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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask do you tidy up after yourself?

56 replies

SleepingStandingUp · 05/12/2017 16:52

Been in McDonald's today people watching. I always make sure that everything goes back on to the tray or bag then either a member of staff will take it off me as I have the pushchair or i do it.

Just surprised how many people leave food scattered over the floor and table , rubbish everywhere. Table next to us was three adults and 1 toddler so plenty of hands to tidy up but they just walked out leaving carnage.

So do most people tidy or leave it? And if you leave it are you not embarrassed?

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 06/12/2017 01:32

I clear the table but I'm not picking up crap off the floor

Do you mean other people's crap or your own? I can understand why you wouldn't lift someone else's stuff, but would think you're a slob if you don't clear your own stuff off the floor. I don't mean spotless, but at least the bigger bits. If you think it's beneath (no pun intended) you, you're also implying the staff is beneath you by expecting them to do it.

MrsCrabbyTree · 06/12/2017 01:42

Always tidy after myself at Maccas - thought it was a rule Grin

I don't at a cafe as a general rule but did recently and the staff was very appreciative. It was an outside table, on a gorgeous day, so very busy and I went back inside to buy some bottled water therefore no problem to pop our coffee cups and plate on the counter. (not in their way) Was told I made their day ... sometimes small things do, don't they?

harrypotternerd · 06/12/2017 04:02

my DP and I always do no matter where we are maccas, food courts, cafe etc. One time we had lunch at a nice little cafe, it was table service and I guess it was expected staff would clean the tables once you were done but on our way out we had to go past the counter and we put our empty plates and cups on the counter, the waiter looked a bit shocked them smiled and said he wished people would be more considerate.

WilyMinx · 06/12/2017 04:49

I used to do this in the UK but I live abroad now, where the McDonald's' here will usually have 2-3 staff members scouring the floor, ready to pounce at your trays as soon as you get up.

If everyone tidied up after themselves here, 2 of them would probably be out of a job.

lljkk · 06/12/2017 05:07

I was on stationary train next to a filthy table. Cleaner sweeps on to wipe down & collect the rubbish. "People are pigs," I tutted.

"Yeah," said the cleaner, "but it means I have a job."

She had a point.

MsHopey · 06/12/2017 05:48

In McDonald's and place we always take the tray and put all the packaging in its appropriate recycling slots. In pubs my husband always takes the plates to the bar, even though the kitchen is somewhere else and I think he's actually not helping in the end, but I still give him points for Trying, bless him. I wish he did it more round the house!

CheeriosEverywhere · 06/12/2017 08:32

If you think it's beneath (no pun intended) you, you're also implying the staff is beneath you by expecting them to do it

Did you really say that to someone who had just said that it used to be their job? So I think I am beneath myself, you reckon?

Logical Hmm

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/12/2017 19:23

McDonald’s isn’t a restaurant it’s fast food chain and yes I clear table in fast food gaff
Restaurant or bar, no I wouldn’t clear

agedknees · 06/12/2017 20:55

I used to work in a hospital clinic. People would leave loads of crap on the tables/floor in the waiting room for the nurses to clean up even though we had loads of bins in the waiting room. Some people are pigs.

HildaZelda · 06/12/2017 21:39

I ALWAYS tidy/clear up after myself. One of my biggest bugbears is people who treat catering staff/bar staff etc badly. I used to work in retail when I was younger so that probably has something to do with it too.

passmethewineplease · 06/12/2017 21:42

I always clear up. If my kids have made a mess on the floor I will pick that up too. I couldn't leave it in a state. Would feel awful.

BertieBotts · 06/12/2017 21:50

In McDonalds - yes! Of course!

At home.... Blush no, I have to really force myself to think about it.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 06/12/2017 22:09

I worked in retail doesn’t mean I clear up or busy about under tables picking up other folk crap
Arriving at restaurant I want greeted with menu & civility.not expectation I’ll clear up

LoneParenting101 · 07/12/2017 00:04

The thing that annoys me (I worked at McDonalds almost 20 years ago) is when people leave the paper liner on the tray!! Was always thankful they cleared their table but such a pain to go through the pile of trays to get the liners!

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 07/12/2017 00:07

I did used to just tip everything in but now it all needs to be separated. Expect that is why many people don't bother

OP posts:
kmc1111 · 07/12/2017 04:07

I don't really tidy, because even with young children I never really had an issue keeping everyone's mess on the trays. I mean, they're like twice the size of a very large dinner plate. I've never understood how so many people's tables end up looking like they had a prolonged food fight. Some errant chips and sauce smears, sure. 90% of the meal on the floor, table and chairs...what are you even doing?

Emlou07 · 07/12/2017 06:46

Always! And I HATE the 'They're paid to clean it'

Oh fuck off! Angry Just laziness!

Emlou07 · 07/12/2017 06:48

@LipstickHandbagCoffee

If that's what you're after, you won't find it at McDonald's Hmm

TheFifthKey · 07/12/2017 06:51

I hate that in Costa etc there’s nowhere to clear your stuff too. No bins and if you want to take your tray back, there’s no clear area of counter to put it, so you’d have to hang around the queue a bit awkwardly until you could find a member of staff to give it to, who wouldn’t want it as they’re busy serving customers. It annoys me, especially when there aren’t any clean tables to sit at.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 07/12/2017 07:01

Yes we tidy, as do the dc. I'm lucky in that my dc don't scatter or throw their food but inevitably something will be dropped when they're toddlers so we always check under the table/ by the highchair & pick up as necessary too. Whether in Mds or any other restaurant. We've both worked in the f&b industry though.

wonkylegs · 07/12/2017 07:02

I tidy up and pick up food that my toddler has thrown on the floor. I am very vocal about people who throw litter on the floor too.
We have a path that runs through the field adjacent to our garden, the number of people who think it's acceptable to throw rubbish through into our garden is mind boggling. Mind you I was gardening next to the hedge one day crouched down weeding the flower bed, when a lady and her friend were walking past and decided they liked the look of one of the small trees in our hedge and tried to take it with her , yep literally pulling it out of the ground😮, I popped up and said um what do you think you are doing? She replied oh I thought it was rather sweet. FFS what is wrong with some people!

tissuesosoft · 07/12/2017 07:03

We tidy- bits off the floor (DD under 2) and table into a nappy sack, wipe down the high chair etc

Ifailed · 07/12/2017 07:14

McDonald’s isn’t a restaurant. McDonald's say they are.

drivingmisspotty · 07/12/2017 08:02

Yes McDonald's self-identifies as a restaurant. All of us who clear up after ourselves are mis-naming it and causing great offence.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 09/12/2017 12:26

McD can proclaim itself a restaurant if it wants,indeed it does.but its patently not
Fast food I’ll clear my table,the disposal bins are there for that purpose
Restaurants I go to don’t have huge recycle bin adjacent to table in expectation I’ll clear up