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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think this is unhygienic?

204 replies

ohohokeydokey · 01/01/2026 12:58

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?

OP posts:
Usernamenotav · 05/01/2026 11:05

Sounds like you're being petty. Nobody would come to any harm from this in any way shape or form.

I can't believe there are people out here that think brushing your hair is unhygienic. Shall we start only allowing bald people in our kitchens? We lose 100 hairs a day, without brushing.

saraclara · 05/01/2026 21:22

I'm not remotely germ-phobic. But I feel the same about other people's bare feet as most of Mumsnet feels about outdoor shoes worn indoors.

I wouldn't (quite) have gagged at what she did, but I'd have hated it

MagicStarrz · 05/01/2026 21:25

I would say that's clearly unhygienic OP.

The number of people thinking it's fine is a good example of why I don't eat cakes that people bring into the office from home 😂

FreeRangeClassA6LargeEggs · 06/01/2026 09:50

ohohokeydokey · 01/01/2026 13:05

Oh dear, maybe I'm being very anally retentive😂

No your not, it's gross. I'm with you 💯 ❤️

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