Snot vs Sleep

This morning I had some sleep in the corner of my eye. My husband pointed it out to me and tried to remove it without much success. I removed it and wiped it on his shirt. He nearly had a heart attack.
"But it's only sleep!" I said.
"Gross! Sies!" He said "Sleep is like snot!"
Surely not people. Sleep is elegant and cute - something you can wipe away in your partner's eye without being grossed out. Snot on the other hand IS gross and something you remove with a tissue - and then only from your own nose (unless it's your child or your partner is immobile).
Or do I have it all wrong?!