The Soap Saga: When Little Quirks Become Big Issues in Relationships

Husband and wife arguing, pointing fingers at each other while looking at the camera.

It’s not uncommon for individuals to have certain quirks and preferences regarding household chores and organization. However, it can be frustrating for one person when these habits impact daily routines.

The Situation

In this case, a husband and wife have been having a disagreement over using liquid soap dispensers in their bathroom. The husband, let’s call him OP (original poster), enjoys using the bathroom near the back door as it serves as a pit stop after a long day at work or outdoor activities. But, the dispensers in this bathroom are often left empty by his wife, causing him to use a different bathroom and resulting in her giving him “sh**” for bringing dirt into the house.

Attempted Resolution

OP attempted to solve the issue by keeping bars of soap in the bathroom, but his wife threw them away as she finds bar soap to be “gross.” He then bought refillable dispensers, only to have his wife give him “sh**” for wasting money. On the other hand, the wife buys liquid soap by the gallon but does not store it in the same place, leading to the husband having trouble finding it and getting scolded for disorganizing her pantry/storeroom.

Stalemate

OP took matters into his own hands by tossing the empty dispensers and using soap from another bathroom. However, his wife is upset with him for throwing away the dispensers, and they are now in a stalemate. The wife went digging through trash to take out the dispensers, and OP is tired of trying to find alternatives that will give him reliable access to some soap in the bathroom.

OP has even tried to resolve the issue by marking the soap level in the dispenser and giving his wife a week’s notice of a refill, but to no avail.

Ask For Help

It’s important to note that while one may joke about having a spouse with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it’s not a diagnosis that should be made lightly, as it is a mental health condition that requires professional treatment.

OP recognizes this and chooses not to label his wife as having OCD. Nevertheless, the disagreement over soap dispensers is a reminder that even the small habits and routines in life can cause friction in relationships.

OP has asked the Reddit community to opine on whether his expectations are unfair or he’s in the right. Comments poured in from users who were in disbelief at OP’s situation.

Redditor’s Thoughts

Eak-the-Cat perfectly summarized OP’s failed attempts to solve this issue with his wife and went on to say,

“you have a lot more patience than I do… I would have lasted about to where she was throwing out the bars of soap (and she complains about waste?!?) instead of letting you use them to wash up…It sounds like she has some bigger control issues. Hint: It’s probably not just about the soap!”

RielleFox supported OP as well in this very soapy dilemma,

“What kind of weird soap opera is this?! Get her a good therapist.”

maypokenewtonaway chimed in with his support on the issue,

“Perfectly said. Your wife is making the situation impossible, OP…You’ve tried about everything to solve the issue yourself, and she’s actively preventing you from being able to solve it.”

The Verdict

Overall, Redditors sided with the OP without any hesitation. The popular opinion was that his wife likely has control issues, and soap dispensers are just the tip of the iceberg. Relationships are hard, and even trivial issues like these can spiral out of control if not handled properly.

What are your thoughts about this?

You can find the full story here on Reddit.

Featured Image Credit: AndrewLozovyi /Depositphotos.com.

This article originally appeared on Ash & Pri.

Like our content? Be sure to follow us.

DISCLOSURE: The post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. This site is not intending to provide financial advice. This is for entertainment only.

Pri Kingston

Ash & Pri are the Founders of AshandPri.com and have spent the last decade building their way towards financial freedom and a lifetime of memories. Having successfully achieved their early retirement goal in under 10 years, they look forward to sharing their financial sense with like-minded people. Read more about Ash & Pri in the 'About Us' section.