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Original poster

Is everyone's kitchen as hectic as mine? (Photo)

563 replies

harlacem0507 · 13/02/2025 13:38

A little bit outing but I wanted to know if people can relate to this hectic kitchen of mine! It gets cleaned and tidied every day but most things I can't seem to store anywhere as have very little storage in my house, but honestly, does this kitchen seem 'normal' or very unorganized, messy, chaotic etc? Because I'm not sure if I'm being overly critical to myself for having a kitchen like this or I do in fact need to seriously organise it better! (The white blob is my son!) For context I have a husband and 3 children aged 13, 7 and 15 months and work part time.

Is everyone's kitchen as hectic as mine? (Photo)
OP posts:
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11
Violinist64 · 13/02/2025 15:58

DollopOfFun · 13/02/2025 13:53

That looks like an 'Identify the Potential Hazards' picture quiz from one of my employers Health & Safety refresher courses 😀

Agreed. The bike should be the first thing to go - bicycles should never be in a house in the first place. The child's pushchair should not be there, either, it is dangerous. Toys do not belong in a kitchen full stop. Your kitchen is big enough for a table, which is more than mine was when my children were growing up. Do you have a dishwasher? One good tip is to empty it as soon as the cycle has finished and refill it as you go along. Dirty cups and plates are not a welcoming look. I think that it would be a good idea to spend a morning reorganising your cupboards. You will almost certainly find out of date items that need to be thrown out and then you can rearrange things so that the cupboards work more efficiently for you. Having said that, we all have different thresholds for mess and if you are comfortable with it, there is no problem. However, the very fact that you are asking about it shows that you feel that something needs to change.

blackheartsgirl · 13/02/2025 15:59

My kitchen looked like this a lot when my dc were little, it did get tidied up, washing up done at the end of the day but was still cluttered.

<shrug> I’ve seen far worse states than that, really dirty kitchens and that’s not dirty.

now my kids are older, some have moved out my kitchen is always clean and tidy because I have the time and mental capacity to do it

Northumberlandgirl · 13/02/2025 15:59

Storage doesn’t have to be cupboards. Shelves above the table would get rid of some of that stuff, maybe a hook for the helmet. Move the laundry rack to a bedroom or landing. As for random cans and bottles, put them away/ in the bin as you go.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Home improvement
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/02/2025 15:59

Starlight1984 · 13/02/2025 15:25

Is everyone's kitchen as hectic as mine?

In a word, no. I couldn't live like this.

I get the clutter (to some degree) but what's with the empty wrappers and bottles on the kitchen counter?!

I often have empty wrappers and bottles until they get taken out to the recycling bin.

YesHonestly · 13/02/2025 16:00

No I didn’t think that’s a “normal” kitchen.

I’m sorry OP but that’s really messy and it needs sorting. I couldn’t stand living in that. Can you get everyone to dig in?

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 16:00

Northumberlandgirl · 13/02/2025 15:59

Storage doesn’t have to be cupboards. Shelves above the table would get rid of some of that stuff, maybe a hook for the helmet. Move the laundry rack to a bedroom or landing. As for random cans and bottles, put them away/ in the bin as you go.

There actually are shelves above the table already!

u3ername · 13/02/2025 16:01

Here for the after photo x

Chalatte · 13/02/2025 16:02

My kitchen is smaller but it is full. But it is small so less storage, and I cook 3x a day. If you were in the middle of feeding your kids I'd understand, but it looks like you may be able to stow away a lot of the stuff.

I agree there shouldn't be a bike and helmet in the kitchen. Could you make an effort /get your kids to keep their stuff off of the table in the back? Could you get rid of the cans and bottles, and stack your cutting board vertically against the back of the counter perhaps?

There's also a pair of glasses on the counter!

I think it's just untidy but with potential to tidy away in a few minutes, so it depends at what time you took the picture (is this normal, or just after cooking/feeding the family, etc?)

876543A · 13/02/2025 16:02

I wouldn't dry clothes in the kitchen - they'll just end up smelling of onions.

ImAGummyBear · 13/02/2025 16:03

harlacem0507 · 13/02/2025 15:47

The bike is my 7 year olds not the 15 year old but yes it's the idea of opening the shed up and squeezing it in there getting it out twice a day that makes me think oh sod it.

The airer actually drives me insane it's sooo big and awkward I can't even get to the back door as it's plugged in and has a very short lead so only place I can put it!

The Cheerios can't fit in the cupboard would you believe I think we just have/own too much stuff? It's little things like that too make it look messy I know.

OH is helping but with one arm he's a bit rubbish compared to what he used to do.

Curious, what's broken window theory?

As other OPs have said a quick tidy should sort it. Seems like you have a lot on your plate at the moment.

Completely sympathise with the airer issue… I hated winter and all the clothes on the airer or over chairs and sheets over doors 😣

We recently bought a washer drier after our 10year old machine died. It has been a revelation! It dries clothes and you can choose the dryness level up to cupboard dry, iron dry etc.

It has been bliss… taking clothes out and folding them into the cupboards. Or if we half dry then a few hours airing and they’re done. We’re still experimenting but I so love the fact that I can wash kids clothes and they’re gone straight into their wardrobes…the amount of stress it’s removed from my life is substantial.

Anonforthis58 · 13/02/2025 16:09

Immediately, literally 10 minutes to make it better - put all rubbish in the bin. Put all packets, butter, bottles etc back in cupboards/fridge. Either decant cereal into a container, or even just take the inner bag, roll it up and it in the cupboard. Clear the sink and wash dishes. Take all clean washing upstairs.

Going forward, everyone needs to put rubbish straight into the bin, items back in cupboards once they’ve used them. Clean washing goes straight upstairs as soon as it’s dried and folded. Even just that will keep it reasonable. Put bike helmet onto the handlebars. Can you get a cover for the bike and keep it at the back door? Toys out of the kitchen.

MagpiePi · 13/02/2025 16:09

876543A · 13/02/2025 16:02

I wouldn't dry clothes in the kitchen - they'll just end up smelling of onions.

Ours never did. And we never had an extractor hood or anything.

incandescentglow · 13/02/2025 16:10

i love seeing pictures like this i dont know why, people on here get proper funny about it though😂

its a little messy but looks like a busy happy home

it also looks pretty clean as well so i dont know why some people are acting like its an 80 year old hoarders gaff

Saggyknickers · 13/02/2025 16:13

My kitchen has never looked like that, even when I had 4 young children at home - but I am a neat person and hate messiness. I'm certainly not a clean freak but everywhere is always generally tidy and a place for everything.

That bike in the kitchen would do my head in.

godmum56 · 13/02/2025 16:13

is it really unreasonable for the 7 YO to put the bike away?

bullrushes · 13/02/2025 16:15

harlacem0507 · 13/02/2025 15:47

The bike is my 7 year olds not the 15 year old but yes it's the idea of opening the shed up and squeezing it in there getting it out twice a day that makes me think oh sod it.

The airer actually drives me insane it's sooo big and awkward I can't even get to the back door as it's plugged in and has a very short lead so only place I can put it!

The Cheerios can't fit in the cupboard would you believe I think we just have/own too much stuff? It's little things like that too make it look messy I know.

OH is helping but with one arm he's a bit rubbish compared to what he used to do.

Curious, what's broken window theory?

Your 7yr old is perfectly old enough to get their bike out and put it away

imtheholidayarmadillo · 13/02/2025 16:15

Some people on this thread really need to get a grip. Houses aren't museums. They're meant to be lived in.

ViciousCurrentBun · 13/02/2025 16:16

I have been in two kitchens that are worse than that. It looks incredibly untidy but not downright dirty like the two I went in, I politely declined coffee in them. One had an overflowing litter tray in it and the other was very dirty and had about four times as much stuff out.

Everything is away in mine, I’m very particular about the kitchen of honest.

Upstartled · 13/02/2025 16:16

imtheholidayarmadillo · 13/02/2025 16:15

Some people on this thread really need to get a grip. Houses aren't museums. They're meant to be lived in.

How are you living in a kitchen that is too messy to cook in and too messy to sit down and enjoy a dinner in?

LoafofSellotape · 13/02/2025 16:19

That's a really messy kitchen, I don't know anyone with a kitchen like that . It's a lovely room by the looks of it too which is a shame. Why can't the bike be outside in the garden? The easiest way to keep clear isn't put away as you use things, don't put down put away.

ZiggyZowie · 13/02/2025 16:19

Could you get a ceiling rack for your laundry? That s what we did and much more space

Agapornis · 13/02/2025 16:21

Move the table and airer. Get an extension lead for the airer. No more breakfast bar but storage instead

Or just put the airer in your DD's room. Surely she's not spending much time there during the day so it's not in her way. It would only slightly inconvenience 1 person, rather than all of you.

Use the shelves for Cheerios storage rather than pictures. Or just bin the box.

Lovely cat btw.

frozendaisy · 13/02/2025 16:22

I would bring the table into the middle of the room. I find tables pushed against walls accumulate clutter.

I would get an extension lead and move airer towards where table currently is and store bike against the wall, effectively use the back wall as a "shed/clothes storage". So your kitchen bit is all together.

Agapornis · 13/02/2025 16:22

Agapornis · 13/02/2025 16:21

Move the table and airer. Get an extension lead for the airer. No more breakfast bar but storage instead

Or just put the airer in your DD's room. Surely she's not spending much time there during the day so it's not in her way. It would only slightly inconvenience 1 person, rather than all of you.

Use the shelves for Cheerios storage rather than pictures. Or just bin the box.

Lovely cat btw.

Sorry meant to add diagram

Is everyone's kitchen as hectic as mine? (Photo)
HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 16:26

Just a recap of a few of OP’s responses:

Dryer cord is too short, can’t move it
No time to put bike in shed.
Shed is too full.
Cereal box doesn’t fit in cupboard
We have no storage but we need the extra seating under our worktop in case some children visit when all the seats at the table are in use.

Stop making excuses OP! There’s a new series of Stacey Solomon in at the moment, give it a watch for some inspiration!