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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think this is unhygienic?

204 replies

ohohokeydokey · 01/01/2026 12:58

My DM was standing in the kitchen near the sink wearing rubber sliders and long wide leg trousers that trail on the ground.

She was getting ready to make some lunch, then suddenly puts her bare foot up on the counter next to the drying rack where the clean dishes are sitting. She used to do ballet as a kid so is flexible enough to just kinda chill there like that which is what she did.

Knowing her I knew she wouldn't wipe down the surface or anything and would just go on and put the dishes away and make lunch. So I said in the gentlest, most polite voice possible asked her if she could not put her foot on the counter.

She rolled her eyes at me and left her foot up there for another several minutes😭 Then said her back hurts. She has a bad back, so that's normal for her to say.

As I was leaving the room she said under her breath but definitely making sure it was loud enough for me to hear "I've just been in the shower you know."

She had a shower about an hour and a half ago, she's wearing trousers that she also wore yesterday to the supermarket, on a walk etc and they trail on the ground.

I replied "Sorry, but it's still unhygienic to put your foot on the counter next to clean dishes."

She huffed and sighed, then took that foot down and put her other foot up on the other side of the counter and started doing the dishes like that.

I know this sounds semi hilarious now that I'm writing it out, but please someone tell me whether or not I'm being unreasonable for asking her to remove her bare foot from the clean kitchen counter?

Am I being unreasonable to think it's unhygienic too? I know she showered this morning, but surely I'm not the only one who thinks this is gross?

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 01/01/2026 15:18

As pp said, why would someone do this?

It's probably not so much unhygienic, as unpleasant. Although, the trailing trouser bottoms are probably carrying all sorts of nasties.

Feet are generally not the most attractive things and nobody really wants to see someone's foot stuck up where food is prepared and dishes sit, even if they use a board on top of the worktop.

It's weird and attention seeking behaviour.

It suspect she does it OP, because she knows it annoys you and she can wind you up.

It would annoy me too.

pusspuss9 · 01/01/2026 15:10

BauhausOfEliott · 01/01/2026 13:08

I think that, if merely thinking about someone brushing their hair makes you almost gag, the problem lies with you.

not in the kitchen though. Loads of loose stray hairs flying about. definitely not the place to have somebody else's hairs in your food. What ever was your mil thinking of? Possibly wanted to show off her lovely hair.

Darkdiamond · 01/01/2026 15:10

vanillalattes · 01/01/2026 15:01

Do you not wipe your counters before preparing food?

I assume most people do wipe down their counters but I would rather minimise the bacteria on my counter top to start with. I mop my floors but still choose to take my shoes off indoors because the thought of the bacteria being trod through my home makes me feel queasy.

Noshadelamp · 01/01/2026 15:08

JH0404 · 01/01/2026 15:02

Disgusting, unhygienic, weird attention seeking behaviour

This definitely.

All the pp with cats not thinking it's gross but you do realise that non-cat people probably also think cats walking all over counter tops on the kitchen is also gross!

CaptainMyCaptain · 01/01/2026 15:08

BippidyBoppety · 01/01/2026 14:10

This. She did it to wind you up. It wound you up. She wins.

Think of her as a sad old bird who will be out of your (life) kitchen next Christmas.

A sad old bird who can still get her foot up that high.

Darkdiamond · 01/01/2026 15:06

vanillalattes · 01/01/2026 15:00

That doesn't explain why it's unhygienic Confused

Bacteria from all over the floor gets on the bottom of your bag. You put your bag down on lots of surfaces where the bacteria can be spread to.

CaptainMyCaptain · 01/01/2026 15:04

BauhausOfEliott · 01/01/2026 13:08

I think that, if merely thinking about someone brushing their hair makes you almost gag, the problem lies with you.

Agreed.

JH0404 · 01/01/2026 15:02

Disgusting, unhygienic, weird attention seeking behaviour

canibearsedsometimes · 01/01/2026 15:02

HNRTFT but I am just massively impressed that she is flexible enough to manage that …good on her !

vanillalattes · 01/01/2026 15:01

ChattyCatty25 · 01/01/2026 14:58

Theres plenty of dangerous bacteria on floors, especially if people wear their shoes inside. This includes fecal bacteria from dog mess.

Do you not wipe your counters before preparing food?

vanillalattes · 01/01/2026 15:00

Darkdiamond · 01/01/2026 14:55

A doctor years ago told me to never put my bag on the floor and I don't, I always hang it up.

That doesn't explain why it's unhygienic Confused

ChattyCatty25 · 01/01/2026 14:58

Celestialmoods · 01/01/2026 13:05

It’s not pleasant, but illness inducing germs are not going to jump from a foot to nearby dishes to be able to cause a hygiene issue. Just don’t eat your dinner off the counter.

Theres plenty of dangerous bacteria on floors, especially if people wear their shoes inside. This includes fecal bacteria from dog mess.

Freda69 · 01/01/2026 14:58

Thesofathatwas · 01/01/2026 13:06

Unhygienic.

My mil stood combing her hair in the kitchen of our holiday home.
Her hair was waist length. Stretching it out with the comb in the middle of the kitchen.
Makes me gag thinking about it.

Totally agree - I used to work with someone who had really long hair and used to comb it all over her desk, which was opposite mine. All that dandruff and loose hair flying everywhere - just yuk.
Putting your foot on the kitchen work surface is just weird!

Darkdiamond · 01/01/2026 14:55

vanillalattes · 01/01/2026 14:24

Why is it unhygienic? Unless you don't wipe your counters before preparing food?

A doctor years ago told me to never put my bag on the floor and I don't, I always hang it up.

Darkdiamond · 01/01/2026 14:53

TeaRoseTallulah · 01/01/2026 14:46

I do that every day !

This is another thing I was raised not to do. Never brush your hair in the kitchen and I still don't.

HostaCentral · 01/01/2026 14:52

Feet are generally way cleaner than hands .... It wouldn't bother me.

My cat spends a lot of time on our counters, so I wouldn't get worked up about a recently cleaned human foot tbh.

Darkdiamond · 01/01/2026 14:52

When I was at school doing Home Economics, we were taught to always wash our hands before preparing food (and after touching raw meat), to tie our hair back and to remove rings if putting our hands into food, eg making pastry etc. I see Meghan Markle frequently flaunting these rules.

misses point of thread

(I could overlook the foot thing if the feet were bare but couldn't forgive it if shoes were involved)

Goditsmemargaret · 01/01/2026 14:51

FFS people are so uptight.

None of these things would bother me.

But before I prepare food I always wipe down counters and use a clean chopping board. I also put dishes away as soon as they are washed (which is straightaway).

CutePixieGirl · 01/01/2026 14:51

Gross. Putting your feet up anywhere (especially bare) is gross and very bad manners. No-one wants to see anyone’s feet like that.

ForIcyGreyCat · 01/01/2026 14:49

Reminds me of when my MIL (who hates me) put her bare feet on the table right next to my dinner plate, repeatedly, making sure it was as close to my plate as possible

TeaRoseTallulah · 01/01/2026 14:48

I really couldn't get worked up about it as we have a car so we're always wiping down the counters.

TeaRoseTallulah · 01/01/2026 14:46

Thesofathatwas · 01/01/2026 13:06

Unhygienic.

My mil stood combing her hair in the kitchen of our holiday home.
Her hair was waist length. Stretching it out with the comb in the middle of the kitchen.
Makes me gag thinking about it.

I do that every day !

JohnBullshit · 01/01/2026 14:46

I would find it a bit yuck, and I'm a bit of a slattern, frankly, but that's because I know my own feet aren't fit to go near food utensils, however recently they've been in the shower. I would worry about someone else's on the same basis. It's probably not rational unless you also question where their hands have been, which possibly isn't the easiest conversation.

JLou08 · 01/01/2026 14:43

It would make me feel sick seeing someone's foot on the counter. I'm not sure if it would actually be any more unhygienic than someone leaning on with an elbow.

Anyahyacinth · 01/01/2026 14:42

Horribly disrespectful..💐💐