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.

Mine is 2m x 2m. I have to be tidy else I can’t get in.

Mine gets cluttered easy, first thing I’d suggest, remove the drying washing- it will get ‘cooking smells’ dry it elsewhere upstairs if you can, remove the bike and toys, put all recycling in bin, tidy away and wash any dishes, wipe all sides, remove all clutter from dining table and wipe and then have a cup of tea 🤣. I tidy mine before bed every night even when I’m exhausted makes me feel better

It’s fine. Don’t spend your one wild and precious life tidying the kitchen.

That is a busy kitchen! Things can out of hand easily if things aren't picked up and put away as needed; that would really help if an item of food or anything being used, isn't put away for the time being.

I think it's fine, you have your reasons for having things there, convenience, security for the bike, toys, laundry, all in one place makes things easy.

The only thing picked up on right away is leaving that tea towel on the stove element! Not a good thing to make a habit of doing.

Everything else can be taken care of quickly enough, it is your kitchen OP and apart from the counter top being cluttered, which can be quickly stowed away, it's all good.

Yes spot on I am, and I didn't want to say as I feared I'd get a lot of grief being a nurse with a gross kitchen (seeing as nurses work within sterile/clean environments!) the absolute cracker here is that I detest my patients having cluttered tables and often make them chuck stuff they don't need i.e old newspapers etc but yes the job is exhausting and I just cannot be bothered but I do need a shove up the bum!

Mine is getting there but then again it's tiny, barely enough room for both of us to be there at the same time.

There's a range between this and an immaculate house though. It's not one or the other and most people probably live somewhere in between. OP has said she hates living like this and cares enough to post on here so having this area cleared would be a positive thing. I think people who criticise others for doing their housework are just trying to justify their own home being a tip.

Mine looks like a bomb has gone off at the tip. Yours is fine!

My kitchen goes from tidy to bomb site in seconds... unfortunately not the other way around.
I also get into a lot of trouble for leaving my bike in the kitchen!

Is there a possibility to hang the bike high up on a wall in the corridor/side passage if you have one?

When I lived on my own my kitchen looked like that - I had a busy social life and frankly couldn't be arsed.

Moved in with DH who every evening - even when his 3 kids were living with us - would tidy the kitchen and clean it so it was lovely when we came down in the morning. He's got a thing about clear surfaces - some of it has rubbed off on me. But the main one is tidying up every night. Game changer.

I wouldn’t say this is normal, no. I couldn’t live like this! The work surfaces are one thing, but the toys everywhere would drive me to insanity. I’m not a neat freak, but I hate having things out on the worktops. I appreciate that it can be a struggle when storage is limited though!

What a weird way to insult organized women.

My home is tidy because I love design and cooking and need to feel at peace in my home.

I have a child with complex special needs and I’m a single mom.

I need things organized because I don’t have time to search for stuff.

This doesn’t make me dull, it means I’ve developed habits and routines that are efficient and effective.

It's not the worst I've seen, honestly, but would certainly help if packaging was thrown away immediately rather than left lying around.

But working, young kids, it all can get a bit manic..so don't worry.

Re the bike - could you put a rack up on a wall somewhere?

It looks like a normal, lived in house to me. The counters and table can be cleared up in a few minutes. I also have a child's bike and two clothes airers in my kitchen and it looks like mine is smaller than yours. Not everyone's house looks like a show home and that's ok.

Sorry, but yes, it's messy!
Bike & helmet, toys and all that stuff on the table & chairs would do my head in. I'd have that as basic no clatter zone!
I get the actual work surface if you are busy getting food ready or having a cuppa before clean up.
The wet washing would be a big no because who wants fresh clothes stinking of cooking? (I used to dry mine overnight in the kitchen on one of those heated dryers, maybe an option?)

I think if space is an issue, it's time to de clutter!

I'd get rid of the breakfast bar stools and put storage there instead. People can sit at the table which will be clear with the extra storage

No. That's a pigsty!

I would struggle to feel relaxed with that clutter.

But you do have 3 kids. Go easy on yourself. If you can live with it then it's fine.

Mine's the same if not worse. the clothes horses are in the downstairs loo, the table is in the lounge (galley kitchen) but the overall level of clutter is similar

I could not live like that, sorry. Why even drop the pouch thing on a greasy tray in the first place? And doesn’t the clothes stink of food?
A bike and helmet in the kitchen?

This is way beyond just a bit of a mess. Just tidy as you go, the older children can do it too obviously.

It really isn’t.

After any big mess Party/Christmas/Sunday lunch etc. we often each to a 5 minute clear up (with a timer!)
each taking turns and doing as much as possible and I know it sounds unreal but it turns out sort of fun. The person half way through a task being booted out by the next one in and the 'what did you do?' cross questioning after someone's turn.

Crumbs, I would struggle with that. I don’t like anything on my surfaces - only have a toaster and a breadboard!!

@harlacem0507 I'll ask again, how does your DP contribute to household chores? It sounds like you're taking it all on by yourself, which is really unfair with 3 children and a job.