Just because something looks good doesn’t mean it’s practical, especially when we’re talking about interior design, where functionality and ease of maintenance are just as (if not more) important.

Kate Croukamp, a professional cleaner with 16 years of experience, has serviced thousands of homes, forming a deep understanding of what works well in our living spaces and what doesn’t.

Recently, she released a video showcasing trendy home decor elements that are a nightmare to maintain.

More info: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

Image credits: cleanlikeapro

“Don’t do it. Don’t let anybody convince you otherwise, do not get these in your house. Trust me, you will regret it.”

“I’m about to show you what I would never get in my home if I was about to build or renovate.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“These windows, they take three times as long to clean.”

“Trench drains. Oh my God. They are absolutely foul. Disgusting. Hate them. They stink, gross.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“Don’t be tempted to get this: built-in bins in the kitchen. Yuck.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“These fancy cupboards for your spices or anything. You know what? You cannot get behind there to clean anything out and it will drive you absolutely nuts.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“Mirrored splashbacks. Don’t do it. Don’t be tempted. You will regret it.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“Dark kitchen cabinetry. They will show every single fingerprint, smear mark, food splatter, everything. They are very unforgiving.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“These so-called soft-touch kitchen cabinets or bathroom cabinetry. They break so often. They either won’t open or the slightest little brush against them and they will pop open.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“High-gloss tiles. Oh god. No. Don’t. Unless, of course, you enjoy mopping every day.”

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“These baths with the gap up against the wall. Nope.”

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“These vertical blinds. No, no, no. Just no.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“And another big no is these blinds. The amount of dust that these gather will drive you nuts. There is just dust for days that gathers on these blinds.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“Some carpet is like vacuuming Velcro. Everything sticks to it. So find a way to check before you commit.”

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“Another ridiculous cabinetry is these corner Lazy Susan things. Again, you cannot clean underneath without removing the whole thing.”

Image credits: cleanlikeapro/

“And the worst of all, these oversized gas ovens and cooktops. They look beautiful in the showroom. But don’t do it. You do not need an oven this size.”

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“Thankfully, it seems like they’re going out of fashion and people are choosing a more sleek oven, normal size, 600 mil. Don’t go for one of these 900 mil ovens where there’s a million different pieces to it.”

“There’s hidden little compartments everywhere. After a while, honestly, it just looks like crap, and the amount of work it takes to keep one of these ovens clean?”

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“It’s not worth it. Don’t do it. Don’t be tempted by any of these things that I’ve shown you.”

Kate’s video has been viewed over 1.5 million times

Image credits: Karolina Grabowska / pexels (not the actual photo)

Kate told BuzzFeed that her clip garnered a “huge” response, and while many agreed with the observations, there were also some naysayers.

“Some people didn’t agree with some things I listed, saying, ‘Just clean it more often.’ Well, yes, that is obvious. That’s my point. Life is busy. Why add more work to our already hectic life with home fittings that require cleaning more often and are difficult to clean? There are so many beautiful options that do not require as much upkeep.”

The features and fixtures Kate mentions, as much of a pain in the butt as they are, remain quite popular.

“[It’s] purely based on what is in magazines, what is on home reno TV shows, and what the salesperson wants to sell,” she added. “How to clean it and how often to clean it probably rarely come into the equation when making these choices.”

@cleanlikeapro I’m ready for all the “I love my high gloss tiles” comments. This is just my opinion. You don’t need to agree with it. After cleaning thousands of homes over the past 16 years, these are the things I hate the most when it comes to cleaning. #cleantok #cleaninghouses #professionalcleaner #homedesigntips #cleanlikeapro ♬ original sound – Clean Like a Pro

This professional cleaner has built a cult following on social media for showing how she tackles dirty homes across Australia with her husband, Jack, and their business Mates Rates.

“People love to watch shocking, filthy things when it comes to cleaning,” she told news.com.au.

However, she advises everyone against badmouthing her clients. “It’s easy to judge online how someone lives, but a lot of people were never taught how to clean,” she explained.

“If you were taught to clean, that’s a huge privilege, [but] many people never were. Not everyone is lazy, it could be many factors: it could be mental health, disability, being elderly, or just not knowing how to do it.”

Kate said that was part of why she started posting content to social media under the brand ‘Clean Like A Pro’ in the first place — people are interested in both seeing how others live and learning about how to clean better.

As her video went viral, the pro cleaner further explained her thoughts in the comments

And joined the discussion that followed

The rest of the reactions

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