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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For collecting teabags in a ramekin?

68 replies

PerfectlyPosed · 03/01/2015 11:20

My DP just doesn't get it! My theory is that if I put them in the food wastage or the bin whilst hot, they will attract maggots. It's a habit I have picked up from my mum and have always done it. It's not like they're just sat on the work surface and they go straight into the food wastage once they have cooled down. Am I mad?? Grin

OP posts:
QueenofKelsingra · 03/01/2015 11:23

I do this. more because it saves me walking across the kitchen to the bin dropping tea-drops on my hand or the floor.

my mum does it too though so perhaps its one of those things that are only normal if your parents did it!

drinkyourmilk · 03/01/2015 11:24

We use a ramekin or empty cup too.

sooperdooper · 03/01/2015 11:25

I do this too, saves me dripping tea bags across the kitchen on a spoon

FunkyBoldRibena · 03/01/2015 11:26

Don't tell me - you don't have a compost bin at all?

Mumski45 · 03/01/2015 11:26

I do this but never heard about the maggot theory. I do so that I don't drip wet teabags across the floor to the bin.

canyou · 03/01/2015 11:27

I do it as well Grin Although my Mum used to do it as she would reuse the teabag

Selks · 03/01/2015 11:27

I do this too, to save drips all across the floor to the bin.

TheFairyCaravan · 03/01/2015 11:27

I put them straight into the kitchen bin. We've never had maggots in there.
I don't like to see used tea-bags, tea-spoons or anything that doesn't need to be there on the work top.

Bowlersarm · 03/01/2015 11:30

I see why you do it, but I think cold congealing teabags look bloody horrible on show, in a pot. Yuk.

I put them straight into the compost bin and cover them up with a lid.

Tzibeleh · 03/01/2015 11:30

Erm, yes, slightly bonkers.

Unless you live in a hot country/store your waste bin by a radiator/leave it uncovered for flies to lay eggs in it/only empty it once in a blue moon, maggots will not breed in your bin. Teabag temperature will not make any difference.

Lonecatwithkitten · 03/01/2015 11:30

For maggots to arrive flies need to lay eggs on food waste they can not do this in a sealed container so for thinking you are stopping maggots YABU.
However, if you put them in the ramekin and empty it regularly to stop dripping tea all over the kitchen YANBU.
Maggots are an essential part of the composting/breaking down process.

Icimoi · 03/01/2015 11:31

Straight in the bin, we've never had maggots. Mind you, I mostly do it out of laziness, I see no point in making extra washing up. We have a small kitchen, so bin is close by and there is no risk of drips on the floor.

Damnautocorrect · 03/01/2015 11:31

I do this, as my compost bags dissolve with hot tea bags.

RumbelowSale · 03/01/2015 11:32

I've a pot I keep them in, periodically open them up and fork them in round a climbing rose I've got. Maggots and teabags? What's the attraction there, then?

TheCowThatLaughs · 03/01/2015 11:32

YABU - the smell of used teabags is one of the few smells that I really can't stand. And I don't think maggots would be able to feel the warmth of the teabags unless they were already in the bin, would they??

fredfredgeorgejnr · 03/01/2015 11:32

YANBU to do it, the maggot reason is a bit bonkers.

And of course people will think you're a cheapskate drying them to re-use.

TheCowThatLaughs · 03/01/2015 11:33

Also, don't maggots prefer raw meat to teabags?

BreeVDKamp · 03/01/2015 11:34

YANBU I do this too! As does my mum.

dexter73 · 03/01/2015 11:36

I didn't know that maggots were attracted to hot teabags and not cold teabags.

flightywoman · 03/01/2015 11:37

YABU! I absolutely loathe pots/bowls/cups of used teabags. People used to do it where I worked,and they never emptied it, it was utterly revolting.

iamnotthemoronwhisperer · 03/01/2015 11:37

I do it too, because I always wrap kitchen waste in newspaper before putting into the compost bin (the brown council one, as we don't have need to make our own compost). They're never there for more than a few hours.

BathshebaDarkstone · 03/01/2015 11:37

Never heard of warm teabags attracting maggots! My dad re-uses teabags though. Grin

TheLastThneed · 03/01/2015 11:39

I do this too...mostly to save me having to wash my hands after touching the bin...DP has a knack of leaving food on everything he touches...

PerfectlyPosed · 03/01/2015 11:39

It's more the making the other food in the bin warm and attracting the maggots? Also, the dripping theory would make sense. As I said, the habit came from my mum and that would definitely have been her reason!

Glad I'm not completely alone. Have told DP to deal with it. He has plenty of weird habits that I ignore!

OP posts:
Notso · 03/01/2015 11:41

YABU use a teapot and your problems are solved.

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