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What is on top of your kitchen units?

149 replies

user3274826 · 18/05/2020 18:41

Probably the most boring post I've ever started...

But we've always been a very cluttered house. I've been gradually decluttering for the past year which has helped a lot, but whenever I clear a surface, things get dumped on top (DP is the culprit, although in general I am messier) which drives me INSANE. I've been adding lots and lots of plants around the house to reclaim surfaces to try and stop this and it's helping, I've reclaimed several bookshelves, windowsills etc But the plant solution isn't perfect as they are expensive and I keep killing them so I can't do it everywhere.

My latest decluttering task was the kitchen units. I can't reach on top without climbing up, so I can't put useful kitchen things on there. In most Rightmove photos, they are lovely and bare, do people really manage this or have they been cleared in preparation? It is a large amount of useful space so I don't want to waste it and if it's empty, DH will keep filling it up with crap. I think I could put big curver baskets up there and use the space, but not sure what to put in there and don't need several basket versions of the 'random shit drawer'.

What about on top of bedroom wardrobes?

This stuff doesn't come naturally to me, I try so hard to give things a place and they all get mixed up.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 18/05/2020 18:45

Dust

Grin
Makegoodchoices · 18/05/2020 18:47

So much dust. And a couple of empty biscuit tins.

ItStartedWithAKiss241 · 18/05/2020 18:49

Nothing! It looks so messy of stuff it up there! X

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GuyFawkesDay · 18/05/2020 18:49

Lots of dust. Possibly some tinsel bits from Christmas that fell backwards. An unloved cake tin.

missmouse101 · 18/05/2020 18:50

I CANNOT bear stuff on the top of them, so there is nothing. I don't have any clutter. Unfortunately my husband is prone to putting spare boxes of cereal up there which infuriates me! I'm afraid I don't have any indoor plants either. They are dusty pots of mud!

millymae · 18/05/2020 18:50

Like the previous two posters DUST plus I have an unopened box of breakfast cereal and a couple of cookery books that won’t fit on the shelves

ooooohbetty · 18/05/2020 18:50

Nothing. I can't reach them so no point.

Titsywoo · 18/05/2020 18:51

Nothing but we have tall wall units so there is about 10cm space on top - I wouldn't put stuff up there even if I could though as it would look too cluttered and be a pain to clean.

Namechangervaver · 18/05/2020 18:51

Nothing. I really don't like stuff on top of cupboards. Looks really messy.

Lollypop4 · 18/05/2020 18:51

Top of our kitchen units and wardrobe ha e nothing at all , except dust

lazylockdowner · 18/05/2020 18:52

I just have 2 of those plastic basket storage boxes thing that are in all the shops now! that I throw a screwdriver, tape measure etc in so I have a few to hand and haven't got to go to the tool box in the shed

Wotrewelookinat · 18/05/2020 18:52

Dust. And probably some dead spiders...

Amicompletelyinsane · 18/05/2020 18:52

Once a some Easter eggs may hide there. Other than that nothing. I have an averagely messy house but hate things on top of kitchen cupboards

BiteyShark · 18/05/2020 18:53

Dust Grin

normalpeeps · 18/05/2020 18:53

Nothing.

Why put something there if it's not easily accessible?

If the answer is that it's stuff you don't need/use regularly, then I would question if you really need it all?

The average kitchen should have adequate cupboard space for all your utensils and food.

Enjoy the decluttering process.

AgeLikeWine · 18/05/2020 18:53

God knows. That’s one job I still have got round to during lockdown....

ClaraLane · 18/05/2020 18:55

Dust
Squash that doesn’t fit in the cupboard
Chocolate hidden from me and the toddler
Tortilla chips hidden from the toddler

The top of the fridge is worse though:
Dry and wet cat food
Cat food timer
Multipack of crisps
Spare cat bowls
A couple of random plastic tubs
Cat treats
Possibly some more chocolate or some cake
Not sure what else because I can’t get on a chair to check (too pregnant!)

MiniTheMinx · 18/05/2020 18:56

We don't have fitted wall units. We don't have a fitted kitchen....problem solved! but when I did it was dust.

On top of the wardrobe I've got a couple of hat boxes, and more dust.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 18/05/2020 18:56

Nothing. Even my 6'4" husband can't reach up to them.

ginsparkles · 18/05/2020 18:56

Nothing. I have no wall units at all and cupboards are all built in.

Scrowy · 18/05/2020 19:00

The kitchen is only 6ft 3 to the ceiling so nothing. There is no gap between the wall cabinets and the ceiling, I've never realised until this thread that it's possibly quite unusual!

QforCucumber · 18/05/2020 19:01

Nothing at all up there in the kitchen
Wardrobes one has a curver basket of handbags/holdalls on top. DS has 2 hand luggage cases on top of his.

Fuckinellitsme · 18/05/2020 19:05

A small dinosaur which belonged to DH when he was a child. If you fill it with water and squeeze it, it spits at you. It's lived on top of our cupboard since we moved in 17 years ago and is now The Spirit Of The Kitchen. At Christmas he wears a tiny glittery hat DD made for him when she was 6 (she's 23 now).

forgetthehousework · 18/05/2020 19:05

The ceiling, because the kitchen is tiny so the cupboards go up to the top and I use a steps when I want something off the top shelf - not very often as I keep things like the posh glasses and china up there, that I don't need very often but don't want to get rid of.
Same with the wardrobe!

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 18/05/2020 19:11

packing paper Grin

Years ago I had a cleaner and when he stepped on a ladder to inspect the tops of my kitchen units he asked: why haven't you put paper here?
My lightbulb moment!