To refuse to let my MIL bring her own kettle when she visits?

[BiscuitHammer]

Bit of a silly one maybe but it’s causing actual rows so here goes.

MIL is coming to stay for the weekend (joy) and she’s announced she’s bringing her own kettle because apparently ours “tastes funny”. I genuinely don’t know what that even means?? It’s just a normal Breville one from Argos. She says she can “taste the plastic” and it “ruins tea” which is ridiculous because we’ve had it over a year and no one else has ever complained.

I told her she’s being dramatic and she got in a strop. DH is now saying I should just let her bring it to keep the peace but I think it’s rude. Like sorry but turning up at someone’s house with your own appliances is a bit much isn’t it? What next, her own toaster? Portable shower?

I get she’s particular about tea (she only drinks loose leaf and swears PG Tips gives her headaches) but still. We’re not a bloody hotel.

AIBU to put my foot down and tell her to use ours or not bother?

(For context she also once brought her own pillow and sugar. Make of that what you will.)

Put your foot down, behave and let her bring her kettle.

She once brought her own pillow?! I take my own pillow every time I sleep away from home. There’s no way I would be able to function the next day if I slept on the wrong thing. I also take a thin airbed to use as a mattress topper.

How exactly is her bringing her kettle affecting you negatively?

I believe her too. We have a SMEG kettle and it’s so much nicer than when we’ve had plastic ones in the past. You can taste the plastic.

@BiscuitHammerhasn’t been back people! It’s one of ‘those’ threads. I’d stop bothering if I were you 👍🏻

I get it's frustrating and rude OP, especially if she's brought other things before.
It's the fear of, what next?
If your kitchen is small, that won't be fun either.

I know someone who took a Sage bean-to-cup machine whenever she stayed away from home.

It’s probably your water. Let her bring her own kettle and she’ll see that it makes no odds to how the tea tastes, and hopefully that will be the end of it.

Re: bringing her own pillows, some people are just weird about pillows. DH and DM both are - practically the only thing they agree on.

Genuinely don’t know why it bothers you - it’s bonkers of course but let her bring it. My mother in law has lime scale in her kettle and tea does taste rank but I’ve not got the nerve to bring our kettle. As an aside I take my ridiculously expensive pillow wherever I go

We used to have a plastic kettle at work. It was rank - we had to get rid of it. Idk why you would want your houseguest to not have a comfortable pillow and a decent cup of tea. It’s so basic.

I would not care if my mum or mil or anyone else did this why would it bother me?

It doesn’t cost you anything to let her bring it. So why object?

Same. I take it wherever I go. It takes up half my little case for a night away but I get a cricked neck with other pillows.
I can imagine taking a metal kettle if I could …😁

Gosh you sound like hard work! Just let her bring her kettle, why on earth is that even bothering you! And she’s right about tasting the plastic. No one else has said anything bc they don’t want to be rude and obvs think your not a great tea maker

My mum would probably do similar. She always brings her own pillow. Chill out and let her be. You sound intense

I don't see the big deal it's not as if she's demanding you buy a new one she's just going to bring her own-which seems perfectly reasonable and doesn't affect you. How can you even dictate what appliances she can bring lol.

I think If you liked her, which it seems clear you don’t, you wouldn’t mind these small strange behaviours. Let them go. Tbh I get the pillow one! I’ve done that before.

Sometimes I can taste the plastic if hot liquid is poured into a plastic container. I don’t know why, and it’s not all the time but it happens. So she may actually be telling the truth. But even if she’s not does it even matter?

Get a boiling tap lol

This thread has made me envious of people who have peaceful enough lives and enough time and energy to care what their kettle is made of.
I now aspire to owning a metal kettle as my first step towards a life of such enlightenment.

And having also realised that kettle rhymes with metal in a fairly compelling way, I am off to create a new thread so as not to derail this one with poetry.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5374426-mumsnet-in-poetry

YABU by owning a plastic kettle instead of a stainless steel one. The plastic taste totally comes through and surely plastic isn't meant to be heated to 100⁰ over and over again!

I don't think she is meaning to offend, she just wants to enjoy her time with you (and her tea) without outright telling you to get a better kettle. Same with the pillow - she wants a good sleep to enjoy her day and doesn't want to put you out by making you buy one that she prefers.

For eg, my MIL put a brand new pack of green tea in the cupboard because she didn't like our green tea. She likes a good green tea, I couldn't care less, so I'm happy to make sure she enjoys her tea.

Silly but leave her to look silly. I’d just say “whatever you want mil”

Do a blind taste test with everyone in the house with both kettles and see if you can all see a difference?! I’d be intrigued!

Let her.

She sounds mad. Let her bring her own kettle. Say nothing. Roll your eyes if you must. Seriously, she does sound like she has mental health issues. Try not to see it as rude - she’s just bonkers. Ignore it- rise above it..

Why are you being a bitch?

”joy” at your MiL coming, why? Why make snarky remarks about your husbands family? That’s not cool.

And if she has sensitive taste, then let her bring her own kettle. A good cup of tea is important for me and if it tasted plasticky I’d hate it too.

Being a good host is about accommodating and welcoming your guests. Not being twattish over a kettle. How does that even impact you?