I am not unreasonable. Agree with me...

[tyzer2001]

DS (19) has the world's most annoying habit.

He will make himself a hot drink, and for some reason he is incapable of keeping all of the drink inside the cup during the process. So tea/coffee/milk slops everywhere and usually sugar spilt too. He will then wander off and leave this mess.

Annoying. But he's not finished yet.

He will then return and, assuming I have not spotted the mess and exploded at him asked him to clean it up, he will now wish to use the same area to make a sandwich. But the worktop is dirty of course!
So - instead of getting the dishcloth/sponge and clearing it up, what does he do?
He gets the tea-towel and spreads it on top of his mess and uses it as his sandwich making surface!!

Apparently my rage at this habit is misplaced and I am unreasonable...

Yes mrskrumpet. My DH thinks the bread knife is a butter knife and thinks I'm insane that it bothers me so much.

I think we have the same DS op

I think the surcharge is the way to go [rent]

Yes I'm liking that. What do we think is a reasonable sum?

Agree with chicken

Drastic action is required!

Where has he got this habit from?

He's always had it - at least all his teenage years. No amount of screaming abuse reasoning with him has helped.

In fairness he's a very good kid in almost every other way. He's always helped with his younger sister, he does jobs around the house when asked (although not without being asked, I'm not that lucky!), he has a full time job which although he doesn't like, he still treats like a job and not a hobby... if I had to make a list of his bad points it'd be pretty short.

It's just that this one really bugs me!!

Perhaps you could train him - like a labrador**. Stand over him whilst he makes cup after cup of tea, telling him clearly what to do at each step, and rewarding successful completion with a smartie. Keep repeating until he can complete the whole task in the required manner.

** - I use the labrador comparison advisedly, as they are lovely, loving but a bit dim - and are easily motivated by food treats, which sounds like a teenager to me.

If my boyfriend did this I would leave the tea towels in his bed.

so - £1 per tea towel and 50p per worksurface-wipe - that should generate some extra income?