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?

I’m with you. I overthink things but to me, why are you wearing stuff that’s touched the ground of a supermarket in your home!? Let alone the counter top!

I was once grossed out at my friends DCs that skidded on the supermarket floor then went home, didn’t get changed and got under a throw on their fabric sofa. 🤢

Err - I can’t think of a single time I would accept anyone putting their feet on my kitchen worktop! Not overreacting!

If someone combing their hair makes you gag, I think that's very much a you problem tbh. Gagging seems to be a strangely common thing on MN.

Feels great to have a good stretch

That is rotten, I see it is a joint kitchen, if it was her own kitchen the man I guess it’s down to her, but you would think she would want to immediately clean it or at the very least if she was making food for other people?

when you have your own kitchen I would keep an eye on her, she seems to enjoy disrupting people.

I can see why you are selling!

Presumably she isn't going to prepare food near the sink?
I'more interested in how flexible your mother must be. How old is she?

Goodness! You sound extremely anxious.
You do know that it is healthy to have some contact with bacteria? Living in a completely bacteria free house is much more likely to lead to illness and make you more prone to pick up infections

This thread has inspired me to keep stretching my legs on my kitchen counters every day. After all, I’m the poor sap who cleans them. I was thrilled yesterday to discover that I, pretty ancient and no-ex-ballerina, could easily and effortlessly lift each leg onto my kitchen worktop. And without toppling over. This will be my new anti-dementia exercise. Thanks for an hilarious thread; and the exercise inspiration.

I feel like you've just had enough of each other. It also sounds like quite an extroverted/show off type thing to do, it would annoy me but I don't really think it's a big issue, more a mild annoyance! It's not really that unhygienic, to be honest, hands touching everything are more likely to carry bad bacteria than clean feet (I'd imagine). People seem to get very hung up on hygiene in kitchens, but I honestly think when they test stuff the biggest culprits are kitchen cloths that don't get washing machined often enough and things that hands have touched....

Is this real?? I'm peeing myself cos I'm my head I'm seeing that John Claude Van Damme photo 😂😂😂

I may try that next week.

😂😂😂 first thing I thought of as well lol 😂😂😂 in fact I also posted the photo before I saw yours

Great minds 😂

Odd for sure! It reminds me of that advert where the woman is showing off her flexibility.

I can’t get over the vision of your mum standing at the sink with her leg spread all the way up to put her foot on the counter. No wonder she’s got a bad back if she stands like that. 🤣 JFC!

You’re not being unreasonable. People sweat through their feet, especially in rubber shoes. It’s gross to put your feet up on the counter and not wipe it down.

But seriously…. What’s she trying to prove by standing like that!? 😂

OP said her mum does ballet. Anyone who does ballet could do that and they would do it because they can and it feels good.

Neither of you are wrong.

Me and my teenage son have very different ideas of hygiene, me being the more relaxed.

However the way I see it, I accommodate his ways when he's around as I know the idea of certain germs causes him anxiety so I see his need is greater than my need to be more relaxed (which I am when he's not around).

I think your mum is being quite childish in her reaction tbh and the sooner you both get your own space the better.

I’m fully aware of HOW she can do it. I’m hypermobile and did loads of gymnastics, but I’ve never once stood like that to do the dishes 🤣 or anything else, tbh. There’s a time and a place to stretch and be flexible and it’s not when you’re doing the dishes, putting your dirty bare feet up on the sides. 🙈😂

I’m sitting here imagining some loose trousers with dirt stains around the bottom hanging on my worktop and I’m cringing, she might’ve had a bath earlier but sliders are terrible for getting sweaty feet, in plus has she been walking around barefoot anywhere as no matter how clean you are carpets still leave stuff on your feet I certainly wouldn’t like it

Ha
Totally agree .

how the hell does he get back up from that position !

I went house sitting with a friend last year and she was filing her nails over the kitchen counter. I thought that was unacceptable and had to pull her up over it.

😂😂😂😂

Levitates?? 😂😂😂

Mid sixties I do it every time I wait for the kettle to boil. Mum nineties does the same. We do wipe the surfaces but why waste the opportunity to stretch. Tbh my mil did it too, I thought everyone did😂