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

[harlacem0507]

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.

behind every immaculate house is a dull woman
A load of bollocks that’s trotted out by lazy people.

I wouldn’t be able to relax or work if my kitchen looked like that. I can’t tolerate clutter or mess.

But if you’re happy it’s ok isn’t it?

Not sure why you find that funny-a child could be burnt badly if she tripped over that bloody bike carrying a hot pan.
It's pretty basic safety not to have this level of clutter

Honestly? It's not great. In fact it looks dirty.

Worktops not cleared, trip hazards on the floor (hello fluffy duck) and bikes.

Don't you clear up after every meal or get the older teens to do it too? Empty cans, empty bottles, etc etc.

Damp washing- is there nowhere else you can dry clothes?

To add,DH not able to help,my dgd fractured her clavicle, she had a couple of days off school. It was a bad fracture,both halves very displaced. She was told to take it easy,was allowed to go in late come out early so she wasn't jostled. Padded collar and cuff to support the arm on that side.

@harlacem0507 "... and I washed up after dinner today which is not something I normally do I always do it in the morning but as someone said how lovely it would be to come downstairs to a clean kitchen!"
OP, I ALWAYS load the dishwasher, wash the saucepans and clean the kitchen in the evening (just about to do it actually! 😂) as I love coming down to an immaculate kitchen in the morning. Honestly, coming down to last night's dishes and mess would put me in a foul mood for the rest of the day! 😠
I realise you've got a lot on your plate, but you've got to do it sometime so why not in the evening? (I'll often put the TV on in there to listen to something while I'm doing it and it's done in no time). I really think you'll feel much more in control and less demotivated if you can get into this routine 😊

Line dry your clothes unless it's raining, frosty or really foggy.

Even in winter you'd be surprised at how much they can dry outside (like 50% dry) and dry quicker once you bring them in.

And train your DCs to help wash up. They're old enough to muck in and be 'trained'.

@VintedVirginAlmost Our neighbours always do that. It's really handy because we always know when it's going to rain ... about 10mins after they've hung it out! 😂

Omg what a tip. I could not live like that.

Is there anywhere you could hang the bike on an outside wall? Maybe with a little shelf above it to protect it a bit from the rain?

As to the kitchen, if it’s not like that 100% of the time, don’t worry too much, things will get easier as you encourage the kids to put their things away and tidy as you go along.

We are all different, if it works for you does it matter what anyone thinks? It wouldn’t be my choice, I prefer order and clutter free but it’s not my kitchen.

I have 3 dcs 5, 9 and 14. It’s easily fixable put empty drinks in recycling, butter lid on and away. Tidy the table, bike in shed/outside. It’s more mess than anything else

When I was growing up every kitchen had one of those, when the Council 'modernised' my mother's house it was removed, she was furious.

It looks like a normal kitchen to me. I know loads of people who have a kitchen like that, and they don't have three children of such different ages/needs and a demanding tiring job. Go and put your feet up and don't listen to people on here - I don't know anybody IRL who has the same standards as MN!

A nice fresh bunch of flowers on the table when clear would look lovely

I agree. I wouldn’t want to visit either.
My SIL can’t get her house straight despite being a SAHM with kids in senior school. There are piles and piles of paperwork, cards, clutter on every single surface in her kitchen. It’s a real bomb sure - far worse than Ops. I hate going over and when I do I don’t venture into the kitchen. It stresses me out too much.

OP my house used to look like this. I was naturally untidy and then I met and moved in with my partner and we had his teenage DCs with us half the time.

Things got completely out of hand. Doing a big cleanup in the morning but letting things get messy like yours in the meantime. Stuff that didn't fit into cupboards, spaces not being used for their original function etc.

I bought Marie kondo's book and implemented every single strategy. It was mind-blowing to realise that I could learn to be tidy. I then started to love the space and took great pride in it.

Your family should be eating at the table. It should be clear. The clothes need a better system, find one. The living room should be ordered and inviting when you walk in. The kitchen should be clear and clean when you start your day - I love coming down and the first thing I always do is light one of my favourite candles. I never thought I would be this person but I am and you can too.

Did they? I was brought up in a council house we didn't have one? Ours is owned and we dh put it up as I don't like tumble driers.

Yep lived in loved and too busy.

So do I. They go in a basket or bin, depending on what sort of recycling, not left in a heap somewhere.

If it worked, I doubt she would have asked about it

Good for you. I don't have room for a basket or bin so they in a pile on the end of the worktop until one of us takes them out to the recycling bin.

Organised lives.

And it saves a huge amount of time

This is not dissimilar to our kitchen. We also have a kids bike (and a scooter!) as well as a clothes airer in ours, as no room in the hallway since we had another baby and now the buggy lives in the hall there's no space. No space in bedrooms for airer either. Lack of storage means our dining table is also a dumping ground. I hate it! I am pretty good at keeping the worktops clear though, as I can't cook in a mess.