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People Who Finally Cleaned The Thing That Bothered Them So Much Shared 30 Pics Of Their Results
Interview With Expert
Seeing clutter and grime disappear is always satisfying, regardless of how messy you can get. The kitchen sink is no longer an eyesore, you have more desk space to work with, and your entire living space becomes homey again.
It’s likely the reason why the Cleaning Tips subreddit is a hit. With more than 870,000 members, it’s a thriving community where people share their cleaning hacks and the progress they’ve made with their tidying-up efforts.
But for this list, we’ve picked out the best snapshots of people’s homes before and after they’ve cleaned up. Scroll through; some of these photos may inspire you to spruce up your space.
You’ll also find our short conversations with Janine Adams, a St. Louis-based professional organizer and owner of Peace of Mind Organizing, as well as professional organizer Kate Bosch. They were generous enough to share her tips and insights about decluttering and cleaning.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Cleaning My Depression Flat After Months Of Being In A Bad Place
Alison Hobbs 1 year ago
I'm still in the depression state and having trouble getting out of it. I would appreciate any advice on how to start
Pencil McGovern 1 year ago
Breaking that cycle is SO hard sometimes. What's worked for me is my variation on daily mantras. Instead of saying "I am worthy" or some other bs that doesn't resonate with me at all, I make my own, personalized mantras throughout the day. Say I do one, tiny thing like throw out some moldy cheese I found in the fridge. That's enough for me to tell myself "Deep down I know that I deserve a nice, clean fridge and this proves it. I'm not there yet but I can see that I'm taking steps to treating myself as well as I deserve to be treated. I feel good about doing that and I have the right to feel good about doing that." Any little thing can be turned into something that means something personal to me and that I can tell myself again and again. And it kind of makes me want to do another good thing because then I tell myself all about how amazing I am for making the bed or washing four of the 75 dirty dishes in the sink. And it hits because it's mine and it's real. Hope that helps a bit.
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I Like Tea 1 year ago
Good job! It must feel so satisfying to have accomplished this. Best of luck :-)
RELATED:
#2
Finally Finished Cleaning My Depression Room!
#3
Found A Crumb Of Motivation. Only Done One Room So Far. Hoping Posting This Gives Me Enough Of A Boost To Keep Going After Dinner
Curtis Harvey 1 year ago
A cup of sugar per can is the right beverage...IF...you want to turn into a diabetic balloon and get depressed again.
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You can look at decluttering as a cleansing ritual to eliminate the messy stuff around you. For Janine, it’s also a way to clear your mind.
As she told Bored Panda, “It is amazingly freeing to know that you can find what you want when you want it. It just makes life easier.” On the other hand, Kate sees it as a way to increase your sense of well-being.
"The biggest surprise is the confidence you gain from being able to conquer your mess!"
#4
Thanks For Helping Me Work What Feels Like A Miracle!
HTakeover 1 year ago
*Note to self* Also stop peeing in @Eroe Infinito's shower.
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Jack and Coke 1 year ago
It's probably not rust but mineral stains from hard water. Mine looks like that after a few months.
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Panflute 1 year ago
They said that they used Zep foaming bathroom cleaner, then "vinegar wallpaper" and then wiped down the walls with dryer sheets. Who knew?!?
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ImAcoywolf?? (EverestWolf) 1 year ago
I’m sorry you feel as if you have to throw insults at someone who you don’t even know the life and problems of, I hope you get some help! Good day to you too.
Load More Replies... #5
Cleaned My Depression Room After Months 🥵
Alison Hobbs 1 year ago
I dream of having a restful haven like this. Unfortunately mine is still a depression room
#6
Not Perfect But I Feel Very Accomplished!
Mary Kelly 1 year ago
make a paste with comet and water and set on surface...or, do like aurikatarina, spray on overn cleaner, cover with saran wrap, wait for about 20 minutes and it shoudl come right off
If you feel daunted by the mere idea of spring cleaning or decluttering your home, Janine offers this tip: break the task into “small bites” or single out a particular task. This applies to all chores, whether cleaning the countertop, clearing trash, or loading used plates into a dishwasher.
“Thinking about individual tasks, rather than one giant project, can make any clean-up feel more doable,” she said.
#7
Thanks To This Community I Discovered Barkeeper's Friend
El Cucuy 1 year ago
Yep, it is hands down the best cleanser out there IMHO. It removes buildup/gunk/etc that all others fail at removing.
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and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
So good! I use it to clean the stove, it’s like magic. It does take some time an a lot of elbow grease, though.
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#8
Update On The Depression Den: Progress, Not Perfection
Myoviridae 1 year ago
"Progress, not perfection" is very important. I can get into the mindset that I have to deep clean every last thing in a room/area and then it seems too overwhelming. I have to remind myself to just do what I can. Timers help (do what you can in 30 minutes, then go read a book).
Vonny 1 year ago
Timers help me, whenever I have a sink full of dishes ( no dishwasher as I am the dishwasher) I turn the stove-top timer on for maybe 20 minutes. Then see if I can finish the dishes before the timer goes off. It's always surprised me that they took less time than I expected. Feels great after their finished. With time to spare!
Load More Replies... Shirley Heyn 1 year ago
Why can't you close drawers & cabinet doors??? What are those wire baskets and why can't you get rid of those??? I would like to see how fast you revert to photo #1 again. . .
#9
Was Given These Pots, They Are Almost Brand New Again!
Glenn Howell 1 year ago
The OP said Pink Stuff, Scrub Daddy and elbow grease
Load More Replies... m0@nlight 1 year ago
Baking soda and lemon will remove rust stains from a tub!!!!! I did it. ;-)
Load More Replies... Here’s another pro tip from Janine: leave the lids off your often-used containers. As she explained, a lid adds an extra step to the process because of the need to take it out and put it back in. You can also be tempted to set items on top of it, which creates a new mess to clean up.
Meanwhile, Janine has her own approach to decluttering, which she calls the "75% rule."
"When a space is 75% full, consider it full," she explains. "Instead of trying to cram everything in, leave a little elbow room so you can get things out and put them away without frustration."
#10
I Did It. After Months Of Severe Depression, I Did It
#11
Before And After From The Back Of The Oven In My New Apartment
ByeFelicia 1 year ago
OMG this was my least fave cleaning job. I was so happy when I redid the kitchen and got built-in wall ovens. Good on ya!
#12
Before And After! Cleaning My Depression Den And Fixing My Life!
Having a system also makes your cleaning and decluttering efforts more efficient. As Janine explained, “There is no right way to organize.” Professionals like herself can help create these systems tailored to specific needs, which covers establishing habits and routines to maintain order.
#13
I Came Home Early This Morning, Saw How Terribly Grungy My Front Door Was And Let My ADHD Take The Wheel
Anne Home 1 year ago
That is what the ADHD is for! When I get home I will let mine out of its cage and run amuck for a while
Jill Rhodry 1 year ago
Good for you! - I'm still struggling to figure out how to activate mine on command
Load More Replies... Rebecca O’Donnell 1 year ago
1 part vinegar, 1 part water, 2 drops of Dawn dish soap and a foam sponge is what OP used. Amazing!
#14
Years Of Grime Removed From Tile Floor With Vinegar, Baking Soda, Dish Soap And Water
ByeFelicia 1 year ago
Dish soap, especially the blue Dawn, has wayyyy more uses than people realize. It's amazing stuff.
Rosie Red 1 year ago
Dawn is amazing. I read an article about all the things it can do. It helped unclog a toilet.
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#15
The Pink Stuff vs. My Very Very Dirty Pan
JP Purves 1 year ago
Pink Stuff is okay and trendy at the moment, but Bar Keepers Friend is better.
Load More Replies...Whether you’re trying to remove the rust from a wall fan or the mildew from your bathroom tiles, other experts recommend doing so in a specific direction. Adriana Aziz of Australia-based cleaning company Maid For You advises moving clockwise to avoid missing a spot.
As Aziz told Southern Living, the strategy helped decrease their customers’ re-clean requests by 80 percent. That’s a hack you can try out today.
#16
What Barkeepers Friend, Scrub Daddy, A Magic Eraser, And An Hour Of Elbow Grease Can Do For A Gross Tub
S Bow 1 year ago
Except I've found they disintegrate on heavy cleaning jobs
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#17
CLR Is Actually Magic. (With Some Elbow Grease)
Curtis Harvey 1 year ago
Congratulations...I would have ripped that out and thrown it in the dump
#18
Before And After Of This $1 Pan I Bought
SweetCheesySpaghetti 1 year ago
Stunning! I have been working on a stained pan over the course of a year haha. Every few months I tackle it with pink paste and steel wool. I'm so close to getting it back to it's original glory!!!
Feather dusters have been around for a while, but the harsh reality is that they don’t do much to keep your home dustless and allergen-free. Author and cleaning expert Leslie Reichert recommends using a microfiber cloth instead.
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Reichert explained that microfiber cloths have an “exceptionally huge surface area.” Specifically, you’re looking at 40 times more compared to cotton fibers. They also hold up to six times their weight when submerged in water.
#19
I Cleaned My Year-Long Depression Room
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 1 year ago
I should really clean my depression/adhd nest. But it’s so hard to get motivated.
Rosie Red 1 year ago
My therapist told me to write down three things I wanted to do the next day. She said it's ok if you don't do all three, even one will be a victory. The act of ticking a task off my list felt really good. Start with one task, and sometimes you will feel, hey I feel like doing another.
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#20
I Stripped My BF's Hats.... I'm Horrified
#21
Talk About A Glow Up :)
Cleaning your grill grates for your upcoming cookout can be taxing. The process can take a long time, leaving you tired when you start the fire.
ProHousekeepers Chief Hygiene Officer Jennifer Rodriguez recommends ditching the brush and using lemon halves and salt instead. As she explained to Southern Living, the acidity in the citrus sterilizes the grill and cuts the grease off.
To do this, mix the lemon and salt and swipe the halves through the grill’s grates. Make sure they are heated. You’ll see the lemon return it to its old form right before your eyes.
#22
Deep Cleaned My Fridge Yesterday
CrunChewy McSandybutt 1 year ago
I do this once per month or so. It's a lot of work but I love the results.
#23
Forgot To Post An Update But I’m Pretty Proud
Holly Fraser 1 year ago
HG Mould Remover Foam spray is an amazing product- wouldn't recommend it for regular cleaning but if you have a mould problem that won't shift this works really well
Load More Replies... #24
Brothers House Has Been Neglected For Three Years. They Closed The Door When It Got Like This And I Decided To Just Deal With It
featherytoad 1 year ago
That's my garage toilet. When I first moved in, I always, always forgot about it. It got so bad that it became too overwhelming to deal with. It's also a water hog, so I just need to replace it.
Panda McPandaface 1 year ago
Good job - though in all honesty, I've seen *much* worse than that (and had no option but to use it!)
We may be tempted to delay wiping off a sauce spill on the kitchen counter while cooking. But as Dan Deonarain of New York-based cleaning company Galaxy Maids advises, cleanup becomes less daunting if you do it right after meal preparation.
Deonarain recommends using a soft sponge or microfiber, a drop of dish soap, and some warm water for fresh spills. Doing this avoids leaving scratches.
#25
TIL You Can Dissolve Inkstains With Milk
#26
Appreciation For The Bissell Clean Machine
Ladedah 1 year ago
Yes!!! I like to buy the encasement-style (full coverage, zippered kind) of cover. We replaced our mattress back in january and applied the cover right as the mattress left it's packaging ... dog threw up in bed a few months later and I thought for sure it went through... nope. Mattress looked just like it did the day it arrived... pristine color and not one single dog hair, piece of lint, body oil, etc... nothing! It's a great feeling! Washed it and put it right back on!
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We’d also love to hear from you, readers. What decluttering tips do you have that you think are unique to you? How effective are they? Share them in the comments below!
#28
17f Slowly Cleaning My Filthy Home
#29
I Think I’ll Be Chasing This High For The Rest Of My Life
#30
Before And After Of My Moms A Bathroom
Megan Curl 1 year ago
True, but please remember that this is from a depression sub, and be respectful of that.
Load More Replies... CrunChewy McSandybutt 1 year ago (edited)
It puts the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again.
Elaine Reed 1 year ago
I bought a house with the toilet like this. Really hard to clean. It is limescale, as town water is from a river going through a forest. It has taken a year so far, but making progress!
#31
Finally Tackled The Depression Pit Closet
Panda McPandaface 1 year ago
My closet would probably look like the 'before' even after I'd had a go at it TBH.
#32
People Told Me That Makeup Couldn’t Be Cleaned Out Of The Carpet. I Am Here To Report That I Have Busted That Myth!
#33
Cleaned My Parents Front Door
Weasel Wise 1 year ago
How to help push a depressed person into a depression: make a snide criticism about their accomplishment and hard work. And, actually, everyone looooves it when that one jackàss has to come along and make shìtty comments about their effort, now that I think about it. 🤔 (That last part was sarcasm.)
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#34
If You’re Severely Depressed, Like Me, I Urge You To Try To Clean Your Bathroom Sink. You Can Do It
Kelly Scott 1 year ago
I try to live the "do just one thing a day" but it seems like the one thing each day is what normal people do as a matter of course. So I may do my one thing and I'm keeping up (barely) but I can't ever get ahead.
Rosie Red 1 year ago
Try doing two things a day to catch up. If you do it, great, if not don't be too hard on yourself and try again the next day. I find putting things away as soon as I'm finished with them, helps a lot. When I'm in a depressive state, clutter makes my anxiety go through the roof so I try really hard to put things away as soon as I'm done using them. After dinner, washing that one plate keeps the sink from becoming a dish/pot grave yard.
Load More Replies... CrunChewy McSandybutt 1 year ago
Sometimes, tackling a small task like this is the medicine you need. Just seeing a spark of order amidst the chaos can inspire a lot of hope.
Jess Smith 1 year ago
Savahax: *note, I don't have depression [yet...] but I have adhd which can lead to similar outcomes* Sure. But you know what that requires? Memory. Effort. Care about the future. And sometimes, if it's taking all your effort to survive, all your memory to remember when it wasn't so bad, and you don't care about the future, you're too busy keeping yourself in the present - why bother? Or if you have ADHD - if it requires remembering to do it and there's that other thing you really had to do and you'll do it tomorrow, and you can ALWAYS do it tomorrow, and that's if you remember - why do it today? Sure, it might be easy for you. But that's like telling someone who has an anaphylactic (no air) response to smelling peanuts that if you eat a few peanuts a day it can help your allergies learn (my brother has done this with eggs and tree nuts, for now, although he was never airborne and it was only moderately bad).
#35
Moved Into Our New House, And Found The Dishwasher Was Running Poorly With A Bad Smell. Popped Off The Bottom Arm And Saw This Horror Show
#36
I Soaked The Top Pillow In Oxyclean For An Hour, Then Dried It. The Bottom Pillow Is Unwashed. They Used To Be The Same Colour 🤢
Paulina 1 year ago
Why? If it still keeps it's shape there's no reason not to wash it.
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featherytoad 1 year ago
I don't know why it took so long for me to get those. No more drool stains all over the pillow and all you have to do is wash the protectors every now and then.
Load More Replies... CrunChewy McSandybutt 1 year ago
I've heard that hydrogen peroxide is also a miricle worker for pillows.
#37
Thank You Guys For Introducing Me To Bar Keeper's Friend! Stainless Steel Fridge Before And After
Sarah Suelzle 1 year ago
I wish I knew how so many people have such great luck with Bar Keeper's Friend. I have tried the powder and the soft cleanser in the kitchen and in the bathroom and get very mediocre results. I feel like I'm missing something LOL Fridge looks great BTW :-)
Robert T 1 year ago
It takes some scrubbing with it, but the powder works absolute wonders on stainless steel sinks.
Load More Replies... #38
Denture Tablets To Clean Up Buildup On My Blender Jar
#41
Tip: Take Before And After Photos! My Mental Health Had Disintegrated Recently And This Really Helped Me Stay On Track
TaSim 1 year ago
Second appearance for this room, just a different day/mess and kids tent in the corner. Maybe deliberate staging for a cleaning vlogger or some such?
Rosie Red 1 year ago
That's how it starts. You stop putting things away and then become overwhelmed when it gets bad. Anxiety sets in and you start to procrastinate and it gets worse. It's a cycle.
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#42
BKF, A Drill Brush, And Two Hours
#43
Thanks To The Person Who Recommended The Clorox Foamer. Before And After Pics
Stephanie Did It 1 year ago
The problem I've had with this product is that the spray mechanism always goes bad after only a couple of uses.
Chonky Panda 1 year ago
You have to shake it a couple time, then it works again! 😁 (idk how but it does 😂)
Load More Replies... #44
Days Went Into This Kitchen Aid Cleaning So It’s Getting Shown Off ✨
#45
Moved Into New Rental W. Dirty Stove. Contacted Maintenance. “Cleaned” Again, Claimed Did All They Could. So I Did It Myself. Swipe To See!!
Thomas 1 year ago
How do you get a glass top stove clean? I try and try but can never get that last little bit that seems embedded in the glass... it is smooth, so a razor doesn't get it.
Rebecca O’Donnell 1 year ago
OP used overnight oven cleaner and put plastic wrap on top and let it on for awhile. Used a razor blade afterward to get the hardened leftovers off.
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Otto Katz 1 year ago
LOL Now remove the nasty fan filter from the vent up top, and soak that for an hour in dishwasher detergent.
Weasel Wise 1 year ago
What does a fan filter and stuff being burnt onto the stove top have to do with each other? ....unless they're cooking the filter? 🤔🤣🤦🏾♀️
Load More Replies... #46
Good God... We Were Sleeping On This
#47
Thank You Guys Again, Full Before And After
CrunChewy McSandybutt 1 year ago (edited)
It's hard to feel clean when showering in a crusty shower. Edit: I'm not putting anyone down, I'm just making an observation. My shower has, at times, become crusty.
#48
Got A Baked Last Week And Browsed The Top All-Time Posts From This Sub, Then Cleaned My Grimy Bathroom Sink. Super Satisfying!
#49
Room Mate Moved Out A Bit Ago And I Finally Got Around To Deep Cleaning Their Bathroom
Lene 1 year ago
Perhaps a dumb question but shouldn't the roommate do this when they moved out?
Rosie Red 1 year ago
They should but some people are incredibly inconsiderate.
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Add New Image
What do you think ?
Panda McPandaface 1 year ago
Congratulations to all that have overcome depression to improve their lives, well done everyone who just had a jolly good go at the kitchen cupboards - still an awful repetitive list though.
Cooking Panda 1 year ago
To everyone battling depression or other mental health issue, I'm really proud of you! It must not be easy to get up and start taking care of yourself & your space. But you did it!!
Kylie 1 year ago
Some of the before bathroom photos are horrific. Who on earth let's them get to this point in the first place?
Weasel Wise 1 year ago
I can tell by your inquiry that you've never struggled with serious mental health problems, you lucky duck.
Load More Replies... Myoviridae 1 year ago
My favorite sites for cleaning inspiration and advice are UnF***YourHabitat and videos by Aurikatariina. I have learned to do timed cleans (don't get overwhelmed!), small challenges, and to use a cleaning product by letting it sit for a long time on the surface (less elbow grease!).
Trisec Tebeakesse 1 year ago
My house may be a mess, but I volunteer a lot on a kitchen crew. What I like best? Cleaning the pots and pans. It comes to me a burnt-on, stuck-on, horrific mess, and leaves my hands shiny and new. It is very satisfying. (Ask me about Cast Iron restoration - I'm an avatar.)
Uncommon Sense 1 year ago
As someone with a 30 year history of truly battling depression, this is one thing I don't quite get. Lack of motivation, not caring etc etc but a truly s****y environment just makes it ten times worse, so no matter how ill I've been, I've never allowed myself or my home to deteriorate. And I was nearly sectioned earlier this year following very firm plans to take my life. So I'm not clueless. I get it. But when the world around you is an utter pile of s**t, try to step up and control the tiny little bit that you can, even if that simply means getting out of bed and to the shower. The only things that's gonna get you through... is you...
Jess Smith 1 year ago
Me, looking at my cluttered mess of a room, filthy floors, etc: jesus christ these people are magicians! And also quite embarrassed. Who'd bother cleaning a door? It's a door! It's exposed to the outside! It's going to be filthy!
Will Cable 1 year ago
I like to keep the car looking clean and tidy inside, no litter on the floor or in other cubbyholes etc. We have a 'spot' upholstery cleaner and decided to just make sure the flooring in the boot/trunk was clean. Despite is being vacuumed etc the dirty water looked like drinking chocolate.
Uncle Schmickle 1 year ago
Apart from depression, which I understand, I can't believe how people can allow such filth to accumulate.
Lori Gibbs 1 year ago
No range hoods,I'd love to see if any are as bad as my grease collector🙄
Panda McPandaface 1 year ago
Congratulations to all that have overcome depression to improve their lives, well done everyone who just had a jolly good go at the kitchen cupboards - still an awful repetitive list though.
Cooking Panda 1 year ago
To everyone battling depression or other mental health issue, I'm really proud of you! It must not be easy to get up and start taking care of yourself & your space. But you did it!!
Kylie 1 year ago
Some of the before bathroom photos are horrific. Who on earth let's them get to this point in the first place?
Weasel Wise 1 year ago
I can tell by your inquiry that you've never struggled with serious mental health problems, you lucky duck.
Load More Replies... Myoviridae 1 year ago
My favorite sites for cleaning inspiration and advice are UnF***YourHabitat and videos by Aurikatariina. I have learned to do timed cleans (don't get overwhelmed!), small challenges, and to use a cleaning product by letting it sit for a long time on the surface (less elbow grease!).
Trisec Tebeakesse 1 year ago
My house may be a mess, but I volunteer a lot on a kitchen crew. What I like best? Cleaning the pots and pans. It comes to me a burnt-on, stuck-on, horrific mess, and leaves my hands shiny and new. It is very satisfying. (Ask me about Cast Iron restoration - I'm an avatar.)
Uncommon Sense 1 year ago
As someone with a 30 year history of truly battling depression, this is one thing I don't quite get. Lack of motivation, not caring etc etc but a truly s****y environment just makes it ten times worse, so no matter how ill I've been, I've never allowed myself or my home to deteriorate. And I was nearly sectioned earlier this year following very firm plans to take my life. So I'm not clueless. I get it. But when the world around you is an utter pile of s**t, try to step up and control the tiny little bit that you can, even if that simply means getting out of bed and to the shower. The only things that's gonna get you through... is you...
Jess Smith 1 year ago
Me, looking at my cluttered mess of a room, filthy floors, etc: jesus christ these people are magicians! And also quite embarrassed. Who'd bother cleaning a door? It's a door! It's exposed to the outside! It's going to be filthy!
Will Cable 1 year ago
I like to keep the car looking clean and tidy inside, no litter on the floor or in other cubbyholes etc. We have a 'spot' upholstery cleaner and decided to just make sure the flooring in the boot/trunk was clean. Despite is being vacuumed etc the dirty water looked like drinking chocolate.
Uncle Schmickle 1 year ago
Apart from depression, which I understand, I can't believe how people can allow such filth to accumulate.
Lori Gibbs 1 year ago
No range hoods,I'd love to see if any are as bad as my grease collector🙄
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