AIBU to think this is unhygienic?

[ohohokeydokey]

My DM was standing in the kitchen near the sink wearing rubber sliders and long wide leg trousers that trail on the ground.

She was getting ready to make some lunch, then suddenly puts her bare foot up on the counter next to the drying rack where the clean dishes are sitting. She used to do ballet as a kid so is flexible enough to just kinda chill there like that which is what she did.

Knowing her I knew she wouldn't wipe down the surface or anything and would just go on and put the dishes away and make lunch. So I said in the gentlest, most polite voice possible asked her if she could not put her foot on the counter.

She rolled her eyes at me and left her foot up there for another several minutes😭 Then said her back hurts. She has a bad back, so that's normal for her to say.

As I was leaving the room she said under her breath but definitely making sure it was loud enough for me to hear "I've just been in the shower you know."

She had a shower about an hour and a half ago, she's wearing trousers that she also wore yesterday to the supermarket, on a walk etc and they trail on the ground.

I replied "Sorry, but it's still unhygienic to put your foot on the counter next to clean dishes."

She huffed and sighed, then took that foot down and put her other foot up on the other side of the counter and started doing the dishes like that.

I know this sounds semi hilarious now that I'm writing it out, but please someone tell me whether or not I'm being unreasonable for asking her to remove her bare foot from the clean kitchen counter?

Am I being unreasonable to think it's unhygienic too? I know she showered this morning, but surely I'm not the only one who thinks this is gross?

This definitely.

All the pp with cats not thinking it's gross but you do realise that non-cat people probably also think cats walking all over counter tops on the kitchen is also gross!

I assume most people do wipe down their counters but I would rather minimise the bacteria on my counter top to start with. I mop my floors but still choose to take my shoes off indoors because the thought of the bacteria being trod through my home makes me feel queasy.

not in the kitchen though. Loads of loose stray hairs flying about. definitely not the place to have somebody else's hairs in your food. What ever was your mil thinking of? Possibly wanted to show off her lovely hair.

As pp said, why would someone do this?

It's probably not so much unhygienic, as unpleasant. Although, the trailing trouser bottoms are probably carrying all sorts of nasties.

Feet are generally not the most attractive things and nobody really wants to see someone's foot stuck up where food is prepared and dishes sit, even if they use a board on top of the worktop.

It's weird and attention seeking behaviour.

It suspect she does it OP, because she knows it annoys you and she can wind you up.

It would annoy me too.

Right, but unless you're eating directly off the table or don't wipe your counters, the bacteria won't cause you to get sick

People shed hair constantly - if the idea of hair around our food makes you gag, maybe you should make everyone wear a hairnet 😂

I have no opinion on the foot but I'm impressed by how flexible she is, especially as she's clearly old enough to have an adult child.

It’s not hygienic no, but after reading that you both own the house and will be parting ways later this year I’d choose my battles, and try my best to ignore this.

Wish I was that bendy.

Misses point of thread.

People have weird levels of expectations for 'hygiene'. Bacteria and viruses are everywhere. Wash your hands, wipe your worktops, handle raw meat properly. Unless you think you host some sort of super bacteria, in which case you have bigger problems.

Weird and unhygienic. She sounds very disrespectful in your home.

No but I still don't want them on my counter tops unnecessarily. Like I still wouldn't worms even if they didn't give me an itchy bum 😀

Although I absolutely agree that cats on worktops are disgusting. And all cats go on the worktop, cooker, table. They probably sit on it and leave little cat bum prints too. Mine certainly did when she got paint on herself.

Bit of a weird comparison.

It's not OP's home. They BOTH own the home.

@ohohokeydokey DM is very flexible!

That's just so gross. I'd rather someone clipped their nails at their desk than brushed their hair.

Why did she randomly put her foot on the counter?

Their home

Do you always wear a hairnet in your kitchen?

Exactly what I said..so impressed!

I do think that’s a bit grim and strange but sounds like she enjoyed the argument and if it were me I’d had just left. She was probably doing it more to annoy you!

i wouldn’t like people putting their feet on counter. I do wipe things before prepping food - but it’s still a bit strange to me

Is it not just the same as if she rested her hand on the counter ?

Good Lord, what on earth do you think hair has got that's so unhygienic compared to nails?

It's exactly the same , the level of hysteria on MN is astounding sometimes.

My mother in law uses a tea towel to wipe her mouth and then to dry dishes and things etc.
she carriers it around on her shoulder too.

To me that is so gross! And a habit I had to break my husband out of too.