Woman says new boyfriend was ‘absolutely disgusted’ by her one dishwashing habit. Now he’s laying down the law: ‘a bit yuck’

A recent dinner date took an unexpected turn when a man reportedly refused to eat off his partner’s dishes again due to her cleaning habits. The disagreement reportedly started after the woman hosted a meal for her new boyfriend, “Steve,” and loaded her ceramic dog bowls into the dishwasher alongside their dinner plates, according to her post on Reddit in r/AmItheAsshole.

The sight immediately put off Steve, who was “absolutely disgusted,” according to the poster. He apparently described the action as a health hazard and felt that washing the dog bowls with human dishes was unsanitary. According to Steve, dogs carry different bacteria in their mouths compared to humans.

He reportedly told his partner that “mixing it” could be dangerous for their health. He allegedly issued an ultimatum, saying he will not eat off any of her dishes again unless she agrees to handwash the dog bowls separately. She says his firm stance is that only “human dishes should go in the dishwasher.”

She says she can’t see why a sanitizing cycle wouldn’t be enough for a few dog bowls

The woman says she remains confused by the reaction. She has two dogs and reportedly gives them clean bowls for every meal, collecting the four ceramic dishes in the kitchen sink throughout the day. At the end of the day, she apparently runs them through the dishwasher with her own plates.

She says she uses the high-temperature sanitizing cycle, which she believes is more than enough to kill any bacteria. In her view, the dishwasher is a tool designed to clean items, and the bowls’ material handles the heat well.

Her routine appears to align with guidance from the American Kennel Club, which says dog bowls can go in the same load as human dishes if the dog is healthy and the bowls are washed regularly on a high-heat setting. However, the organization notes that ceramic bowls are not always dishwasher safe.

The post is the latest kitchen clash to play out on Reddit, following a recent frozen meal prep dispute. Users seem to lean toward the woman this time, as many pointed out that a dishwasher combines hot water with detergent to remove germs. “NTA. The dishwasher is intended to clean things. That’s the whole point of it,” one user wrote.

Others felt that Steve may be overreacting to the concept rather than responding to a real hygiene problem. One user argued that ceramic dog bowls likely don’t become dangerous just because a dog ate from them first. “Steve seems way more bothered by the idea than by an actual hygiene issue,” the user added.

Some people acknowledged that the idea might feel strange, even if the actual risk seems low. One cat owner said they do the same with their pets’ bowls and could see why someone might find it “a bit yuck,” though it apparently wouldn’t stop them, as they are “lazy.” The woman says she has followed her routine for a while and has never run into a problem.