Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Entertainment
Dominyka

91 Times Designers Created Something Without Realizing It Will Have To Be Cleaned (Best Of All Time)

We want our houses to be beautiful, inside and outside. Often, that means intricate, hard-to-clean designs. Sure, that baroque-style chandelier might look majestic in the foyer, but what about when the time comes to clean it? Are you ready to go up on a ladder and wipe every individual branch?

Sometimes, designers fail to consider that people will have to somehow clean their amazing creations. Luckily, there's a group that calls them out for their outrageously hard-to-clean designs, called "Things designed by people who don't have to clean them." Here we have the worst designs that were ever featured on this group, for your amusement and mild infuriation.

#1 *Shudder*

Image credits: Maz Penney-Charlton

#2 Dollhouse Fishtank

#3 This Would Be A Pain In The Butt To Clean, But 11/10 Would Buy Anyway

Image credits: Susan Day

Cleaning is one of the most hated chores in America. According to a survey by Lombardo Homes, 85% of people put off doing chores they hate. Cleaning the bathroom, washing dishes, cleaning the refrigerator, the floors, and the kitchen are the most hated household tasks.

Most people spend 1-2 or 2-3 hours a week cleaning. At the same time, they're more likely to hand off things like washing the dishes and cleaning the bathroom to somebody else. People say they do things like washing dishes, laundry, cleaning the kitchen, and sweeping floors during the week. And 63% say they deep clean their homes themselves.

#4 Amethyst Sink

Image credits: Alex Oboikovitz

#5 Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Image credits: Mateo Euan

#6 And It's Not Even Cute

Image credits: Megan Moncada

We want our homes to look clean, but we often don't have the willpower to do it. In fact, 56% of people in the Lombardo Homes survey said they have been ashamed of their home's cleanliness. But some experts say that an unclean house is not a sign of laziness – it's more connected to our overall mental well-being.

Cleanfluencer and founder of The Big Clean Co. Kacie Stephens claims that cleaning isn't common sense for everyone; it's a learned skill. She says we shouldn't judge people as lazy if their home isn't up to our standards cleanliness-wise. "A dirty house is often a symptom of someone struggling mentally," she says in one of her videos.

#7 Found In The Wild. My Mom, Who Has No Knowledge Of Facebook Or This Group, Her First Words Were "Try Cleaning That"

Image credits: Becky Brinkman

#8 Indoor Beach. Oof

Image credits: Cammie Burns

#9 Those Poor Books!

Image credits: Manuela Betti

Kacie explains that people shouldn't feel superior if they are able to maintain a clean house. "A spotless house is a sign of a well-supported household," she says. And while it's true that the inability to focus on cleanliness can be signs of ADHD, depression, or anxiety, often it just comes down to your personality.

#10 This Entire Room

Image credits: Zineb ZD

#11 Y I K E S

Image credits: Katherine A. Weston

#12 Omfg, This Is Giving Me The Shivers

Image credits: Miguel G. Bouças

Some people are just laid-back and not bothered by a messier house. Natalie Christine Dattilo, a psychologist and instructor at Harvard Medical School, explained to HuffPost that it depends on the type of personality a person has. "Conscientious people tend to exhibit high levels of orderliness, dutifulness and self-discipline ... Think 'Type A,'" she said. "People low in conscientiousness tend to be more easygoing, disorderly and less goal-oriented." 

#13 This Was Never A Good Idea!

Image credits: Susan Becker

#14 I'm In Vegas Since My Birthday Was Yesterday And It's Only A 6 Hours Drive From Me. And This Is A Ceiling In The Bellagio

Image credits: Abby Koval

#15 The Handles To The Cabinet At The House My Dad Rented For Our Christmas Gathering

Image credits: Madeline Wise

Kendra Cherry, MSEd writes that what to one person looks like an unclean mess can seem totally acceptable to another." In some cases, a person's desk might look like a jumbled mess, strewn with papers, envelopes, and files. Yet, they always seem to know exactly where each and every item is when they need it," she explains. "Some of the most creative and productive people seem to thrive in this type of environment."

#16 Thanks I Hate It

Image credits: Shawn Tucker

#17 Rock Bottom

Image credits: Giulia Scognamillo

#18 Just Stay In The 70s. Thanks

Image credits: Barby Km

Then, of course, there's the lack of motivation because you know the cleaning process will be hard. Many of the entries in this list are one-of-a-kind items that few of us actually have at home. Yet some common interior and decor items can be surprisingly hard to clean, and that's why experts advise to consider their practicality before purchasing.

#19 These Wine Bottles/ Decanters/ Glasses Look Really Cool, But Cleaning Them? Hell No! I'd Probably Used Them Once And Then Threw Them Into A Fireplace Or Something

Image credits: Milla Marguerite

#20 Bride Decided This Was The Best Way To Display Her Dress After The Wedding

Image credits: Lindy Pearce

#21 I Don’t Even Know What To Say About This. I Just Feel Kinda Uncomfortable Now. Have A Nice Day

Image credits: Moritz Msr

Family Handyman, for example, warns against having too many throw rugs and throw pillows in your house. They say that unless you wash the rugs every time you clean the house, they only make your home more messy: they trap dirt, pet and human hair, and even odors. And throw pillows just add another cleaning step – you're better off knowing how many are too many.

#22 This Was A Sink In A Public Bathroom That I Used Yesterday

(it does have a drain, it’s just hard to see under the bubbles) it’s flat, theres ridges in it that go about an inch deep into the sink to resemble rock or something. It’s obviously covered in grime and soap residue. Might have been cool in someone’s house, but not in a public bathroom like this

Image credits: Holly Hass

#23 Saw This In My Death Stairs Group. I Think It Belongs Here Too

Image credits: Will Henry Jr.

#24 Look At This Hellscape Of A Backsplash. Now Envision Whipped Sweet Potatoes That Had A Little Accident

Image credits: Leigh Sparacino

Blinds are one of the most common things people forget to clean in their homes. If you've got curtains, all you have to do is toss them into the washing machine. But with roller shades, faux-wood blinds, or metal mini-shades, Katie Henkes, director of product management at Next Day Blindsrecommends using a vacuum with a brush attachment.

#25 They’re Gorgeous And I Want One, But They Must Be Such Dust Catcher

Image credits: Kerri Kortness

#26 Those Magazines And Shells In A Bowl Really Class Up This Bedside Table…

Image credits: Jessica Krt

#27 Mmmmmm.... Just What I Need After Washing My Hands

Image credits: Liz Russian

Houseplants can give you a real headache when it comes to cleaning too. Look, I love livening up a room with foliage as much as the next person, but you've got to keep in mind that you'll have to clean all those leaves, vases, and saucers at some point.

Elizabeth Shields, operations manager of Super Cleaning Service, Louisville told Homes & Gardens that houseplants are basically magnets for dust. "[It] can be incredibly time-consuming with a large plant or finicky for those with tiny leaves."

#28 I Like It But I Don't Like That I Like It

Image credits: Lucas Trevino

#29 Cutlery Set

Image credits: Laura Jensen

#30 Seletti: Monkey Chandelier By Marcantonio

I wish I had it but DAMN.
(also, it cost too much for me.)
(BUT ANYWAY DAMN!!!)

Image credits: Andrea Ashton Caprifogli

But what do you think, Pandas? Do aesthetics trump the practicality of cleaning for you? Or do you always think about how you're going to clean that thing before buying it? Let us know in the comments! And to see more things whose designers forgot they'll need to be cleaned, head over herehereherehere, and here!

#31 Hold On! There Is A Pool Under The Bed

Image credits: Har Madden

#32 A Little Dust Catcher

Image credits: Susan Steele Lienhart

#33 Marble That Looks Like Fabric Staircase Art

Image credits: Joumana Khalaf

#34 This Chandelier Made Of Sea Shells

Image credits: Taylor Wheeler

#35 Finally Found Something That's Ewww Enough For Here

Image credits: Ricarda Martinez-Arden

#36 Cute, But

Image credits: Markéta Čonka

#37 Broken Ankle Bathtubs, Fantastic

Image credits: Lauren Churchill

#38 All Hail The Glow Cloud

Image credits: Ashley Westover

#39 I Found A Hair On Your T-Shirt. Who Is She?

Image credits: Ignas Gramba

#40 Thought The Group Would Like This

Image credits: Ranissha Smith

#41 It Looks Cool, But There's No Way A Barbed Wire Grille Passes A State Safety Inspection

Image credits: Melissa Petersen

#42 I Smell Spiders In All The Pots

Image credits: Lam Ammon Si Yuen

#43 Radiator With A Bread Warmer

Image credits: Mary Quigg

#44 I Present To You My Desk Chair

I hate it. It was here when I got here. The bumps are hard plastic and extremely uncomfortable also the back has no give whatsoever. I work in the office part of a warehouse and everything gets super dirty here. Not looking forward to cleaning it which I can imagine will be done with a toothbrush.

Image credits: Patience Hawkins

#45 Now Imagine That It Rains

Image credits: Jhon Edward Mora Mora

#46 My Goodness

Image credits: Aidely Aranda

#47 This Sink At A House I Clean. Super Cool Looking But Terrible To Clean. I Have To Get A Brush And Brush It Also Their Walls Which Are In The Bathroom Are Fabric Thats Super Hard To Wipe Clean

Image credits: Cay Lindberg

#48 This Waiting Room At A Hairdresser

Image credits: Cindy Von Liebig Uemura

#49 My Toes And Shins Hurt Just Looking At This. Hope You Like Cobwebs

Image credits: Scott Martin

#50 This Is My Ceiling Light. It’s New, And I Loved It Til I Joined This Group And Realized I Have No Idea How To Clean It

Image credits: Elana Kehoe

#51 I Like The Whimsical Vibe, But This House Belongs Here

Image credits: Eric Collins

#52 I Wonder If There Are Any Books On Hygiene

Image credits: Mal Brood

#53 The Ninja Blender Handle

Image credits: Amanda N Salmeron

#54 Smells Exactly Like You'd Imagine

Image credits: Ostritch King

#55 The Inside Of My Foster Puppy’s Flexible Cone Is A Textured Fabric That Can’t Be Wiped Down. It’s Foul After Just 2 Days, And He’ll Have To Wear It For 2-4 Weeks. The Person Who Designed This Clearly Never Had A Dog, Probably Never Met A Dog

Image credits: Chelsey Baker-Hauck

#56 King Bed Frame, Nightstand And Lowboy Dresser Set!

Image credits: Forever Yesterday Exchange

#57 A Bathroom Sink Made Of Carved Limestone

Image credits: Jen Lijó

#58 Chanel Sunglasses With White Fabric Around The Temples. Because Nobody Wears Make Up When Wearing These

Image credits: Britta Britta

#59 I'll Never Understand Why Some Faucets Are Designed Like This

Image credits: Soren Otto

#60 I Love The Idea Of A Volcano Egg Cup As Much As The Next One, But You Will *never* Get All The Gross Crusty Egg Yolk Out Of All Those Crevices

Image credits: Caryn Lopez

#61 Ummm

Image credits: Aalia V. Hart

#62 These Restaurant Chandeliers

Image credits: Stevie Holcomb

#63 This Is For A Home Salon!

Image credits: Michelle Chow Jacoby

#64 Victorian Era Glass Feeding Bottle For Infants

Image credits: Anne-Marie Boring

#65 My Friends Friend Just Finished His ‘Dream Beach Basement’

Image credits: Jack Christensen

#66 I Have Questions

Image credits: Daniela Garcia

#67 Imagine That With Hard Water. Yeah... No Thank You!

Image credits: Britta Britta

#68 Thank God For Shoes, Is All I Can Say

Image credits: Cristina Adyta

#69 This Hospital Finger Thingy

Image credits: Loon Battler

#70 The Only Bad Thing About My New Place, This Built In Cutting Board Who On Earth Thought Of This

Image credits: Cleo Ek

#71 It Looks Cool, But… Not The Most Sanitary

Image credits: Alexandria Tristram

#72 I Saw This And Thought About This Group. A Toilet In A Restaurant In Jelenia Góra, Poland

Image credits: Marta Ratajszczak-Forbes

#73 Good Grief, Where Do I Start And Where Do I Finish? In Casualty Probably

Image credits: Lois Artpeach

#74 Thought Of You Guys Immediately

Image credits: Elizabeth Fay Jenne

#75 This Sink At My Parents' House Drives Me Nuts

Image credits: Julianne Jordan

#76 The Opposite Of Mini

Image credits: Jazmyn Ross

#77 Dollhouse PC

Image credits: Manuela Betti

#78 The Side Of My Toilet…

Image credits: Geza-Marie Waki

#79 Spiders

Image credits: Higi Kaelle

#80 Spotted At A Local Bar

Image credits: Evelynn Devin

#81 Italian Restaurant Has Roof Like This All Over The Restaurant, Gives Slightly Drop Spider Fears Xd

Image credits: Kayleigh Brown

#82 This Toothbrush Holder...with No Drain Holes. Imagine The Slime

Image credits: Annis Ferrey

#83 Found In A High Traffic Corridor Of A Hotel. It's Fuzzballs As A Feature Wall

Image credits: Natsu Clare

#84 Hotel Sink In South Africa

Image credits: Jane Dunkley

#85 This Pot

Image credits: Ruan Carlo Schneider

#86 At A Bar In Newfoundland And The Bathroom Handle Is Literally Rope

Image credits: Diana Loerke

#87 A Table At A Restaurant

Image credits: Anahit Cha

#88 It’s Kinda Creepy Cool In A Wednesday Adams Sort Of Way

Image credits: Narelle Dawson-Humphreys

#89 Saw This Sink In A Bathroom Showroom And Thought Of You My Friends. It Has Actual Fish In It

Image credits: Maryum Farhan

#90 Victorian Aquarium, C.1880s (Purportedly)

Image credits: Sama Bellomo

#91 Why Does It Look Like It Feels Like A Bar Of Soap?

Image credits: Sarah Rose

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.