11 Things That Make Any Kitchen Look Messy and Inhospitable

Even if you’re not a homemaker, you’ll invariably find yourself spending a substantial amount of time in your kitchen. Whether it’s to microwave a ready-to-eat meal or grab a can of beer from the freezer! Since you do spend some time here, it’s nice to have a neat and pretty looking kitchen, isn’t it? More so because, this the place where all your food is at, so it should exude a clean and comfy vibe at all times!

But, that’s not the case always, is it? If you closely inspect your kitchen, you’ll find plenty of things that make it look cluttered and unwelcoming. Here are 11 such things that make your kitchen look inhospitable and messy-

1. One Chopping Board For All

It’s definitely a cost-saver to get just one chopping board and use it for your meats, fruits, and veggies. But it’s not hygienic. Especially, if you use a plastic one! Besides, the smell of meat trapped in the chopping board can transfer to fruits and veggies, giving them an unpleasant aroma. It’s best to use two different chopping boards (wooden, preferably since plastic is harmful), one for your meaty goods and the other for other food items (1).

2. Furniture With Stands

Furniture that has stands not only look awkward in the kitchen but they also accumulate a lot of dust and dirt, making your kitchen look dirty. If there’s a gap between your kitchen cabinets and the floor, make sure to fill the gap with baseboards. This’ll prevent dust from gathering.

3. Textured Floors

You can call it a design element but textured flooring is far from ideal as far as your kitchen is concerned. The bumps on the floor will gather a lot of dust and dirt such as oil and juices of fruits and veggies, which will be impossible to clean! Smooth, tiled floors will make your kitchen look cleaner as they’re easier to maintain.

4. Multipurpose Towels

Studies have proven that kitchen towels are one of the dirtiest items in any household (2). They contain a ton of bacteria that can make you sick. Add to that, the fact that you use the same kitchen towel for everything in your kitchen and nothing can save you from a massive germ attack! The only way to stop is to have two kitchen towels or use disposable paper towels instead.

5. A Knife Set

A large set of knives can take up a lot of precious space on your countertop, making it look smaller. Plus, they require extra cleaning and maintenance. Plus, the set likely contains knives you’ll never use! Save yourself the inconvenience and just get 3 good quality knives instead.

6. Open Kitchen Chimney

Granted, kitchen chimneys are a must but, leaving them uncovered is wholly unnecessary. In fact, it’s not even recommended! That’s because, overtime, the chimney will gather a lot of dust and dirt that’ll be impossible to clean. Getting the chimney covered or using the easy-to-clean plastic ventilation systems are better options.

7. Containers Made Of Plastic

A practical purchase, plastic containers are an economical solution to store common kitchen ingredients. However, jars and boxes you don’t use occupy extra space in your kitchen and make it look ugly. So do old, faded ones with cracks in them. It’s best to get them replaced!

8. Useless Appliances

Remember that toaster you bought that gives electric shocks? Or the juicer that spews out juice every time you use it? Yes, these have got to go if you want your kitchen to look neat and tidy. Junk appliances like these deserve no space in your kitchen and should be immediately disposed.

9. Kitchen Island With Space At The Back Of The Stove

A kitchen island with space at the back of the stove might seem very appealing in theory, but in practicality, it’ll be nothing but messy. Whenever you make a mess while cooking, you’ll have to clean the entire countertop instead of the stove. And leaving it dirty is simply not an option! It’s best to have your stove stick to the wall so the cleaning is minimized.

10. Kitchen Appliances On Window Sills

Unless you want your appliances to get ruined, it’s best not to keep them near or on your kitchen window sill. Appliances such as microwaves can get damaged due to the temperature changes and the moisture that comes through the windows. Window sills are best used for a sink. Your appliances should be placed near a wall.

11. Kettle With Limescale

Limescale when consumed in small quantities, does no harm. However, if you regularly have foods cooked in vessels with limescale, you run the risk of having excess salt in your body (3). Besides, limescale will also damage your vessels as they’ll take more time to heat. To clean limescale, scrub your kettles with a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and citric acid.

Treat this list as the kitchen mistakes you shouldn’t make. As long as you don’t do them, your kitchen will look enviably spick and span!

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