Please or to access all these features

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:
VoltaireMittyDream · 01/01/2026 14:39

I need a visual here.

Is OP’s mum standing some distance back from the worktop so her legs are making an 90 degree angle and her heel is resting on the surface?

Or is she standing flush against the worktop and her leg is going straight up from the hip, bending at the knee, and the sole of her foot is flat on the worktop surface? In some kind of spider-like contortionist position?

Neither are great but I’d be well freaked out by the second scenario.

Thepeopleversuswork · 01/01/2026 14:33

You’re both being unreasonable and winding each other up.

I don’t think what she did poses any real food safety issues. Clean(ish) feet on a kitchen surface are no worse really than hands. On the other hand having to put her foot there as opposed to anywhere else is performative and goady.

I would just focus on getting away from each other and winding one another up.

landslide51 · 01/01/2026 14:32

This would probably only bother me if I didn't like the person, and it sounds like you don't. Just count down the days till you're out of there OP.

Imdunfer · 01/01/2026 14:31

The foot wouldn't worry me off the house floors were clean to look at. The bottom of the long trousers that have been trailing where dogs have crapped and pissed and gods know what else dropped on them certainly would.

For all the people saying you don't eat off the counters, you do eat off plates and didhes that are placed on the counters, which you then usually use your hands to move to a table or the telly.

somanychristmaslights · 01/01/2026 14:31

Yeah that’s gross. Sounds like the sooner you all move on the better!

AliceandOscar · 01/01/2026 14:29

I don’t brush my hair in the kitchen, but due to illness and cancer treatment I shed everywhere. Wherever I’ve been, you will find hair I’ve left behind. Never consider it as being unhygienic, just a pain when it blocks the hoover again.

grumpygrape · 01/01/2026 14:29

ThePieceHall · 01/01/2026 14:20

This thread inspired me to try. Ta-dah! I can actually get my foot up on the counter. In fact, bith feet. One at a time, obviously.

Damn, I had visions of you levitating until you said one at a time 🤣

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 01/01/2026 14:28

Strikethepower · 01/01/2026 14:19

It’s unhygienic- as is putting you handbag that sit on the floor in cafes etc and filing your nails over the counter. My sister does both in my house - when I’ve asked her to stop she has got really shitty with me.😳

I’m not suprised. I’d get shitty too.

grumpygrape · 01/01/2026 14:27

CremeCarmel · 01/01/2026 14:08

You could probably stick your whole foot in something you'd cooked then serve it up to guests and they probably wouldn't get ill, but it wouldn't make it OK.

But that's not what mother nor I have done so not relevant

MyDeftDuck · 01/01/2026 14:25

Roll on completion day!

MissDoubleU · 01/01/2026 14:24

You might have been being anal but clearly she was being deliberately inflammatory by just switching to her other foot.

Soudns like it’s going to be a good thing for you to go your separate ways.

vanillalattes · 01/01/2026 14:24

Strikethepower · 01/01/2026 14:19

It’s unhygienic- as is putting you handbag that sit on the floor in cafes etc and filing your nails over the counter. My sister does both in my house - when I’ve asked her to stop she has got really shitty with me.😳

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

ThePieceHall · 01/01/2026 14:20

This thread inspired me to try. Ta-dah! I can actually get my foot up on the counter. In fact, bith feet. One at a time, obviously.

Strikethepower · 01/01/2026 14:19

It’s unhygienic- as is putting you handbag that sit on the floor in cafes etc and filing your nails over the counter. My sister does both in my house - when I’ve asked her to stop she has got really shitty with me.😳

Fingeronthebutton · 01/01/2026 14:17

Please don’t have children. So many have been damaged by mothers with thos attitudes.

AhBiscuits · 01/01/2026 14:15

Do you prepare food directly on the counter next to the sink? Wouldn't bother me personally.

thisisyoursign · 01/01/2026 14:11

unhygienic and rude. If she needs to do it anywhere, she should do it on a chest of drawers in her own room

BippidyBoppety · 01/01/2026 14:10

Fuckoffeasypeelers · 01/01/2026 13:49

Sounds very attention seeking, you react,she gets her supply.
Ignore her

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.

Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 01/01/2026 14:09

TeenLifeMum · 01/01/2026 13:41

But why would you? 😆

It’s a good stretch and feels amazing if you’ve got a painful back. I highly recommend it!

I do it fairly regularly. Not generally in the kitchen, but I don’t think I’d be horrified if someone did. 😁

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 01/01/2026 14:09

My hairdresser cuts my hair in my kitchen. It’s the best light. He says that’s where most people do it.

Oldandgreyer · 01/01/2026 14:08

is she Angela Rippon?

Growlybear83 · 01/01/2026 14:08

I’ve just tried it, but nearly fell over and scared the cat.

CremeCarmel · 01/01/2026 14:08

grumpygrape · 01/01/2026 13:58

There are times I wonder how I've got to the age of 70 without succumbing to germ based illnesses.
I don't mean dying from one but never had any intestinal illnesses caused through a bit of ingested dirt/grime etc which couldn't be easily cleaned before prepping food.
Oh, and I don't scrub and bleach the whole kitchen and/or bogs every day. Call me filthy 😉
And I left the left overs of a batch cook in the cold oven overnight before packaging it for the freezer. Never died or got the runs from that either.
Hard as nails us 1950s kids 😊

You could probably stick your whole foot in something you'd cooked then serve it up to guests and they probably wouldn't get ill, but it wouldn't make it OK.

Sahara123 · 01/01/2026 14:06

Someone should probably tell Angela Rippon this is apparently socially unacceptable! I’m just jealous..
And I brush hair in the kitchen.

BoredZelda · 01/01/2026 14:03

You need to move out. Or she does. This isn’t a healthy relationship.

Swipe left for the next trending thread