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Original poster

To ask DH not to strain my teabag with his bare hands?

110 replies

TeaSqueezingpos · 24/02/2026 22:26

DH has been making me cups of tea for about 10 years. Funnily enough I’ve never stopped to watch him make it because.. well then I might aswell make it myself. This man make me about 2 cups of tea a day.

Hes making my evening tea today, and I catch him squeezing the teabag out, into my tea.. with his bare hands. Confused I ask “did you just use your bare hands to squeeze my teabag out?”

“well yeah?”

WHAT. What kind of psychopath have I been living with? He said that’s how he’s always done it. I’ve asked him to never do that again because.. ew! It’s somehow worse than someone touching my food with their bare hands 🤣

please tell me I’m not being unreasonable😩

OP posts:
Furlane · 25/02/2026 10:26

I can’t believe all the teabag squeezers!! Are you all animals?!! I might start using that as an insult (he’s a right teabag squeezer).

WinterBlues26 · 25/02/2026 10:01

How on earth is he doing that? Surely he's using boiling water so why isn't he (and others) scalding themselves? 😱

As for others saying he's touching your sandwiches etc I'm assuming he washes his hands before prepping food but I'm guessing he doesn't wash them before making a cuppa? At least I hope he does wash his hands but who knows 😮

Original poster
TeaSqueezingpos · 25/02/2026 09:27

TittyGajillions · 25/02/2026 08:39

How does he mash potatoes?

you know the film ‘wreck it ralph’?

OP posts:
Sweetiedarling7 · 25/02/2026 08:49

Get one of those squeezing thingies.
I love mine, saved me dripping tea when using a spoon to carry a wetish bag to the bin.

wildfellhall · 25/02/2026 08:47

That is gross, I agree, I would not accept that - but my DH makes undrinkable tea so it’s never going to happen.

TroysMammy · 25/02/2026 08:44

My partner sometimes forgets to take the teabag out and when I drink my tea a wet teabag smacks me in the mouth. Be grateful for small mercies.

TittyGajillions · 25/02/2026 08:39

How does he mash potatoes?

CheddarCheeseAndCrispSandwich · 25/02/2026 08:39

That’s how I do it 🤷‍♀️ He’s your husband ffs, I’m sure you’ve held his hand before, so what difference does it make! Unless he has visible shit lumps on his hands, I’m sure you’ll live.

Quine0nline · 25/02/2026 08:33

Very disappointed. I thought "strain my teabags" sounded a very interesting euphemism.

Pop.

Bearbookagainandagain · 25/02/2026 08:23

Yep, that's how I do it too. Burn your fingers grabbing the edge of the tea bag, then press with fingers to release tea.
Otherwise we would be out of spoons in no time, and it's also more efficient.

I also cook with my bare hands, put the groceries away, etc etc. Not sure what the difference is as long as hands are washed beforehand.

GreyCarpet · 25/02/2026 08:19

do you guys juice oranges with your fists too?!

I don't juice oranges so, no I wouldnt squeeze oranges for that, but if a recipe calls for lemons or limes, yes, I also squeeze those with my hands.

Owly11 · 25/02/2026 08:12

TeaSqueezingpos · 24/02/2026 22:42

This is utter madness. Touching a wet teabag into the drink should be illegal.

do you guys juice oranges with your fists too?! Animalistic behaviour 😆😆😆

Well yes, I do use my hands to squeeze oranges and lemons, what on earth is wrong with that?! If people make you food they will use their hands. The only issue would be if they hadn't washed their hands before doing so.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 25/02/2026 08:05

I'm amazed at all the teabag squeezers!

No squeezing at all here, I just hold it to the side of the cup and let it drain a little so it doesn't drip everywhere. Squeezing it makes it bitter.

ShodAndShadySenators · 25/02/2026 08:00

As long as his hands are clean, really, does it matter? He does use his hands during food prep as well as other tasks, and as long as he operates under decent levels of hygiene I couldn't be bothered. You're getting a tea made for you!

My DS doesn't employ that final squeeze to the teabag before lifting it out, so the tea has a slight translucent look and the teabags are splashy going into the used-teabag-receptacle so it's more messy than it should be... I had thought he would be fully trained up as a teenager but it seems like an intensive course is still needed, like those swimming ones in half-term. Maybe I'll dangle a tea-making badge as an incentive...

When it comes down to it, the teabag squeeze is so important a step that it matters more that it is done than the utensil employed, so YAB slightly U.

Gettingbysomehow · 25/02/2026 07:42

TeaSqueezingpos · 25/02/2026 07:31

I had a cuppa waiting for me on the side this morning.. I’ve just been staring at it 👀

😂

Original poster
TeaSqueezingpos · 25/02/2026 07:31

I had a cuppa waiting for me on the side this morning.. I’ve just been staring at it 👀

OP posts:
TheRuffleandthePearl · 24/02/2026 23:56

He’s an absolute savage and should be immediately taken out the back and shot.

I know what you mean about a wet teabag feeling much worse than him making a sandwich OP. It’s so … intimate … squeezing … I just hope he washes his hands after using the loo before making your cup of tea.

So glad I drink coffee!

livelovelough24 · 24/02/2026 23:41

I cannot stand the idea of someone squeezing the tea bag with their bare hands, no. But than again, when I imagine your husband making you tea, twice a day for ten years, brings tears to my eyes. 😔 He is definitely a keeper, sorry OP.

pinkdelight · 24/02/2026 23:37

There’s definitely nothing wrong with squeezing oranges with your bare hands. That’s totally normal. I don’t drink tea so can’t really comment but it’s rank anyway so no loss.

Wholelottawoman · 24/02/2026 23:36

We use those Lakeland tea tools too, they’re brilliant x

PabloEscoBear · 24/02/2026 23:33

Gross. Squeeze with a spoon!

Gettingbysomehow · 24/02/2026 23:33

Id be concerned that he didnt wash his hands properly after going to the loo.

thisisthebiscuit · 24/02/2026 23:31

I don’t drink hot drinks, but I make DH about 8000 cups a day, I might start doing this and see what his reaction is….

CookiesAreForSharing · 24/02/2026 23:27

LTB

Ithinkofawittyusernamethenforgetit · 24/02/2026 23:23

And this is why I always ask for coffee at my friend’s house (yes she uses a teaspoon for that - doesn’t put her fingers in the coffee jar!)