AIBU for wanting handsoap in the kitchen ?

[blueyavocado]

We live with our in laws at the moment and there has never been hand soap in the kitchen. I got some at the weekend as the closest place to wash hands with soap is the bathroom.

Anyway, MIL keeps putting it away from next to the sink. I'm not going to put it out again next to the kitchen sink as it's her house. But I feel like having handsoap when preparing food is important

Could you take the handsoap
out of the cupboard while you are cooking, and then pop it away after you finish?

I didn't think this one could get worse, but there we are.

Have always had handsoap next to washing up liquid and have a hand towel. I wash my hands a lot when cooking - handling meat and after chopping anything strongly flavoured. I have very sensitive skin and have to use soap to wash off anything even slightly acidic (tomatoes will do it). Some washing up liquids are too harsh to use on hands (well on my hands).

Everyone insisting that people who don't have hand soap in the kitchen are grim might make you feel better OP, but doesn't alter the fact that it's your MIL's house. She obviously has a way that works for her - i.e. always washing hands in the cloakroom (and that may well be because as a nurse it's been drummed into her that some sinks are for handwashing and some aren't). YANBU to want to use hand soap when you're in the kitchen of course, but if I were you, and assuming you're living there rent free on a reasonably temporary basis, I'd just keep it in my cupboard and get it out when I was using the kitchen.

I have the hand soap by the kitchen sink and the washing up liquid below as I use soap more than I use washing up liquid as I'm a multiple hand washer when prepping food!

Also separate hand towel to dish towel!

I throw the whole door away and replace with a new one after every trip to the loo. Doesn't everyone?

What's her basic hygiene like?

Ask her if she'd mind terribly leaving it out whilst you are living there.

If she says yes, I'd say she's being an arse.

What’s grim about bar soap? It’s soap! All of our hand soap is bar soap. Including a bar next to kitchen sink.

YANBU. However if she won’t have it out I would just keep washing my hands with washing liquid. Then when she complains it’s going quickly just say oh mil I did put soap out but you kept moving it and as a nurse I am sure you know how important it is to wash hands whilst cooking

Yanbu

I also take soap and a towel with me on some holidays as holiday cottages often don't have them in the kitchens

How do you clean your hands after handling raw chicken?
Just before I handle raw meat I run the hot tap, then I grab the bar soap and wash thoroughly.
I'm certainly no germaphobe but raw chicken gets lots of respect!

I bloody love a bit of hand soap. I spend £££ on it and use it 5 times a day probs at the sink. Esp after handling meat.

People not wanting anything on surfaces freak me out a bit. I’m not a showhome fan, each to their own though I guess.

Why on earth would you want to trek to the bathroom or open cupboards/doors with your bacteria laced hands?! That’s what I don’t get - showhome tidy but salmonella all over the handles 🧐

IME the older generation associate hand soap with the bathroom not the kitchen and either don’t wash hands or use washing up liquid.

None of mine and DH’s family had soap by the sink including parents and siblings. It drives me absolutely batty. MIL started using it when we stayed with her a few years ago and I bought some while we were there as couldn’t cook without it.

Don’t people who use fairy liquid realise there will be germs all over the bottles where you’ve picked it up to squeeze it unless you have a pump bottle which I haven’t seen for fairy liquid.

I always had soap in the kitchen from setting up my own home as it was just logical. You can use cheap diluted shower gel in a recycled pump bottle if worried about the cost.

I must admit to being a bit judgy about it in friend’s kitchen. No hand soap - not that intelligent or hygienic and do not eat there!

When I cook I take everything I’m going to be using to prep out before I begin: food, boards, knives, pans, foil, soap, towel. That way I’ve everything to hand as and when I need it.

I had no idea this was such a contentious approach!

Except this is exactly what I do multiple times a day.
What an odd thing to assert: that we're all lying or delusional about using washing up liquid to wash our hands simply because you don't like it.
God Mumsnet is weird.

Using washing up liquid is odd though - aren't you picking it up with raw chicken hands? At least with hand soap you can pump it out using the side of your hand

I use washing up liquid. Is it cluttering up sink?

@SecondUsername4me but you just clean the bottle with fairy as you wash your hands?

but where is the kitchen towel? is there one? and is it changed regularly? no good using soap if you are going to dry your hands on a teatowel

But then you'd have to touch the handle and the soap with for example chicken hands urgh.

It's fine to dry clean hands on a tea towel/hand towel.

Yeah I haven't either I find it so unusual

Ah, that's a level of organisation I aspire to reach!
Meanwhile the bar soap that sits on the window ledge in a lovely handmade glass dish gets used regularly.