Telling guests to clean up after themselves

[Anonymous]

How do you do it? I find it absolutely gross that dirty napkins are being left on placemats and there is no switch going on in their minds that such things need to be taken care of before they leave the table. I want to call out "Hey, could you please throw that in the bin?" but DH would think that's mean (don't know why but he's a doormat). Btw, these are grown-ass adults in their 30s (and actually older than me).

[Anonymous]

So bring the garbage can out and put it where they can see it or walk around and the table and ask them to deposit their trash in there. They might not know where it goes or you might be blocking it while doing other kitchen chores for example.

[Anonymous]

Who are these people to you? I would clear the table for my guests. It's nice if they do it themselves, but I certainly don't expect it when they are guests in my home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So bring the garbage can out and put it where they can see it or walk around and the table and ask them to deposit their trash in there. They might not know where it goes or you might be blocking it while doing other kitchen chores for example.

No, it's an open plan kitchen. They know where the bin is. It's not hidden. And everyone was sitting down so there was no blocking the bin. The dude just walked off with his kid. Arrgh..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are these people to you? I would clear the table for my guests. It's nice if they do it themselves, but I certainly don't expect it when they are guests in my home.

Guests clear their own section of the table. I'm no one's Filipino maid (had one when I was an expat in HK and even then I cleared the table by myself).

Well, this may be a cultural issue then, because I wouldn't expect a guest to do it, and I would not be offended if they left a napkin behind when they left the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are these people to you? I would clear the table for my guests. It's nice if they do it themselves, but I certainly don't expect it when they are guests in my home.

Guests clear their own section of the table. I'm no one's Filipino maid (had one when I was an expat in HK and even then I cleared the table by myself).

Snotty and racist. How lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are these people to you? I would clear the table for my guests. It's nice if they do it themselves, but I certainly don't expect it when they are guests in my home.

Guests clear their own section of the table. I'm no one's Filipino maid (had one when I was an expat in HK and even then I cleared the table by myself).

Snotty and racist. How lovely.

Well I am Asian and my guests are white. I wasn't saying this is due to some colonial hangover. But like I said, people shouldn't leave their dirty napkins lying around. It's basic courtesy.

[Anonymous]

Get some bussing trays and put it on a counter near the sink...Label it as food, plates, silverware, trash etc. Announce to everyone on the table that you have put bussing trays on the counter for people to put their dirty dishes etc there. If you have a space, they will use it. However, people are dumb and they will not seperate even if you have the trays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get some bussing trays and put it on a counter near the sink...Label it as food, plates, silverware, trash etc. Announce to everyone on the table that you have put bussing trays on the counter for people to put their dirty dishes etc there. If you have a space, they will use it. However, people are dumb and they will not seperate even if you have the trays.

Just remind them often OP. They will get the message. Guests who leave their s%^ around are my pet peeve too.

[Anonymous]

Why would you have guests? You sound like an inhospitable host, and a grump!

[Anonymous]

Don't entertain if you don't want to host and all that it entails, including clean up. It's abnormal to expect your guests to bus the table at your dinner party. If it's a very informal gathering with paper plates, I would definitely throw my own away. But it should be more important to you as a host that your guests are having a good time.

[Anonymous]

If this is that upsetting to you, you should stop inviting people over. Some people aren't cut out for hosting duties. That's fine, just own it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is that upsetting to you, you should stop inviting people over. Some people aren't cut out for hosting duties. That's fine, just own it.

OP here. I didn't invite them. DH did. Do I have a DH problem? Probably. But I'm shocked that someone would have just left their crap at the table. They wouldn't do the same at a fast food place. I love to host depending on who the guests is (my friends, no problem). DH's family, on the other hand, are used to being mothered.

[Anonymous]

Paper plates, paper napkins and plastic utensils. But the garbage can next to them.

If they've been to a fast food joint they know the routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't entertain if you don't want to host and all that it entails, including clean up. It's abnormal to expect your guests to bus the table at your dinner party. If it's a very informal gathering with paper plates, I would definitely throw my own away. But it should be more important to you as a host that your guests are having a good time.

Not a dinner party. This is a normal lunch. They are houseguests.