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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are these things strange

90 replies

Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:18

I'm just wanting some other opinions as to whether people find these things appropriate or not.

So my son will often have a quick drink of water out of the tap in the kitchen instead of getting a cup.

He also will sometimes wash his hands in the kitchen sink using washing up liquid then dry them on the tea towel. This may be after being outside or just after eating or whatever.

Are these things disgusting? My husband seems to think so, I'm struggling to see the problem.

OP posts:
Beezknees · 27/03/2024 20:22

Sounds perfectly normal to me.

marbleeffect · 27/03/2024 20:23

I don't see any problem with either, I always wash my hands with fairy liquid then tea towel!

JanglyBeads · 27/03/2024 20:23

Not really but the drinking from the tap could be seen as unhygienic. How old is DS?

Hufflemuff · 27/03/2024 20:24

Its a win that he's washing his hands at all to be honest.

Tap thing is a little odd, but I wouldn't mind as long as he wasn't dripping water all over the place. Saves the washing up!

Your husband sounds very high maintenance.

Original poster
Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:24

He is 11. How could it be unhygienic? I should have said that he will move the washing up bowl if he does have a drink out of the tap.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:25

Hufflemuff · 27/03/2024 20:24

Its a win that he's washing his hands at all to be honest.

Tap thing is a little odd, but I wouldn't mind as long as he wasn't dripping water all over the place. Saves the washing up!

Your husband sounds very high maintenance.

Ha yes sometimes!

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 27/03/2024 20:26

Not good for me. How old is he?

Perhaps he picked up these habits from your husband?

I hope he won't do this if he ever gets a job in a restaurant!

PuttingDownRoots · 27/03/2024 20:26

Can he easily get a glass?
Is there hand soap and hand towel available?

I would find it odd if he couldn't easily do these things.

Original poster
Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:27

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 27/03/2024 20:26

Not good for me. How old is he?

Perhaps he picked up these habits from your husband?

I hope he won't do this if he ever gets a job in a restaurant!

He is 11. Me or my husband don't do either of these things. He doesn't want to work in a restaurant.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:28

PuttingDownRoots · 27/03/2024 20:26

Can he easily get a glass?
Is there hand soap and hand towel available?

I would find it odd if he couldn't easily do these things.

Yes of course he can get a glass. There is soap etc in the bathrooms, this is in the kitchen.

OP posts:
Banrion · 27/03/2024 20:28

Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:24

He is 11. How could it be unhygienic? I should have said that he will move the washing up bowl if he does have a drink out of the tap.

It's unhygienic because of germs on the tap. To be honest I'm with your husband and would find it strange

Ohffsbarbara · 27/03/2024 20:31

Presumably he doesn’t put his mouth around the tap?

Dont see a problem with either - especially the hand washing, what on earth is unhygienic about that?

PuttingDownRoots · 27/03/2024 20:31

@Newuser75 if there's no soap in the kitchen, what do other people use in the kitchen, for example after handling raw meat?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 27/03/2024 20:33

I think you should stop him doing it and explain why it is not pleasant.

Probably best not to let him see Gordon Ramsey in one of his TV programmes as there is a risk he could go really go overboard!

MollsDolls · 27/03/2024 20:33

My eldest does the same. Think it's a boy thing. Possibly laziness tbh

coxesorangepippin · 27/03/2024 20:35

Sounds good actually

Water and handwashing

Original poster
Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:37

@PuttingDownRoots there is hand soap in the kitchen but no separate hand towel. Just tea towels. I didn't know people had actual hand towels in their kitchens!

OP posts:
Chypre · 27/03/2024 20:38

Is he in a sports team? Drinking out of tap in changing room is (was?) quite common.

Original poster
Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:39

Chypre · 27/03/2024 20:38

Is he in a sports team? Drinking out of tap in changing room is (was?) quite common.

No, only at school and they have water fountains there I believe , which actually when I think about it is just the same as drinking out of a tap so how can one be ok but the other not?

OP posts:
SevenSeasOfRhye · 27/03/2024 20:42

As long as he's not sucking the tap, I don't see an issue. Washing up liquid might be a bit drying to the skin in the long term but obviously not bothering him.

KnickerlessParsons · 27/03/2024 20:42

JanglyBeads · 27/03/2024 20:23

Not really but the drinking from the tap could be seen as unhygienic. How old is DS?

In what way can it possibly be unhygienic? 🤔
I do it all the time - saves washing up a glass.

KnickerlessParsons · 27/03/2024 20:43

PuttingDownRoots · 27/03/2024 20:31

@Newuser75 if there's no soap in the kitchen, what do other people use in the kitchen, for example after handling raw meat?

Washing up liquid 😁

Original poster
Newuser75 · 27/03/2024 20:43

@SevenSeasOfRhye pretty sure he isn't sucking the tap Grin

OP posts:
blubberfuzz · 27/03/2024 20:43

If that's all your husband has to worry about with a close to teenage child then he should be grateful!

catmomma67 · 27/03/2024 20:45

he's a boy! no more comments or explainations needed.. atleast he's keeping hydrated and is happy to drink what we used to call 'council pop' (water for those unfamiliar with the term) and hes washing his hands... to a boy of 11 soap is soap...