Redditor's Simple Question About Cleaning Table Mess at Restaurants Is Going Viral for All the Right Reasons
"It's not your job," is what some people often say.
Some restaurant habits spark more debate than the bill itself. One Reddit user asked a simple question about whether people clean up the mess they make at a table, and the responses quickly turned into a surprisingly lively discussion.
The post, shared by WellBakedSpud, drew in people with very different views on etiquette, tipping, and what diners should leave behind. Some said cleaning up is just common courtesy, while others argued that servers are paid to handle the mess.
The comments kept rolling in, and a few of them really stood out. Read on.
WellBakedSpud's Question
Reddit / WellBakedSpudThis comment is thoughtful.
Reddit / WellBakedSpudLooks like novato1995 agrees too.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Exactly.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Many people say the same thing.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
They get paid, but no one likes to touch dirty napkins, in my opinion.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Yes, etiquette is hard.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Technically, it's better to clean up a spill you made. But I'm not judging.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
For -astronautical, it's a no-brainer.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
When you put it this way...
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
To stack or not to stack...
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
According to butterflyblueskies, the dining experience doesn't entail cleaning...
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
It's a normal thing to do, says Nubbtugger.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Imagine walking up to J_C_Wizard49's clean table.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Only someone in the restaurant industry understands this.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
LoveaBook thinks people who don't clean are slobs.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Being clean and tidy says a lot about you...
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Yes, because it's embarrassing...
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
It just takes 5 seconds...
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Clean and leave a tip, according to everybodylovesmemore.
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
Here's someone from the restaurant industry...
Reddit / WellBakedSpud
The final comment really sums up the divide.
In Summary...
It's not good practice to judge people just because they don't normally do what you do effortlessly. That said, while I'm not here to judge, I agree with some Redditors above.
Sure, it's not our job to clean at the restaurant, and yes, people are getting paid to clean the mess we make. But let's consider how it would make us feel if we were to clean someone else's mess.
Of course, the dining experience doesn't entail cleaning, and while I'm not asking you to clean, let's all just show little acts of kindness that make others smile!
You don't always have to clean your mess to make someone happy; sometimes just speaking politely or leaving a tip helps. Acts of kindness have a ripple effect, and like karma, they return to us tenfold.
I always clean the mess I make at a table in a restaurant because this is something I do at home too, no difference. I've learned that it helps servers prepare the table for other guests much faster!
But like I said earlier, to each their own! Until next time!
That napkin-and-spill debate gets even messier, like the AITA fight over refusing an unequal restaurant bill split with friends.
