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

I have never ever ever handled raw meat. Use a fork/knife at all times. Not that I prepare it much as I'm vegetarian. But if I am... it doesn't get handled! I don't see why you would need to on a regular basis?

I don't touch it regularly, but it's quite difficult to get a whole chicken out of the packet without touching it in some way. Even if you aim not to touch it, after folding up and disposing of the packaging I'd still want to wash my hands as it's not worth the risk with chicken.

Also if you make things like meatballs or burgers from scratch, obviously you have to handle them.

Plus, if you eat meat, I don't think there'd be as much reluctance to touch it. We don't really eat bacon anymore, but when we do, I'd get it out of the packet with my fingers as it's easier. I wouldn't bother dirtying a fork to do it.

I always have hand soap next to the kitchen sink, I even use a special 'cooks' soap that I get in France which is very good for garlicky oniony smells on hands.

However, I guess you will just have to put up without it if it's MILs kitchen. Does she not cook and wash her hands as she goes along?

I don't know anyone who keeps hand soap in the kitchen. If I'm busy there's always a bowl of hot water and fairy in it to keep washing my hands

My soap is in an attractive dispenser by the tap. Washing Up liquid is under the sink. No clutter. If she’s washing her hands with washing up liquid that’s fine . If she’s not washing her hands with any soap when cooking that’s pretty disgusting.

Running water, people. For the love of god, wash your hands under running water.

It only took getting food poisoning once to realize how lacking many people's food hygiene is.

So I won't eat any potluck meals or shake hands with men.

Same. I was feeling a bit tired and down and this thread along with a cup of tea, perked me right up.

I have a kitchen tidy for washing up liquid and brush/sponges and a Molton Brown holder for their liquid soap and hand cream dispensers. I’m not far off 70 but I think it’s generational. I would always have soap in the kitchen for hygiene.

@AmethystSparkles

my ex in-laws only ever had dirty looking, madly cracked hand soap in the kitchen & bathroom. Grimmer than a grim thing. & don't let's get into hand towels! 🤮

This, but not just this. Keeping it under the sink means you have to touch the handle/top of the door and the bottle in order to use it. What if you have raw meat/chicken etc. on your hands. You've now transferred bacteria, grease, potentially worm eggs if you handle raw pork etc. to the handles, doors, bottle, ready for the next person who uses them, or you just re-contaminate yourself putting the bottle back.

You should always wash your hands in running water.

I lived in a houseshare with someone who used to 'hide' the bathroom handsoap in the bathroom cabinet. That person was a control freak AND a minger.

I think it’s v weird not to have soap in the kitchen. You could ask if you could leave it out as it’s convenient.

Confused as to where I'm supposed to feet my pets if not in the kitchen??

How completely bonkers that people wash their hands with dishwashing detergent, when you could easily have a refillable bottle of gentle Ecover hand soap or something similar just sitting there unobtrusively.

I don’t like lots of clutter on my sides, so I have a hand wash in the cupboard and just get it out before I start preparing food and then put it back once I’m all done.

i would definitely have to have a towel for the kitchen but it would get mixed up with the tea towels, so i use the downstairs loo/basin

It's on my kitchen windowsill in a nice dispenser...definitely essential!

Bleurgh

I'd use the washing up liquid (assuming there's some of that near the sink!)

My FIL thought I was well posh when I put liquid soap rather than bar soap in the kitchen & bathroom for hand washing!

We always had a bar of soap in the kitchen for hand washing when I was a kid.

Absolutely hand soap in the kitchen- can’t think of anything worse than touching chicken then trying to open cupboards or get to a toilet to wash hands. Thats really poor hygiene (I am a nurse too!) and increases contamination! I hope your MiL complies with IPaC measures at work!!

Bars of soap, especially drying out, give me the heebie jeebies 😂

Ingredients in Ecover sensitive hand soap :

AQUA, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, COCO-GLUCOSIDE, LAURYL GLUCOSIDE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, CITRIC ACID, PARFUM, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, CITRONELLOL

Ingredients in Ecover sensitive washing up liquid:

Aqua, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Lauryl glucoside, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Lactic acid, Sodium octyl sulphate, Parfum, Alcohol denat., Limonene, Citric acid.

There's very little difference in ingredients here.

Yes I'm with you i always have hand soap by the kitchen sink.
Not just for washing hands before food prep but also after doing stuff like emptying kitchen bins or coming home after being out etc.

YANBU. Could you keep a bottle of hand wash under the sink?