My flatmate does it and its always full of breadcrumbs or marmite or something equaly disturbing. If he didn't want that much why take that much? Or just use the tiny bit of excess? He says its cos his parents were brought up in the 'crape on, scrape off' generation (ie - mid war rationing) so that's how he was brought up, but its really irritating. How do i stop him?
2006-11-27 02:21:00 · 32 answers · asked by england til i die 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
sorry - "scrape on, scrape off"
2006-11-27 02:21:44 · update #1
A lot of people answering who clearly have never suffered this horendous experience. If you haven't suffered you'll never know...
2006-11-27 04:00:26 · update #2
Seriously, I've had this problem. I've tried everything, and the one thing I can suggest that will cause the least amount of headache, heartache and one reported case of stitches is you purchasing your own butter. Label it. Explain to your flatmate that you adore him, but his unsanitary butter habits make you want to stab him in the eye with a large carrot. Laugh about it later. Allow him his weird butter scraping habits, and you enjoy your smooth, creamy, crumb-free, buttery goodness.
2006-11-27 02:30:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think your flatmate has a horrendous habit which he wrongly blamed his parents for. I don't think his parents would have taken more butter than necessary if they were bought up during the food rationing years. I think if you find it too disgusting, you have to be frank with him (you could tell him in a good humoured way) and let him know that it was upsetting you. Suggest that you are not sharing butter with him anymore. A small tub of spread or an extra block of butter won't take up much room in the fridge but it will avoid a lot of conflicts between the two of you.
2006-11-27 06:27:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Always use a separate knife for the butter and get him into the habit of taking a little butter with it and scraping that onto his plate.
He then puts the clean knife back in the butter dish.
He uses his own knife to spread the butter.
If he needs more he goes through the process again.
Use long-handled teaspoons (available from Ikea - the Dragon set) for the jams/marmites etc.
It's called manners. There's nothing wrong with that. Sounds like it would be a compromise for the both of you.
It works with our grungy teenagers - we have a very clean butter dish!
2006-11-27 02:26:11 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
this annoys the hell out of me too (glad I am not the only person).
My husband did it without realising he did it, I told him it was gross and probably full of growing bacteria. He now no longer does it!
Make a few "comments" whenever he is around and you find it, he may not realise it is a bad habit (he may think everyone does it). If he continues. Make sure he is around when you get a teaspoon, scrape out the "scrape off" and put it in the bin (don't need to make a comment if you don't like confrontation).
OR, if you don't want ANY confrontation, always use his "scrape off" to make a slice of toast for him. He can keep his bacteria!
Good Luck
2006-11-27 02:39:25 · answer #4 · answered by missluly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you? Are you a germaphobe? Personally I do not fret over such things but since you asked for a resolution to your problem I will attempt to find you an answer and not simply state that I find your complaint bogus and unwarranted. You can buy your own butter and label it MY BUTTER - DON'T TOUCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMAL. If he touches your butter after that you cave his head in with a lump of pig iron. Personally I would be grateful that he scrapes the butter back in. It saves you money.
2006-11-27 02:41:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If adults still behave like this they are best ostracised to live their disgusting lives with like minded Neanderthals. Many years ago I had an acquaintance from the North who used to heat his knife in a cup of tea to ease extraction of butter. I suggested that next time he travelled South, he leave his dirty habits in Manchester. I have not seen him since.
2006-11-27 02:37:39 · answer #6 · answered by Clive 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really hate that, my nephew does that when hes made a jam sandwich, he either leaves the knife with jam and butter on top of an opened tub of butter or worse he leaves the knife in the jam jar, no matter how many times you ask him not to do that, he still does it, its gross.
2006-11-27 03:24:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG I hate that. It's gross. My kids do it and I'm trying so hard to teach them to only take a bit, if you need a bit more then you can get it after. And if you have to much, oh well get rid of it, Yuck, not in the tub. Who wants bread crumbs on their mashed potatoes?
2006-11-27 02:26:11 · answer #8 · answered by gnine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my mum did it and even as child I hated it so he cant use the parents did it excuse. If he has too much throw it away, get some tissue or kitchen roll and clean it off, or run it under hot water and melt it away down the sink. Id hate living with someone who did it.
2006-11-27 06:07:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a stick of butter on a butter dish, that way it's harder to put the excess back, and even if he does, it's easier to remove yourself.
2006-11-27 02:27:33 · answer #10 · answered by GLSigma3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋