influence relationships. So we reached out to therapist Judith Aronowitz, RN, LCSW, who specializes in relationships. She explained the psychology behind our less-than-pleasant habits and how it can affect romantic relationships. Read her expert insights below!
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Farts in her sleep, wakes up because of the smell then gets upset and blames me for farting. Been together for 10 years and its still funny.
Relationship therapist Judith Aronowitz explains why we might sometimes overlook our partner's not-so-pleasant habits. "After a certain amount of time in a relationship, people start to feel more comfortable with each other and a trust starts to develop. The facade of perfection wanes and we start to let the guard down."
"We start to recognize that we can be ourselves in another's presence. This can look different in all couples but it may look like exposing less-than-beautiful habits," the relationship therapist goes on. "There is a safety that develops between people and they allow themselves to be seen warts and all. One may feel comfortable using the toilet in front of the other, maybe burping or passing gas."
Sleeps with a stinking, rotten ‘blankie’ that never gets washed and is quite possibly the cause of Covid-19.
Constantly see his booty crack. But I love the guy. He has no a*s. Makes it hard for belts to stay put.
Aronowitz says that we choose to overlook these unpleasant things our partners do because we decide that, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. "Mutual respect develops when we are able to understand another's feelings. When we can value and consider the other, especially around opposing viewpoints."
"When we can accept each other's individuality and unique characteristics, respect develops. We are more likely to overlook small things that our partner does. We may decide it isn't worth bringing up. We can also communicate how we feel and work a problem out."
The relationship therapist also reminds us that it's the bad habits that we should focus on and not the person. "Ultimately, when we love someone, we recognize them as human and understand that everyone has some annoying or gross habits," Judith Aronowitz explains. "The goal at the end of the day is to accept your partner's habits and focus on the strengths of the person and the relationship."
Biting my toenails. You read that right. Not her toenails but mine. I don't like it but it doesn't do any harm to me. Then she'll chew on them for hours.
My boyfriend has allergy issues, and has a runny nose 90% of the time so he always has a tissue with him. It’s not the runny nose that’s gross, it’s the leaving of the snotty wet tissues that’s gross. On the couch. On the table. On the bed. Kitchen counter. Bathroom vanity. Window sill beside the toilet. EVERYWHERE. If I don’t pick them up, the dog will - then I have to pull out a snotty tissue from my dogs slobbery mouth.
When he gets really comfy and into deep sleep he farts up a storm and I think it’s the cutest thing ever. Luckily, there is no smell, just little happy toots and his mumbling conversations. I love him so much.
How can partners deal with their SO's nasty habits? Experts say that shaming them publicly (albeit anonymously) is hardly the way. Australian dating and relationship coach Debbie Rivers claims that the first and most important thing is to recognize that your partner might be doing that gross thing not out of spite.
"They aren't personally directed at you and your partner may not even realize that they are doing it," she claims. “In fact, they may have no idea quite how annoying it is to you." The second step would be to talk about the issue. However, Rivers advises doing so when you're calm and not right after witnessing the gross habit.
He doesn’t brush his teeth everyday. He’s starting to do it more but, I hate to say it, it took a lot of nagging and begging him to be better about it. Sometimes his breath smells so bad but I’m just used to it bc he smokes and cigarette smell doesn’t bug me much. I’ve accepted that this is the one red flag I have to deal with and it’s a work in progress but my habits are slowly rubbing off on him but oml don’t judge me.
Could be a sign of neurodivergence as many with ADHD including myself struggle with basic daily tasks due to cognitive disfunction. Its so easy for everyone to judge you negatively for it as well so i'm glad you are supporting him.
Thank you a lot for saying that. I have both ADHD and depression and it's not easy.
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Well eventually he'll lose his teeth, then he'll and have less smelly breath. /s
Women shouldn't have to be our partner's parents. But for some reason it's what we end up with.
I've had the complete opposite experience dating. I've been with women with zero financial literacy (one got her car repossessed 6 months before it was paid off because she wouldn't stop buying takeout and clothes the other one had 15k in credit card debt because of clothing 26% APR and minimum payments). A woman who refused to drink water and wondered why they constantly had kidney problems. Women who can't cook or clean for themselves, can't make doctor appointments, didn't know you had to or how to get their car inspected. A woman who drove 30,000 miles before getting an oil change and wondered why she needed a new engine. By in large I agree, men lack adulting skills at a shocking rate but please don't pretend like women are immune from being incompetent as well.
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Unless you smoke also, second hand smoke is worse than smoking yourself. If you stay with him for any length of time you are putting yourself up for lung cancer. An early death.
sounds bad but as someone with lots of mental health issues, brushing my teeth is unfortunately not a habit. i try to chew gum to keep my breath good tho so like
No. Nopity nope. And I do think, if someone neglects a basic thing like this, they will neglect other things as well, like showering to stay clean.
Research the information on tooth plaque and heart disease. It’s very scary.
Omg no, no. You need your twice yearly cleanings and daily maintenance. He's going to regret some of his decisions.
Oh girl no. You shouldn't have to kiss a mouth full of bacteria, a fuzzy tongue and possibly a few rotten teeth.
Something I learned, gingivitis is contagious. At least it's reversible with a professional clean and a thorough dental hygiene routine. But, uh... yeah. Not good to be kissing anyone who lacks dental hygiene.
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I wouldn't describe it as a "Red Flag" situation. Overuse of certain terms can end up diluting the phrase........ Red flags are warning signs that indicate manipulative behavior. They are not always recognizable at first — which is part of what makes them so dangerous. However, they tend to grow bigger and become more problematic over time... This is about him not brushing his teeth... It doesn't seem to be a precursor sign of DV or other forms of Abuse towards the partner.
It's not only bad breath, it's gum disease and losing teeth at best, not to mention nasty infections. It's going to cost him a lot in money, time and pain in the future
As someone who is looking at dentures in the near future (and I don't even smoke) TAKE CARE OF YO TEEF.
Let him get a dentist bill for gum surgery or root canals or (even better) fitted for a denture at the age of 35, and he'll learn the value of brushing his teeth. A simple habit could save thousands of dollars.
Some people here are mentioning health issues like cavities. More and more there are studies saying this will lead to other health issues , like possibly heart and intestinal issues. They are even researching possible connection to dementia. If you have bacteria in you mouth that can erode your teeth, just think what it would that bacteria can do to soft tissue.
My ex never cleaned her room and she had guinea pigs and hadn’t clean their cages on a regular basis that it was attracting flies while she just sat there on TikTok, I had cleaned her room my third visit to her because I couldn’t stand it and had to take the guinea pig cage outside and scrape the bottom, wipe it, and let it soak for over an hour.
His dog sleeps in bed with him The dog regularly p*sses in said bed. After an uncountable number of bed toppers, comforters and sheets; I'm seriously rethinking this relationship. Edit to add: I'm not a dog hater...or at least I wasn't until this dog. Well I don't actually hate the dog. It could've been trained. But nope. This dog randomly sh*ts in the living room and has such "favorite" p*ssing areas in the house that the wood laminate floors are all ruined. The dog has a doggy door. It can't be put on a leash because it doesn't like collars/leashes. It never gets reprimanded for any bad behavior and regularly goes after anyone even if my BF is right there. Oh and I can't hug or kiss my BF without the dog going off.
I was going to say "lack of training" but at this point it's almost neglect
If you wish to address the annoying behavior or habit with your SO, it matters how you do it. The tone of voice, facial expressions, and, most importantly, what words you use. Rivers recommends avoiding such phrases as "You always do that" and "You never listen." Such verbiage might only trigger defensiveness and will hardly lead to any productive discussions.
Doesn't hold back burps or farts. I'm a full defender on letting it out but it's not so great while having a serious conversation or right after being told someone close to you died. Especially because their farts smell like death.
She's averse to wasting water (particularly flushing the toilet), especially when it's just pee... So she will allow a day's worth of pee to accumulate, only for me to have to flush when I get home from work. I tell her all the time to flush every 3 pees, but I'm apparently the default toilet flusher for #1.
I had a roommate years ago who was in the "If it's brown, flush it down... etc." mindset. We lived in Oregon and it was January and I'm finally like "Ryan, It's been raining for a week. We have a foot of water in the basement. It's OK to flush the damn toilet."
He forcefully gags himself when brushing his teeth to remove phlegm. It’s a shockingly loud gag noise every single tooth brushing.
Of course, it goes the other way round as well: when your partner tells you about what habits of yours they don't like, be willing to listen. When they have noticed your comments and reacted appropriately, acknowledge their effort. Encouragement is important when trying to kick a bad habit, so letting your partner know you notice and support them will let them improve and result in a better relationship.
Picks at dandruff while relaxing on the couch. They are huge chunks. Then when he gets up he gives the furniture a hearty sweep with his hand. But yknow that just moves them to the carpet.
Can we just… not…pick at the scalp?
Multiple times I saw my ex pick a booger and flick it off into his room Also, about 3 months after we broke up I was cleaning under my bed and found different pieces of gum stuck to the bottom of my bed frame. (Mind u he’s the only other person to sleep in my bed).
Mixes M&Ms and skittles in a bowl and eats them together.
We've been married 25 years and have 2 grown children. When I see her do it makes me question every choice I've ever made.
That can't be real. This has to be a fake one because that's an old joke on the web since the '90s.
Experts also advise to start talking about gross and disgusting habits only when you really can't take it anymore. Psychiatrist and relationship therapist Dion Metzger, MD, told Style Caster that if it only makes you roll your eyes but not gag, maybe it's worth letting go. "Most people overthink this and end up feeling more anxious during their time together rather than enjoying it. Whenever you can, don't make this the focus of your relationship, and try to go with the flow."
He picks his teeth with the point of a sharp knife. It's not particularly gross, but the thought of metal against teeth makes me cringe so hard, I can't stand it.
He sometimes eats while in the bathroom taking a s**t. He'll also try to feed me snacks in the bathroom, like if he's made cookies and saw me walk past to go pee. (I only ever eat in the bathroom if I'm having a long soak in the tub.).
Clips his nails with his teeth and sets the clippings on different countertops.
She squeezes the toothpaste tube in the middle, leaving a dent on it.
She thinks it’s funny to show me her menstruating blood . In the shower . She will call me to the shower and set up a fake murder scene with this stuff just so I gag and she can laugh at me .
Bites whole a*s cartoonish chunks out of cheese we have in the fridge, I think it's funny af and we laugh about it but she's actually a rat.
She wears daily wear contacts. She will take them out, and leave them in random places instead of throwing them in the trash. They are a pain to clean because when they dry up, they are hard to peel off of whatever surface they are on (bathroom/kitchen sink countertops, wooden desktop, wooden filing cabinet, wooden nightstand, hardwood floors, etc.).
I clean my vacation rental and this is an incredibly common thing to find
He doesn't use a napkin. Like never. Not even if he is eating pizza or burguer with his bare hands. He will simply rub one hand with the other once he's finished.
Then he will proceed to use those dirty hands to either pet our dog or use the keyboard on the pc.
To take his medication in pill form: He chews up a big piece of food, spits it out in a ball, shoves his medication in it, throws the ball of food back in his mouth and swallows it whole.
He puts his toothbrush upside down in the holder. He's a monster. But I love him.
Leaves used q tips everywhere! His ears are the cleanest I've ever seen but still can't stand finding them in random spots days later.
Audi steals used Q-tips out of the trash. He only ever steals the naughty ones, though. He'll whip them into shape and leave them on the bathroom floor.
He sometimes does not wipe his a*s after he s**ts. He says he can tell if it’s a messy one or a clean one. One time I caught him in the act and told him straight up he needed to wipe rn and prove it to me that it was clean. Y’all. He was right. It was spotless. I thought he didn’t wipe hard on purpose and I made him let me do it. Clean still. I still don’t approve.
She grabs my belly fat and wobbles it, saying that it's cute and she doesn't care, but I still think it's her asian way of low-key fat shaming me.
Mine hacks and spits into the garbage can by the laundry. I don't always get a bag into the can because it's supposed to be just for lint or paper trash. He misses a lot and the wall next to it shows.
Or he spits into the toilet and again misses.
Why. Why does he have to spit? I told him either spit outside or spit into toilet paper. I've shown him the wall, it's so gross. I no sooner get it clean and it's gross again.
Oh and he leaves his used dental picks on his desk. His garbage can is right there!
His office, I leave to him. I may make him clean the spit wall next time.
But he does do laundry and the dishes, so that's something. .
hmm no that is disgusting as f**k. I'd do a sex strike till he stops.
Note: this post originally had 38 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
There are some really nasty people out there.
I stopped reading. Most of these stories are just too gross!
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as a serial partnered person who has them on a damn conveyor belt, I can assure you that being single is AMAZING. I keep asking myself why I do it. Really, if you have an itch to scratch, that's what ONS is for, and then go ex-communicado. Living with someone is a major pain.
Load More Replies... Ever get the feeling that some people live in a completely different world to the one that you inhabit.
I was thinking 'how can you be with someone like that!' on some of these post, then thought about all those people who stay in abusive relationships just from fear to be alone and this are mild inconviniances.
I can't read the entire caption on this thread either. That's three so far since yesterday. What's up with this?
With some of these you can't help thinking that their mother could have tried harder. If you don't parent your child properly, their future partners (and often bosses and colleagues) have to do it for you.
My hubby does something we call his "tummy plate." He eats bread on the couch using his tummy as a plate. I have my own loaf of bread. Lolz
I had to stop after reading a few of these confessions. This made me feel so uncomfortable. Here i am feeling gross because i sometimes run out of fresh towels and will use a hand towel 2 days longer than i usually would. Or i smear a tiny bit of eye makeup on my pillow, but won‘t change the sheets shortly after… Or i will use dry shampoo because i don’t want to wash my hair. Hmmm… 😟
There are some really nasty people out there.
I stopped reading. Most of these stories are just too gross!
Load More Replies... as a serial partnered person who has them on a damn conveyor belt, I can assure you that being single is AMAZING. I keep asking myself why I do it. Really, if you have an itch to scratch, that's what ONS is for, and then go ex-communicado. Living with someone is a major pain.
Load More Replies... Ever get the feeling that some people live in a completely different world to the one that you inhabit.
I was thinking 'how can you be with someone like that!' on some of these post, then thought about all those people who stay in abusive relationships just from fear to be alone and this are mild inconviniances.
I can't read the entire caption on this thread either. That's three so far since yesterday. What's up with this?
With some of these you can't help thinking that their mother could have tried harder. If you don't parent your child properly, their future partners (and often bosses and colleagues) have to do it for you.
My hubby does something we call his "tummy plate." He eats bread on the couch using his tummy as a plate. I have my own loaf of bread. Lolz
I had to stop after reading a few of these confessions. This made me feel so uncomfortable. Here i am feeling gross because i sometimes run out of fresh towels and will use a hand towel 2 days longer than i usually would. Or i smear a tiny bit of eye makeup on my pillow, but won‘t change the sheets shortly after… Or i will use dry shampoo because i don’t want to wash my hair. Hmmm… 😟
