Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
40 Times Designers Forgot Things Need To Be Cleaned When Creating Them, As Shared On This Facebook Group (New Pics)
The last time we wrote about the Facebook group 'Things designed by people who don't have to clean them', it had 40,000 members. But since then, this online community has more than doubled and is approaching the 100,000 mark, so it's about time we release an update on them.
"The design and maintenance of our spaces are deeply political," the group writes in its 'About' section. "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. Because we spend most of our time in designed spaces this disconnect has a huge impact, especially on those who traditionally don't have power in society."
So they're here, shaking things up, trying to remind everyone about the hidden tax attached to Swarovski-encrusted toilets and rock-covered sinks, and that is the amount of headache and time people will spend cleaning them.
More info: Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Just Stay In The 70s. Thanks
RELATED:
#2
My Goodness
For our earlier article, we got in touch with the founder of the group, Will Feetham. He described the content you see on 'Things designed by people who don't have to clean them' as design-focused critical analysis.
Even though it has grown tremendously, the group remains 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 told Bored Panda. "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."
#3
This Was Never A Good Idea!
#5
I Found A Hair On Your T-Shirt. Who Is She?
"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."
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."
#6
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
#7
Now Imagine That It Rains
#9
Saw This Sink In A Bathroom Showroom And Thought Of You My Friends. It Has Actual Fish In It
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.
#10
Bride Decided This Was The Best Way To Display Her Dress After The Wedding
#11
I Finally Have A Contribution!! Reminds Me Of The Fuzzy Skeleton Someone Shared The Other Day…maybe This One Could Be Thrown In The Washer?
#12
Omfg, This Is Giving Me The Shivers
H Edwards 4 years ago
How odd, I never watch Only Fools and Horses but I switched on the TV not a couple of days ago and that exact episode was on.
Load More Replies...
Al Cook 4 years ago
To be fair, there are environments where that could look good, like a massive hotel lobby.
Leigh C. 4 years ago
Or a lavish theatre concert hall. The one in my city has 3 large chandeliers like that.
Load More Replies...
AnnaBanana 4 years ago
Lots of chandeliers can be automatically lowered for cleaning. In fact, it's the only way to do it.
Load More Replies... Natalie 4 years ago
Wow! Gaudy and over the top, yet somehow weirdly impressive at the same time!
Otter 4 years ago
If you've got the money for something so monumentally tasteless, you've got the money to hire a full-time prism cleaner.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
Well, it’s obvious this is in the house—-sorry, mansion—-of someone who can afford to have someone else, a professional, clean the chandelier. This is probably not their only one, so they could negotiate a bulk rate…
Michaelangelo S. 4 years ago
I would be afraid of it falling and crushing me every time I walked by it.
Devil's Advocate 4 years ago
If you can afford this, you can afford cleaning it to be someone else's problem
Demongrrrrl 4 years ago
Anybody else hear the organ music of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera"? (When the chandelier comes crashing down.)
Jyri Hakola 4 years ago
No problems. If you can afford that and a house where that fits, you can afford staff who cleans.
Hannah Edwards 4 years ago
Isn’t it a bit low? I imagine people running up the stairs bent double
F. H. 4 years ago
Chandeliers that big can often be lowered to be cleaned. That's a remnant from the days where you still had to lower them to light the candles.
Load More Replies...
Johnny Døpe 3 years ago
Just don’t have cats ,children ,tall people and an accident prones that it will fall on top off
Susan Widomski 4 years ago
Is it lowered at the time of the photo? Would have to be or everybody will bump their heads. Just doesn't look like it goes up and down easily.
Loraine D.G. MacGinness 4 years ago
Why did someone think this was a good idea ? More money than sense !!
April Pickett 4 years ago
I think all chandeliers should have a cord (or something) that lets you lower them for cleaning. My hall light is right above the stairs and it terrifies me to clean it.
Billy Maguire 4 years ago
Designed for a time when you just left the cleaning to the Servants, I imagine.
Isabel Care 4 years ago
Part of the cost of buying this should be a dedicated year round cleaning specialist
The Redhead 4 years ago
What would be worse: Cleaning that light Or Paying the electric bill after it has been on for an hour
Suzanne Clark 4 years ago
Maybe it's one of those things that looks gorgeous once the lights come on (hopefully).
zims 4 years ago
That's kind of the point with things like this, not just being rich enough to afford it, but being rich enough to maintain it. Huge sprawling lawns and gardens are impressive if you have the groundskeepers to maintain them, real silverware is impressive if you have maids to polish them, and intricate chandeliers are impressive if you have cleaning staff to dust them. Nobody "forgot" it needs to be cleaned. They can just afford not to care.
Sarah Grape 4 years ago
looks like it belongs on a high ceiling in a big room where it would look smaller
Mike Stavola 4 years ago
There are people whose job is solely to clean light fixtures. Their bread and butter is crystal chandelier cleaning.
Brian Bennett 4 years ago
Can it really be that low? I'm short but I'm sure my hair would get caught in it!
M. Brown 4 years ago
They have a motorized lift mechanism so that they can be lowered to the height pictured for maintenance. Google "chandelier lift"
Load More Replies...
Ma Mp 4 years ago
Los cristales de esas lámparas se limpian con un spray específico. Se coloca una toalla o papel absorbente debajo de ellas, en el suelo, y se echa el spray. La lámpara gotea líquido sucio al principio y cuando sale limpio ya está. Hay que mantenerla apagada durante todo el proceso y hasta que está completamente seca.
Brandy Grote 4 years ago
If you can afford that light, you can afford to pay a company to come clean it.
Brian bell 4 years ago
They just call in the worker who does the leaf blowing every now and then.
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
I cant stop looking at the upward facing shades on the top. Those would have to be completely removed to clean them, as all the airborne dust would settle down at the very bottom of the shade.
Birgit Sommer 4 years ago
This is a preemie compared to the chandelier at the Cosmopolitan in Vegas. Look it up, it's mind-blowing!
Birgit Sommer 4 years ago
This is a preemie compared to the chandelier at the Cosmopolitan in Vegas. Look it up. It's mind-blowing.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 4 years ago
The Phantom of the Opera would have a field day over this!
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
Spray crystal wash. Turn off electricity. Put a waterproof tarp underneath. Spray has a lot of ammonia and evaporates quickly, but the dirt drips off.
Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
Tell me you have too much time and money on your hands without telling me you have too much time and money… 🤦🏽♀️
#13
This Entire Room
#14
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.
#15
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
#16
My Toes And Shins Hurt Just Looking At This. Hope You Like Cobwebs
#17
Indoor Beach. Oof
#18
Seletti: Monkey Chandelier By Marcantonio
I wish I had it but DAMN.
(also, it cost too much for me.)
(BUT ANYWAY DAMN!!!)
#19
Found In The Wild. My Mom, Who Has No Knowledge Of Facebook Or This Group, Her First Words Were "Try Cleaning That."
#20
Ummm
#21
Just.... Why?! Even If The Bowl Is Smooth, The Outside Is Just...
#22
Yeah, It's An Art Installation. Very Ugly Art
#23
I'd Like To Personally Say F**k You To Whoever Invented This Damn Kitchen Gadget. You Don't Know How Many Nights It Would Be My Turn To Do The Dishes And This F**ker Always, Always, Ended Up Being Used. I Hate It So Much
#24
It's Cute Tho
Raven Sheridan 4 years ago (edited)
Is this a mug for cat haters? Every time you have tea of coffee, you get to drown the kitty.
#27
Peak Impracticality
#28
20 Stories Of Metal Loovers
#29
The Pieces That Are Overlapped Would Be A Nuisance To Polish! And As Someone Easily Distracted I Wouldn't Know What Piece Of Mirror To Look In When Using It But That's Just Me
#30
Just... Why
Big Blue Cat 4 years ago
The idea is fun, but cleaning not so much. Also these thing break so easily I would constantly think I'm drinking glass shards.
#31
This Chest...the Cuts Are Like 5cm Deep In Some Spots...
#32
Feast Your Eyes On This Monstrosity
#33
This Mirror I Saw At A Bar In Charleston
#34
“Giant Corn Stool” - There’s A Joke In There Somewhere
#35
These Ceiling Mics In The Choir Room At My School
You can’t reach them without a ladder and I don’t think they have ever been cleaned.
(I’m not good at descriptions but I tried)
Description: A small black ceiling microphone with a large cobweb wrapped around it.
26
#36
Things Designed By People Who Don't Have To Clean Them And Bought By The People Who Don't Care About Cleaning Them
#37
I Want This. But I Don't Want The Drama Associated With Cleaning It
#38
I Thought This Would Fit Here
Becky Samuel 4 years ago
Copper ball bearings to clean the insides of glassware and decanters without scratching.
#39
I Found One In The Wild!! About Eight Feet Long, Hanging From A Door Frame. Various Beautiful Sea Shells Tied To A Central Cord. The Angles, Textures, And How Tight They're Strung Together Would Never Allow A Duster Through Properly. The Central Cord Is Hemp So Can't Get It Wet! And The Small Crevasses Are Impossible To Reach, Especially In The Spiral And Hollow Shells. Beautiful Idea, But The Dust Magnet This Is Makes Me Want To Burn It With Fire
#40
Artificial Grass In The Bathroom. I Wonder How Long Before It Ends Up In Yup, That's A Piss Corner Mushroom
#41
Found In The Wild. Not Meant For Anyone With Kids, Dogs Or Has People Come Over
#42
This Made Me Uncomfortable
#43
Saw In A Buy Sell Group. I'd Power Wash This Chair All The Way To The Dump Lmao
#44
Creative…
#45
Finally Found Something To Share: This Kettle. It Is Without Any Openings Besides The Spout, And Was Found At A Cabin We Were Renting For The Week.
How the heck can one throughly clean out the inside?? Maybe if only water was ever used in it it'd be alright, but this is at a rental where previous people put who knows what in there!
#46
Saw This At A Hallmark. The Bottom Is Textured And It’s Terrible
#47
Beautiful, But It Would Look Like Absolute Crap In No Time
#48
Imagine All The Delicious Flavors It Gets From All The Visitors
From the bottom of the cone (attached to the whisk) there’s actual chocolate coming down this!! Y’all are the first people I thought of when I saw this!
(Lindt Chocolate Factory and Museum in Zürich, Switzerland, we just visited today)
#49
Why
#50
Thankfully This Knitted Room Divider Is Already Grey To Hide The Dust It Collects Since The Knitted Parts Can't Be Removed. I Guess If You Really Liked It You Could Cut Them Off Then Stitch The Knitted Portion Back
#51
Poorly-Designed-Things-Hard-To-Clean
#52
Mini Wall Of Never Ending Snot Anyone?
#53
Poorly-Designed-Things-Hard-To-Clean
#54
These Covers
#55
Just Saw This "Sensory Carpet" That's Supposed To Help Develop The Foot Muscles Of The Baby. I Like The Idea But How The Hell Would You Clean That???
#56
🤔
#57
I Work At A Thrift Store And This Brownie(?) Tin Came Through. We Still Put It Out
#58
Willy Wonka Keychain Designed For Eating Pixi Stix I Think. My Older Cousin Gave This To Me When I Was A Kid. Yes You Can Still See Tiny Specks Of Some Kind Of Candy Residue Inside
I never ate from it as far as I can remember, but for some reason I carried it around with me as a lucky charm and I’m still convinced it contains some magic power of good luck.
#59
Just Saw This Nightmare Go By For Sale; There Are No Drawer Pulls And I Can’t Even Begin To Imagine How You’d Keep Fingerprints Off This For More Than 30 Seconds!?!
#60
Found This One In Another Group
#61
This Is At A Wedding Venue. If You Look Closely You Can See The Bubbles From The Soap In The Standing Water
#62
These Table Cloths
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Yes, they are ugly and impractical. But they fit in a washing machine.
#63
This Shot Cup In A Vegas Gift Shop With This Non Removable Lady Sitting On I
Hannah Edwards 4 years ago
Looks highly collectible, I’d put it in my bathroom with cotton buds in it or something
#64
So This Is A New Installation In My City Where You, I Guess, Pretend To Have Like, A Tea On The Porch. Unfortunately I Don't Think They Accounted For Stray Cats. We Set Our Things Down Before Discovering A Lone Turd
Big Blue Cat 4 years ago
I doubt that is cat turd because cats like to bury their turds and I bet strays can find nice sandy spot to do their business. I'm not saying it' impossible, I've seen a cat poop on a yard and just leave it there but that kitty was oddball in other ways and didn't behave like a normal cat at all.
#65
Apparently These Toilet Cushions Are A Thing Now.... Why?
Big Blue Cat 4 years ago
What is that string for? There is an inage indicating like you'll get struck by lightning or maybe electrocuted if you pull it.
#66
This Would Be Hella Dusty All The Time, And Also I Would 💯stab Myself In The Kneecap On That Lower Branch While Trying To Get Something From The Upper Ones. And Yet...
#67
Just Stop
#68
The Bidet Attachment On My Toilet. I Need A Rag, A Toothbrush, And A Q-Tip To Get All The Nooks And Crannies Clean
#69
The Earrrrrrrrsssss
#70
I Love This Light Fixture But I Don't Love Cleaning It
#71
Looks Like Spider City To Me
daisydiamond 4 years ago
I used to have one of these. it's not that hard to clean as the rocks come out of the basket thing. not really a problem for me
#72
I… Have A Hard Time With A Lot Of What’s Going On Here
#73
Saw This Pot In A Museum From 1500bc. Imagine All The Wine Gunk At The Sides And Bottom
#74
They Look Cute But... I'm Not Sure How You Would Clean Them?
#75
Poorly-Designed-Things-Hard-To-Clean
#76
Just Why
Danish Dynomummy 4 years ago
I imagine this is what the lovechild of bigfoot and Kim K would look like.
#77
So I'm At Disney World And I Saw This Hat- A White, Furry Yeti Hat... On The Day We Practically Got Rained Out Of Animal Kingdom
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
So, you bought it, it got soaked by the rain, and was never the same again? Am I on the right track there?
#78
Poorly-Designed-Things-Hard-To-Clean
Lyone Fein 4 years ago
This doesn't look hard to clean. I'll bet all the seat cushions are removable.......and the covers can be thrown in an industrial washer. Then all you have to do is wipe down the hard structures with cleaning fluid.
#79
This Freaking Quesadilla Maker
#80
Immediately Thought Of This Group When I Saw This On Twitter
Monique Reed 4 years ago
This could be good for someone doing physical therapy--it's essentially an adjustable hand weight.
#81
Some Ad That Just Showed Up On My Feed
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Tonya Wallace 4 years ago
I'm surprised that the most irritating thing to clean isn't on here. The ceiling fan.
Holly Allen 4 years ago
Those are irritating. I have two in my classroom. I have to stand on a desk and use a yardstick with a wipe rubber banded to the tip. I think I should invest in one of those long-handled feather duster thingies
Load More Replies... Ryan Deschanel 4 years ago
Some of those things were actual poorly designed and hard to clean, but for the rest, you are just lazy.
memyselfandI 4 years ago
See, a lot of these things really don’t need to be cleaned. I mean, sure, if you’re going to eat out of it or it might spread bacteria or fungi or something, yes, but otherwise not everything has to be clean all the time. So what if you can’t dust your chandelier? The only places people would see dust is on larger surfaces of it, which you can clean.
Lovin' Life 4 years ago
Wow! There's some hideous and scary designs in this. I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it cause I'd never put it in my home but it wouldn't be impossible to clean most of these. Maybe time consuming but it is doable.
Tonya Wallace 4 years ago
I'm surprised that the most irritating thing to clean isn't on here. The ceiling fan.
Holly Allen 4 years ago
Those are irritating. I have two in my classroom. I have to stand on a desk and use a yardstick with a wipe rubber banded to the tip. I think I should invest in one of those long-handled feather duster thingies
Load More Replies... Ryan Deschanel 4 years ago
Some of those things were actual poorly designed and hard to clean, but for the rest, you are just lazy.
memyselfandI 4 years ago
See, a lot of these things really don’t need to be cleaned. I mean, sure, if you’re going to eat out of it or it might spread bacteria or fungi or something, yes, but otherwise not everything has to be clean all the time. So what if you can’t dust your chandelier? The only places people would see dust is on larger surfaces of it, which you can clean.
Lovin' Life 4 years ago
Wow! There's some hideous and scary designs in this. I wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it cause I'd never put it in my home but it wouldn't be impossible to clean most of these. Maybe time consuming but it is doable.
You May Like 33 Useless Things People Found That Are Funny For No Reason 41 Times Designers Messed Up In A Minor Way, But It Ruined User Experience In A Big Way 27 Theater Visits That Were Memorable For All The Wrong Reasons
Gabija Palšytė
Rūta Zumbrickaitė
Greta Jaruševičiūtė
Related on Bored Panda
