40 Times Designers Forgot Things Need To Be Cleaned When Creating Them, As Shared On This Facebook Group
To most of us, cleaning is a chore. Something we do just because we have to. So we try to optimize the process as much as possible. Get it done in the fastest way possible, with the least amount of energy required.
However, some people probably haven't picked up a vacuum cleaner or a dust wand in their entire life.
There's a private Facebook group with a pretty self-explanatory title, called 'Things designed by people who don't have to clean them', and it has about 40,000 members, all sharing pictures of objects that absolutely terrify Monica Geller and Adrian Monk. From an amethyst sink to a dollhouse PC case, continue scrolling and check them out for yourself.
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Dollhouse Fishtank
Please don't treat your fish like toys! Goldfish need a 500l tank, and need a group of atleast 6 goldfish. They are intelligent and beautiful animals
The founder of the group, Will Feetham, created it out of his passion for the design world. "We spend most of our time in spaces designed by other humans, and sometimes subtle careless decisions during [the design process and construction processes] cause a huge amount of hassle for the people that use the space," Feetham told Bored Panda.
Currently, the group is private and you have to answer a few political questions to get in. Feetham has had pushback from the applicants about this as the group seems anything but political, however, he believes that the design and maintenance of our spaces are deeply political. "The entire point of 'Things designed by people who don't have to clean them' is that those who design and those who maintain are not the same," he said. "Because we spend most of our time in spaces [designed by others], this disconnect has a huge impact, especially on those who traditionally don't have power in society."
Amethyst Sink
Amethyst this size must be pretty expensive. I wouldn't waste it like that. Maybe as an ornament it would be perfect :)
"Looking at bad design helps highlight the importance of good design, and thinking about who will clean what we design makes us focus on the importance of inclusion in the design process. As a tag group, we can inject a bit of thought about these issues into a lot of different conversations which makes me so happy."
If we were to get specific, Feetham got the idea for the group from a picture of a topographical relief sink modeled after a lake, which he has been told is in the California state library. "It's beautiful, and the concept is both insightful and educational. In the execution, though, the designer didn't consider the people who would have to clean the installation. Clearly, a lot of thought went into the concept, but that thoughtfulness doesn't seem to have extended to maintenance. 'Things designed by people who don’t have to clean them' just popped into my head."
All Hail The Glow Cloud
It looks really cool but imagine the number of bugs nesting in there *shudder*
As you could guess, Feetham himself doesn't like cleaning. "As a cisgender man in our patriarchal culture, I have been allowed to do less than my share of household chores at many points in my life," he said. "Equality is deeply important to me, and I have come to understand the many ways, large and small, that the caring and cleaning work that forms the foundation of our daily existence is minimized."
According to him, our society tends to devalue the invisible service class, who are often women and people of color. So they are left to pick up the pieces, literally, and tend to the performative aesthetics of our consumer culture.
Feetham describes the content of the group as design-focused critical analysis. Some of the things that get submitted a lot are carpets in places it shouldn't be, crafts that involve gluing shells and rocks, and impossible to clean windows. "The start of the group was more focused on public infrastructure, but we also have a lot of content about consumer goods and home decor that create a maintenance nightmare."
Thanks I Hate It
I actually love this. Super cool. I would just dust it with compressed air.
This Pot
Radiator With A Bread Warmer
*shudder*
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
Cutlery Set
Dollhouse PC
Broken Ankle Bathtubs, Fantastic
I have to think about all the little critters that could hide somewhere between the stones.
This looks like a spa. So whoever has to clean the place is at least being paid to do it. 🤷♀️
let me just climb the stones to step down into my bathtub to put away/take out items from my dressers.... cuz that is the kinda logic that is existing here
Why are there dresser above the tub, attached to the wall?
Load More Replies...The sad thing is: Those tubs, without the "additions" are probably quite lovely and inviting all on their own.
With bureaus above them? For towels and bath bombs and stuff, maybe?
if I wanted to climb Mt. Killamanjaro to bathe I would climb Mt. Killamanjaro
Same! I have a hard enough time now just getting in & out of my 'normal' bathtub!
Load More Replies...I'd be less concerned with breaking my ankle and more concerned with a chest of drawers caving my head in whilst I was trying to relax 🤷🏻♂️
Oddities abound! On the tub on the left at the top, there are open spaces where there are too many spaces in the rock and can see the tub underneath (I'm spending enough on this project, it better be perfect), how do you get in and out of the tubs- water+rocks= slippery surface= lots of falls. What's up with those dressers and the sliver of a mirror between them. How in the heck do you you clean those? Can we say moss and mold on, in, all over those those rocks?!
Can somebody please explain to me what the dressers are set upon?? Look at their legs at the bases... the furniture is floating? There doesn't even seem to be any depth to them either... like there's nowhere to stand while you access them....you have to stand up in the tub to get to them.. Floatingn and inaccessible? I don't get it.
So you have to play king of the mountain in order to take a bath? Can you imagine stubbing your toe on that?
You have to climb into the bath to use the mirrors? I bet the hand basins are in those weirdly hung on the wall chests of drawers too.
Why not make 1 normal size tub instead of those 2 sink looking things?
You're gonna break an ankle and your skull slipping on those rocks.
Make sure to turn the light on.....tHoSe RoCkS aRe An InJuRy CaMpInG oUt LiKe A pUbG sNiPeR...!
maybe a STRING DRONE could lift folk in and out of their bathings ...
Joes apartment!! On MTV! Great flashback, thanks!
Load More Replies...Oh look,you can dress up at the top when you're finished and can probably climb up to your bed on the ceiling 😅
The little dressers in the background do not go with these tubs, IMHO.
Ankles, toes, toe nails, knees (from tripping and falling) skull ( from falling). And the spiders and bugs that would make their homes in there .
*I swear , the shampoo bottle got up there by accident ! I slipped on the rocks "
Hair, skin flakes, most things organic, not toxic. Pesticides, insecticides (inc non-organic dog collars) , herbicides, etc definitely very toxic.
Load More Replies...okay, wait. How close are the sinks to the tubs? Also how high up are the actual tubs....and... ... nope I cannot ... so much stress...
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Y I K E S
They’re Gorgeous And I Want One, But They Must Be Such Dust Catcher
Cute But...
Those Poor Books!
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
The Opposite Of Mini
This Would Be A Pain In The Butt To Clean, But 11/10 Would Buy Anyway
And It's Not Even Cute
1970s Was Such A Cursed Period For Interior Decorating
That Is The Car Of Someone Who Has Given Up, That Thing Does Not Get Cleaned
Stunning Fireplace
All Those Tiny Eyes
Imagine eating cereal before bed and waking up at night and that thing is next to your head on the side table
Stair Handle
I Would Have A Very Bad Time Checking If My Nails Are Clean Or Not
Erm...
A Gift For The Coffee Lover You Also Hate
Mud, Poop Dog, Dirt, Sand...
Poop dog! 😂 Sometimes I love it when people don’t proof read what they write.
Those Crevices In The… Whatever That Is
It’s All Beaded
Oh My
Ah yes, the succulent nail art. Made only for photos and not actual wear. SimplyNailogical did a video recreating this trend a while back.
Cursed
My New 1.5l Snorlax Mug That I Got From Zing. Didn’t Realise It’s Mouth Was A Big Hole
This Is What Happened In Jumanji
Fluffy Guitar
I Hope They Took The Keys Out
I Got One Of These For My Daughter. The Hot Liquid Needs To Go Through The Hole Into The Space Between The Outer And Inner Walls Of The Mug. I Have Tiny Bendy Brushes And It’s Still A Nightmare
Found In My Local Marketplace
Note: this post originally had 74 images. It’s been shortened to the top 39 images based on user votes.
So since covid, I have learned most people don't clean, or don't know how to clean nor disinfect. So not something considered when purchasing
No one desinfects everything because we cannot live in a sterile environment. We need lots of them bugs to stay healthy. On the other hand I one saw a class mate of my then preschooler with the same reusable drinking bottle as my kid. It had actual fungus in the mouth piece... It's not just not knowinghow to clean, it's more the not getting what is dangerous and what parts are more important to clean... Like drinking bottles...
Load More Replies...Most of this stuff is no worse than carpet in general and most reusable water bottles.
Some of these were good, some...wow. if you're going to get certain things, please learn how to keep them clean so as to not get sick.
Fun to look at and see how many useless and dangerous items that people come up with.
I would like to add to this...anything that's Sterling Silver. OMG, deliver me from evil.
I'm sorry. Most of this thread is a waste of space. There are so many interesting, lovely pieces here. Yes, they need special care. So what? a lot of people followed Marie Kondo and got rid of a ton of things to simplify their lives. Now quite a few regret it.
Sometimes you just got to throw caution to the wind and not let the moment pass by how hard it's gonna be to clean or how practical it it. Bust out the good China that only comes outfit holidays. Packed away for a year, it requires a good wash too. It's not bringing anyone a smile hidden in the back of a closet it the dark.pulling out a treasure that has been eaten by mice or mold is worse.
absolutely terrify Monica Geller and Adrian Monk. I LOVE THE REFERENCE.
Simplify, not complicate, your life. If you really need something funky and uncleanable, put it under or behind glass. These are the very definition of tchotchke... useless, decorative items that need to be dusted.
The person who runs that group doesn't understand that people take pride in their jobs and are grateful that there are people who provide jobs. But as a privileged CIS man he probably will never understand that, and instead looks down his privileged nose at people who do manual labor. How is he going to help the people who take his garbage to the dump, fix his stinky plumbing and other people who do the dirty jobs that this clean freak is too good to do. He should be ashamed, no wonder his group is private probably full of snobby elitists.
So since covid, I have learned most people don't clean, or don't know how to clean nor disinfect. So not something considered when purchasing
No one desinfects everything because we cannot live in a sterile environment. We need lots of them bugs to stay healthy. On the other hand I one saw a class mate of my then preschooler with the same reusable drinking bottle as my kid. It had actual fungus in the mouth piece... It's not just not knowinghow to clean, it's more the not getting what is dangerous and what parts are more important to clean... Like drinking bottles...
Load More Replies...Most of this stuff is no worse than carpet in general and most reusable water bottles.
Some of these were good, some...wow. if you're going to get certain things, please learn how to keep them clean so as to not get sick.
Fun to look at and see how many useless and dangerous items that people come up with.
I would like to add to this...anything that's Sterling Silver. OMG, deliver me from evil.
I'm sorry. Most of this thread is a waste of space. There are so many interesting, lovely pieces here. Yes, they need special care. So what? a lot of people followed Marie Kondo and got rid of a ton of things to simplify their lives. Now quite a few regret it.
Sometimes you just got to throw caution to the wind and not let the moment pass by how hard it's gonna be to clean or how practical it it. Bust out the good China that only comes outfit holidays. Packed away for a year, it requires a good wash too. It's not bringing anyone a smile hidden in the back of a closet it the dark.pulling out a treasure that has been eaten by mice or mold is worse.
absolutely terrify Monica Geller and Adrian Monk. I LOVE THE REFERENCE.
Simplify, not complicate, your life. If you really need something funky and uncleanable, put it under or behind glass. These are the very definition of tchotchke... useless, decorative items that need to be dusted.
The person who runs that group doesn't understand that people take pride in their jobs and are grateful that there are people who provide jobs. But as a privileged CIS man he probably will never understand that, and instead looks down his privileged nose at people who do manual labor. How is he going to help the people who take his garbage to the dump, fix his stinky plumbing and other people who do the dirty jobs that this clean freak is too good to do. He should be ashamed, no wonder his group is private probably full of snobby elitists.