Can I respond???
I hate it when there is one towel–however pretty–that is already wet when I use the restroom.
I have three friends who put out a single hand towel for the evening!
People who have 3 full bags of groceries in the 10 or less express lane. X(
Dog fur that accumulates on the floor and in the corners. Not the dogs’ fault, nor is it anything that even DH has done, but I can’t stand it. As soon as I see it, I have to get out my little vacuum.
So many things bother me, I"m the Queen of Pet Peeves and get annoyed very easily. Not a characteristic I’m proud of. Fortunately, as I age, I’m less vocal about these things and can let some things just roll off. I’m not sure how I got like this. I think some of it has to do with my Type A personality and inability to understand why others don’t have the same standards as I do lol.
People who are chronically late, bad tippers, chewing with your mouth open, leaving cabinets and drawers open, wet towels on my furniture, shoes for me to trip on in front of the door, not rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, drama queens, pot stirrers, back stabbers and yes, people who use my decorative towels when there is a box of disposable hand towels right there begging you to use them instead. I have to stop now, its putting me in a bad mood haha.
It had never occurred to me some towels are solely for decoration and not to be used. This is extremely useful information. Thank you.
What about pretty soap?
I apologize in retrospect for not returning them when my kids were little. I just couldn’t figure out the logistics of doing it, and I still can’t. You have to strap the kids in their carseats while you unload the cart because if you left them in the cart they would try to climb out. And you can’t leave them unattended in the car while you return the empty cart. Meanwhile, they’re screaming in terror while you’re unloading the groceries because they can’t see you and they think they’ve been abandoned. Do people really wrestle their hysterical children out of the car and back into the cart so that they can return the cart? And then how do they get the kids back to the car from the cart return place? I was never strong enough to carry two children, and both were so out of control by that point that they would have to be carried.
Anyway, I’m scrupulous about returning the carts now, but it doesn’t make up for it.
In my grocery store, the corral is often just a few parking spots away or on the other side of the aisle. I did not have a problem leaving my child in his car seat so I could walk a few yards and return the cart.
Now some stores may want you to walk the carts back to the actual entrance, where you’d have to cross incoming traffic etc, That’s a different story.
@alh, you’re welcome lol. Not sure about pretty soap because I’ve always used a dispenser. If the pretty soap is all that is available, I’d use them. FWIW, other than holidays I have regular hand towels but I do have sets for July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter that I prefer people do not use so I buy the appropriate holiday disposable hand towels.
It would be interesting to me to know how many are unfamiliar with this idea. I certainly never meant to be rude and annoying.
My mother, grandmothers, and their friends had fancy, white embroidered linen finger towels. When company came, a couple were hung by the sink in the powder room and a stack was placed next to the sink. The accepted custom was to use one hanging and then place it loosely next to the sink so it was clear it was used. When the hanging ones were gone, you went to the stack. These were towels only for company, since they had to carefully laundered and then ironed. Because of this, when a fancy hand towel is hanging by the sink, I have assumed it was supposed to be used before any other drying options available in the powder room. It’s been years since I left one on the side of the sink because it doesn’t seem to me anyone but a few women over 80 still do this.
Now I know better but, just in case, I’m probably just using the tiny container of hand sanitizer in my handbag. Otherwise I’m just going to be worried about giving inadvertent offence.
To be honest, this kind of unsettled me. I have been an annoying guest and had no idea.
“Do I really annoy you because I put out decorative towels? Why?”
Since you asked…I’m not big on form over function. Soap and hand towels should be put out to be used, IMO. Your guests shouldn’t need to guess at your preferences. Items can be found that serve both a decorative and useful function. What are you saving them for?
I think that the decorative towel issue is hilarious. Why in the world would you put out towels and then get upset that someone actually used them? And to have decorative towels set out, and more prosaic towels laid out as well, plus paper towels to boot? This is one of the most absurd things that I’ve ever heard. Really funny though.
^Many people do this. I learned this by googling. It’s probably a norm some places, and maybe where I live. I fear I’m outside a whole lot of norms these days and need to catch up.
I would either use one hand drying option before noticing the others (I might see the decorative towels first) or stress myself out worrying about being a bad guest and using the wrong towels. I don’t know why you’d put out hand towels that you didn’t want anyone to dry their hands with.
I’m wracking my brain now trying to think of other items that are not used for their intended purpose. So far, all I can come up with are those fancy plates that some restaurants have, on top of which they put a normal plate, but then take away before the food is served. I always found that odd too.
This issue somehow reminds me of my grandmother, who had her car seats covered in plastic and doilies on the arms of her couches.
Is it incorrect to use “B’s” instead of “Bs” - grammatically speaking? I just hate how “As, Bs, Cs, Ds, Fs” looks, even if it is correct.
I feel awkward when I don’t return carts. I always return them when shopping alone, but both of my parents (I’m 17) actively discourage me from returning carts when I’m with them.
Some of these responses are new pet peeves. =))
“Is it incorrect to use “B’s” instead of “Bs” - grammatically speaking? I just hate how “As, Bs, Cs, Ds, Fs” looks, even if it is correct.”
Yup. 
Perhaps it is regional about the decorative towels who knows. I do agree about the wet towel, that is why I put the dry hand towelettes in a box right next to the faucet also. Those do get used a lot, so people do know. I don’t have a towel rack right next to the sink. I have a large towel right immediately behind where the person is standing. No one uses this shower, it’s just a guest restroom. Instead of just having a rack with nothing on it, I’ve put decorative towels. So, after a person is finished watching their hands…thankfully a minority, why not use the towelettes, instead of turning around and using what is obviously just a decoration. I guess not so obvious.
“why not use the towelettes”
Those disposable, paper hand towels? Perhaps it is an attempt to be more “green”.