Handy Man Hassle

My husband is very handy around the house, but when he's finished a job, he doesn't put all the tools away. The whole basement is a workshop, but he has set up a toolbox in the upstairs bathroom so things are closeby. Is it unreasonable of me to ask him to put all his tools away in the basement when a project is done (or on a break)?

She said: No, it is not unreasonable for you to ask that he put his things away when he is finished with them. However, if he can find an acceptable “satellite office” in the bathroom or elsewhere upstairs that won’t be in your way for some of his more frequently used tools that might be a good compromise. Perhaps the two of you can discuss where a good location would be. If he is still leaving his tools out after that, a gentle humorous reminder might do the trick to avoid any friction. The wording “put all his tools away” puts me in mind of kids not putting all their toys away. So perhaps the children’s song “clean up clean up everybody clean up” might be funny and yet do the trick.

He said: My suggestion is to make sure he is done before requesting the tools be removed. Speaking from experience, it can be annoying to have to get them all out and put them back twice. However, if he is done and you have asked him nicely to move them and given him a chance to do so and he still hasn’t, then just move the offending tools downstairs and let him sort them out correctly when he needs them.