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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Muddy Toothbrush

16 replies

Misscc89 · 01/04/2023 12:09

I’m pretty sure I’m not the one being unreasonable here but my husband is acting like I’m being a nutter.

So this morning I leave my husband and 4y ds playing in the garden. When I go outside my son has his toothbrush and is digging in the wet mud with it. I’m annoyed by this and tell him it needs to go in the bin when he’s finished playing and we will get a new one later. Dh looks at me like I’m crazy and tells me it’s fine to use for tooth brushing if it goes in the dishwasher. I disagree and find the idea absolutely disgusting but dh is acting like I’ve gone mad.

please give me a sanity check

OP posts:
EgyptAdvice · 01/04/2023 12:13

Probably not what I would do but I would probably just have laughed about it because it's just a difference of opinion. If you want to talk about the science of it, our mouths are far more germ ridden and 'dirty' than mud and if you put a clean toothbrush in some mud then tested it for bacteria, then did the same but for our mouths, the latter would be far 'dirtier'.

anxiouslemons · 01/04/2023 12:25

I'm on your side OP.
If that mud had any traces of animal shite in it, it's not good news is it. Even if a dishwasher would get it clean then all that crap flying round your dishes and living in the dishwasher filter for god knows how long. Just no no no.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 01/04/2023 12:26

Toothbrushes are about 50p - I'd just bin it and buy a new one!

Oysterbabe · 01/04/2023 12:27

I wouldn't use a toothbrush that had been used in the mud and wouldn't ask my child too.

Blossomtoes · 01/04/2023 12:38

I’d bin it personally but I can see the logic of sterilising it in the dishwasher and reusing it. Maybe you could compromise by putting it in the dishwasher and repurposing it - toothbrushes are brilliant for cleaning grout.

Kanaloa · 01/04/2023 12:39

Absolutely insane. For the price of a toothbrush. Maybe clean the toilet and the bottom of everyone’s welly boots with his toothbrush then tell him to stick it through the dishwasher and it’ll be fine.

Skyrim40 · 01/04/2023 13:17

I'd have a conniption. I think they'd probably hear me shouting from Space.

CrystalCoco · 01/04/2023 13:20

DH is in the wrong, toothbrush should never have been allowed outside the bathroom. This can now be DC's garden-digging-toothbrush and you buy him a new one that doesn't get removed from the bathroom.
Men, honestly 🙄

anxiouslemons · 01/04/2023 13:23

Blossomtoes · 01/04/2023 12:38

I’d bin it personally but I can see the logic of sterilising it in the dishwasher and reusing it. Maybe you could compromise by putting it in the dishwasher and repurposing it - toothbrushes are brilliant for cleaning grout.

I read somewhere (many moons ago) that Uk dishwashers don't get hot enough to sterilise

BitOutOfPractice · 01/04/2023 13:25

Ugh. No. I’m no clean freak but that’s a no thank you from me!

put it through the dishwasher then use it for cleaning.

thegrain · 01/04/2023 13:47

If your DH can look you in the eye and say he'd do the same with his toothbrush then maybe

Comedycook · 01/04/2023 13:49

Disgusting.

Original poster
Misscc89 · 01/04/2023 15:36

anxiouslemons · 01/04/2023 12:25

I'm on your side OP.
If that mud had any traces of animal shite in it, it's not good news is it. Even if a dishwasher would get it clean then all that crap flying round your dishes and living in the dishwasher filter for god knows how long. Just no no no.

Exactly this. We do have a dog and live in a rural area with a lot of wildlife. I’d personally rather just give him a fresh toothbrush because the thought of it going in his mouth makes me gag

OP posts:
Original poster
Misscc89 · 01/04/2023 15:38

JaneJeffer · 01/04/2023 13:41

I completely agree with this and he gets lots of muddy play, but I just can’t quite get comfortable with him brushing his teeth with it ha ha

OP posts:
Original poster
Misscc89 · 01/04/2023 15:39

Blossomtoes · 01/04/2023 12:38

I’d bin it personally but I can see the logic of sterilising it in the dishwasher and reusing it. Maybe you could compromise by putting it in the dishwasher and repurposing it - toothbrushes are brilliant for cleaning grout.

I do usually repurpose our old ones for cleaning, they are brilliant

OP posts:
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