Don't want DH sitting on kitchen island/worktops - AIBU?

[BearBirdBaboon]

Do the adults who live in your house sit ON the kitchen island or worktops?

YABU - it's OK for them to sit on the kitchen island/worktops
YANBU - they should sit somewhere else

[warmeduppizza]

Somehow I only sit on the kitchen counter when I’m anxious or very cross. When DH sees me sitting there, he knows something is up.

[RustyShackleford3]

If you are so paranoid about germs then I'm sure you wipe the countertop before you start cooking anyway? Sounds like you're making a big issue about nothing

[NoraLuka]

I've never seen an adult do this, can't imagine going to someone's house and sitting on a worktop or table, seems kind of bleurgh! I wouldn't ever do it at home either because the only unit without a cupboard over it is a bit wobbly and would prob collapse.

[CrystalCoco]

I'd like to see my DH try to get up there, he's not exactly nimble!

I do it on occasion, I used to do it a lot more often when I was younger (as in still an adult, just a younger adult) I think it gets less appealing the older / heavier / less upper body strength I have...

[FreezyFreezy]

@RainingRubies

🤣🤣🤣 I thought this was a deliberate joke before your update.

There should be an edit button!

[RainingRubies]

@FreezyFreezy

We don't sit on our worktops because they're too narrow, too high and have cupboards above them. I occasionally shit on the table though.

🤣🤣🤣 I thought this was a deliberate joke before your update.

[Choconut]

Our work surface is ruined from people being on it, where it joins with the sink it's all pushed in. So no I wouldn't want anyone sitting on it. I don't know why you would really.

[antipodeansun]

@lemoncurdling

Why do people keep mentioning New Zealand?!

In Maori culture, sitting on the table or anywhere where you put food is considered really rude. We teach all the children not to do it - it's a bit like spitting, if you want, acceptable in some cultures, in others not at all. So, in NZ you will not see it, not among the people who went to school here for sure.

[lemoncurdling]

Why do people keep mentioning New Zealand?!

[plinkypots]

Tbf putting your phone down on the worktop is far more gross from a bacteria perspective! As is your handbag. So nope I can't get worked up over it. Also we have a cat so wipe down any food prep area before anyway.

[NImumconfused]

Definitely not good from a weight point of view. Our kitchen fitter put extra supports under our kitchen cabinets for a quartz worktop, apparently the standard legs can buckle under the weight, so I wouldn't think adding 12 stone or more of bloke on top would be at all wise!

[10HailMarys]

@sheepdogdelight Agreed. I have never seen so much ill-informed hygiene paranoia anywhere as I do on Mumsnet. There was someone on here once who wouldn't let her children sit on their own beds unless they changed into clean pyjamas first 'because their clothes have germs on them'. Yet presumably they'd been wearing those germ-ridden clothes all day without coming to any harm as a result, and therefore any germ-to-duvet cover transfer is unlikely to be problematic.

[10HailMarys]

Wouldn't bother me. The worktops get wiped down constantly anyway and unless you have a weird habit of licking them or are incapable of using a chopping board, I think it's unlikely that you're going to catch the lurgy from someone's trousers coming into contact with your worktop.

Same with the handbag on the table thing. Unless you are a stranger to plates and simply eat your Sunday roast direct from the table, it's not a problem. The germs aren't going to leap off the table into your Yorkshire pudding.

[antipodeansun]

You are clearly not from New Zealand..

[GoingThatWay]

@FreezyFreezy

We don't sit on our worktops because they're too narrow, too high and have cupboards above them. I occasionally shit on the table though.

Shitting on the kitchen table is taking it a step too far 🤣

[CFLandlordStory]

Yes, dp and i both do.

[xogossipgirlxo]

I couldn't care less. One thing I avoid is to micromanage my husband. My mum used to do it and we all hated it.

[BearBirdBaboon]

@LivingMyBestLie
Thank you for highlighting possibility of damage to me. Have now done a little bit of research into that and will definitely be telling DH not to put his 14 stone backside on the quartz tops!

[BearBirdBaboon]

@AlwaysLatte
We have a sofa, two bar stools and six dining chairs DH could plonk his arse on in our kitchen/diner...

[BearBirdBaboon]

@SpringIntoChaos
No, not naked arse, thankfully!

[sheepdogdelight]

I do worry that Covid has made some people rather - overobssessed about hygiene.

Weren't there quite a lot of people who had boxes by their front door and anyone coming in, had to entirely strip off, put their clothes in the box and then go and shower before putting on fresh clothes? Wonder how many are still enforcing that? I suspect quite a few people on this thread would like to.

[00100001]

@MrAgonyAunt

There is a lack of serious education around hygiene.
It is a fact that even with what appears to be clean clothing they have germs and the longer they are work EG more than a few minutes people do swaet around the bottom etc and sit on ofther peoples cahirs , cars public transport.

I hated poeple sitting in my office chair as some that looked clean often went to clients homes and sat on disgusting soafs etc I just stood up.

So no it is not right to sit on work tops as they are worktops and not seats for that reason.

My wife rightly so does not even alow bags, mobiles on the w/tops

So... Presumably you wash your shopping before putting it away.

And also post? Never touches a side? Do you wash your hands after handling everything?



How often are you washing your computer keyboard and phone screen? And your car keys, and your car, inside and out. And your office?

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

I sometimes sit on my kitchen counter, our house is quite small so if I want to take a phone call away from the rest of the family and keep an eye on the dinner cooking it's that or the floor!!

I'm not that fussed about germs, none of us are dead yet from my occasional sitting on a kitchen counter 🤷‍♀️

[CosyRosiePosy]

@MrAgonyAunt

There is a lack of serious education around hygiene.
It is a fact that even with what appears to be clean clothing they have germs and the longer they are work EG more than a few minutes people do swaet around the bottom etc and sit on ofther peoples cahirs , cars public transport.

I hated poeple sitting in my office chair as some that looked clean often went to clients homes and sat on disgusting soafs etc I just stood up.

So no it is not right to sit on work tops as they are worktops and not seats for that reason.

My wife rightly so does not even alow bags, mobiles on the w/tops

You don’t let people put phones on your worktop? What?!

[mountainsunsets]

@Hoolihan

I keep a handy spray bottle of Dettol in the porch - guests are required to give themselves an all over soaking before they are allowed over the threshold.

Personally I've installed a de-contamination shower at the front door and also require people to burn their outside clothes before they change into a hazmat suit. You can never be too careful.