Here Are 20 Items to AVOID in Your Home (If You HATE CLEANING!!) | Low Maintenance + Minimalist Home

[@AtoZenLife]

Do you hate cleaning? Is there anything you AVOID for that very reason? Please give this video a like 👍 + comment with your thoughts, stories, and experiences!

[@wesleywinchester1890]

I dislike cleaning all the cleaning tool I use to clean with like the vacuum. It must be taken apart and given a deep clean often. THATS WHY THEY MAKE VACUUMS TO BE TAKEN APART. ESPECIALLY if you have pets. Can you imagine the germs and filth growing in the tubes. Moisture and food do not belong in a vacuum. I know it is said that having pets is good for our mental health and makes us learn to be responsible for a living creature and helps us get out and exercise more. BUT I LOVE A HOME CLEAN AND FREE OF PETS

[@wesleywinchester1890]

And remember DO NOT PUT VACUUM BACK TOGETHER UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY DRY

[@JH-mr2pn]

I often find the entire point of minimalism - the motivation to be one and now the inspiration to stay one, is simply to clean less. Most projects are designed to make it so I don't need to come back to an area for months - except to dust. We've begun to replace furniture that has drawers, or space to hold things; what goes there is meant to go there. We prefer to remove the option to clutter rather than police the clutter we allow to accumulate. When we identify a new "hot spot" of declutter we work to remove it, rather than organize it. As much as I want to disagree with the naysayers, currently I find our trash heap each week is WAY bigger than my neighbors. How do minimalists go through so much crap?" I always ask my wife..."We're not supposed to have anything". I'm not talking like for a couple weeks, but for over a year, every week...If people saw how much we gave away or donated too, wow... Yet we spend vastly less money, we eat our portions and don't have leftovers, and everyone is always stunned at how immaculate our house is whenever they come over, announced or not. Most importantly, we argue so much less, our marriage has improved and our relationship with our kids is super tight. I find minimalism has made us more aware of what experiences we're having rather than everyone getting lost in their own clutter.

[@wesleywinchester1890]

@@JH-mr2pn" yes stay one" " no organizing" "yes enjoy the moment" EXACTLY WHAT A TO ZEN LIFE SAYS. You learned well what she teaches. Now if I could only conquer all my crap

[@debraarbuthnott3380]

To rinse your shower use a small watering can - easier than a bowl

[@minimalismandmore]

One of my biggest motivations for my minimalist home is to spend as little time cleaning as possible 😂 I don't enjoy doing it but I do enjoy a clean home 🧘‍♀️

[@MalinaCC]

You nailed this list! My house has like 75% of these. No wonder I’m always cleaning 😭

[@AtoZenLife]

Oh no! Which ones are your biggest pet peeves?

[@lana7422]

100% agreed with 100% of your comments. When I used to complain to my late husband about some of these things, I also used to say (excuse me everyone) that they were probably designed by a man who didn't clean his own home. (My husband was also a designer/engineer and had to deal with quality control of product design.)

[@mollyb7305]

As a house-cleaner, the banes of my job are glass dining room tables (if you plan to eat at the table EVER, don’t get a glass table!!), glass shower doors, and gas cook tops. None of my homes have dark flooring, thank goodness!

[@bethanya4974]

Oh my goodness, I used to clean for a couple with glass shower doors- I cannot agree more. As much as hate them, I’d take a glass dining table over the shower doors…

[@ruthlloyd1163]

I have a glass topped dining room table. Always has a tablecloth on it.

[@letonove1578]

We have in our house a dark glass dining table, a dark floor, dark furniture, gas cooktop 🎉 and glass shower doors. Sometimes I feel that I hate my life 😂 Never again!!!

[@Erica-en2qz]

Thank goodness I don't have the first two, but I hear ya with the gas cook top. I thought it was me, but it's so hard to clean!

[@julianaphang6534]

There are combi induction stoves where you can use all types of pots and pans

[@kathym.9140]

The only problem with not having any carpets or rugs is when one becomes a senior. My neighbor is an orthopedic surgeon, and he said when wall-to-wall carpeting became passé and more people were putting in luxury vinyl or hardwood floors, he saw many more cases of injuries to seniors who fell and didn't have the softening effect of a carpet or rug to break their fall.

[@huitrecouture]

TOTALLY believe that. I tripped and fell the WEEK AFTER getting rid of my expensive carpet with the thick pad and it took MONTHS for my arm and shoulder to feel more normal. Still missing full range of motion in the shoulder and it was DEC 1ST!

[@annw1395]

Or they tripped over the throw rugs.

[@lucybrown1804]

It's also good for eldery pets, having less traction on the wooden/vinyl floors is harder on the joints, so carpet is much kinder for those with arthritis.

[@rozvanp7022]

I love my induction cooktop and will never go back to gas or electric if I can help it. So easy to clean, heats the pan exceptionally fast, and for safety it can't be beat!

[@Rudelherz]

It is not safe, I regret having one. Especially pregnant women should stay away.

[@MyFocusVaries]

From experience, I can add very light floors and plain white counter tops to your list. We instantly regretted our new almost white wood floors once they were installed. They're exactly as you've experienced with super dark floors. Though I must say, the floors aren't nearly as bad since we got a dog. Little Shadow does an excellent job of keeping the floors clear in the kitchen and under the dining table. 😂 Unfortunately, he doesn't eat dust, so the entry area is still a mess. 😉

[@AtoZenLife]

😂 Have you considered a robot vacuum? I think that’s the only way I could live with floors like this long-term, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

[@MyFocusVaries]

@@AtoZenLife I put in a larger area rug in the entry way, and seriously considered renaming our dog Roomba, because he does such a good job in the kitchen and dining room. The rest, I'm resigned to. But I live to warn people off the decision.

[@KatrenaS]

@@AtoZenLifemy robot vacuum (self - emptying as well) is far and wide the best cleaning item we have ever purchased! I can sweep and mop my floors, then run ‘Sharky’ and oh my-where did all of this stuff come from???? My hubby was the one that pulled the trigger on this expensive item, after he watched it clean a ‘seemingly clean’ floor! It was well worth every penny

[@huitrecouture]

So everyone needs gray floors? Ridiculous. Get a robot vacuum.

[@MyFocusVaries]

@@huitrecouture that's not a kind or thought out response. A mid tone wood floor probably a good choice.

[@angella7576]

This list is great but 1 HUGE issue not 9n the list is glass showers!!! Ugggg I hate cleaning my shower every fricken day! I'm in the process of designing my retirement house. I've considered everything mentioned on this list but I also designed my walk in shower to have a curtain on the front.

[@AtoZenLife]

We had one and squeegeed it after every use - can definitely be a pain!

[@angelacross2216]

I spent years polishing the hard water stains off every surface in my house… especially just after I had cleaned them. Finally I got a water softener. Fixed.

[@Helen-v6v6l]

OMGosh I didn’t think anyone else thought like me! Social media if full of all the things that you mention as being in vogue or desirable, but I’m so practical that anything that makes like life hard is not for me. Thanks for this post 🙂

[@annamariekorte7259]

100% agree. I HATE carpeting!!!!

[@KCallaAK]

My daughter, 34, always says, mom, your house (very small and minimalist) is pristine. Welllll ALL of those things you mentioned Melissa, I have dealt with through the years (dark flooring/counters, etc.) and learned! Plus she is the one with the little ones now... not me! Excellent video young lady!

[@debbieg5543]

I changed out the shower head in my apartment for like $20, seriously simple, and I can just switch it back when I move. Highly recommend it.

[@ruthlloyd1163]

This 👍🏻

[@kimhouchins1103]

Exactly what I thought of when she mentioned the shower heads

[@saskiadeciu]

Your Video came about the right time! Just moving places and I suffer from severe OCD. Minimalism helped me a lot! And now moving into the new place I want to make the home as low maintenance as possible thank youuuuuuu❤️❤️❤️

[@hmsmile1225]

😊 Never had any echo issues on you channel - I do use overearheadphones and I very much apreciate that you don´t use music in the backround 👍👍👍

[@cheryl5218]

Me too. Though the funny dolphin noise made me laugh , my puppy barked. Lol

[@dianasimplifies]

Music is VERY distracting to me. I can only do one thing at a time.

[@kennethbailey9853]

This world is a better place every time You post. 😊

[@kristinm4005]

My cats are definitely the majority of my cleaning, but they are worth it!

[@dianasimplifies]

💯 long time pet owner here! They are our kids 😂

[@kristinm4005]

@@dianasimplifies most definitely ❤️

[@geschichtenausdemnagarium5804]

Cats are Not Things😮 I agree❤

[@goodenoughgirl8102]

Same here! Lol

[@MissMolly75]

We're in the middle of our second complete bathroom reno in just a few months. Our bathroom fans were also routed into the attic, literally going straight up to the Ridge Vent. Apparently this is allowed (or was allowed 30 yrs ago when this house was built). However, what happened was condensation would build up on the duct that was going straight up, then it would all run back down the duct and onto the ceiling of the bathroom. So both bathrooms had water damage on the ceilings, AND tons of mold and mildew on the ceiling and top of the walls. We'd scrub it off every few months, but you could always see it. So we finally just gutted the bathrooms, and had both the fans re-routed out the side of the house. Also had much stronger fans put in.

[@jlmo3027]

How about transferring food products into coordinated containers? Containers to clean that you never needed in the first place, plus the surplus in your original package that didn’t fit in the new container.

[@dorisw5558]

I would never let that keep me from having a dog. I hate cleaning but I grit my teeth and do it anyway (like so much in my life - work, taxes, talking to humans etc)

[@cheryl5218]

Lmao 😂

[@Hillside-Hive]

Talking to humans 😂

[@MyFocusVaries]

My dog keeps my too-light floors clean for me 😂

[@peterwilson9165]

Humans suck big time

[@inihilisme1511]

Just get a hairless cat next time ;)

[@barbaraparkinson703]

I agree with all of these points! I had my own house cleaning business for 10 years and cleaning my own house for many decades, I understand all of these points.

[@miraearles3372]

Tip for cleaning the stoves grates, most of them can go in the dishwasher! Then you just have to clean the stovetop

[@findingaway5512]

I havea floor i really like that is like a mix of lighter and darker distressed looking. I love it. Very forgiving. And our counte is marbley looking counter. Made if some sort of plastic but doesnt show dirt and stains becuse it has lots of shades of dark gray swirls/ bits on a whitish counter. Hides stuff well.

[@olivemaycards]

Totally agree with most of these. The handheld/combo shower is a very easy DIY fix. You could do it in your rental right now, a 10 minute fix, and take it with you when you move. The toilet isn’t though - the pipes aren’t set up for wall mounting in US homes and some would argue that the in-the-wall plumbing has its own trade offs, but you can upgrade a floor mounted toilet to a smooth sided model. The ones with the exposed s-bend piping like you showed are much harder to clean, so gross. I don’t understand why people don’t demand the ones where the bend is hidden inside a smooth “skirt” - they are much more common in other countries.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

I agree about S toilets vs smooth sided toilets. The last two days, I cleaned two of my friend’s bathrooms for him. One had S (what a pain! Literally!!), while the other was smooth sided. Also, toilets that are so close to one wall (or vanity), it’s nearly impossible to get in between to clean. Especially if you’re older, and bending, getting on the floor, and getting back up are difficult.

[@trinam2503]

Toilets ised to be smooth sided!! I have no idea why it changed. But i MISS smooth sided toilets. The S bend is so hard to keep clean.

[@debbiewolfe9621]

Had shaker style kitchen cabinetry but changed to flat front because I just couldn't deal with cleaning all the inset panels.😊

[@gwenj5419]

Recently remodeled to flat front cabinet doors and I love how easy they are to clean. No corners to catch dust and grease!

[@mffmoniz2948]

I rented a house that had tile floors with this pretty light brown/bege/lightpink ceramic tile. I looked, ok, looks clean. I'd sweep the floors and be 😮😮😮😮😮😮 from where did all this dust came from?

[@bethany9477]

Loved your sense of humour in this - "Like the wicked witch splashing water" 💚🧹😄

[@AtoZenLife]

Glad you enjoyed that 😂

[@michelle7352]

I love watching your videos because I see how a clean, uncluttered house looks (not like mine). I admit I'm a lousy house cleaner now (80 yo and live a!one in 680 sf). Many of the illustrations in your video of how you clean are foreign to me. I'm more of a "hide clutter away and clean the top surface" kind of person. I know it will eventually need a good deep clean and organization, but I really detest housecleaning and will procrastinate and workaround to avoid. But you give me a vision of what it could be like to have a cleaner, more minimalist home. Not that I'll ever match your level of clean, but without something to shoot for I wouldn't know where to start. Thanks for your effort in putting these videos together!

[@AtoZenLife]

Thanks for being here and remember - small steps still add up to big progress!

[@DuchessOfWales]

Aussiedoodles also guarantee extra cleaning! Just want to thank you for your candidness and great channel. I lost both parents in the last ten months and am grateful I found your channel long ago. Your family is so beautiful, and I am very happy things came together so well for you! 😍

[@joyfullysimple]

Ugh, I agree with ALL of these. We bought our home 1,5 years ago, and I cannot wait until we can switch out the floors (currently saving up for that). They are a dark gray-brown. I also regret ever buying fabric covered dining room chairs (also saving up for new ones 🤣). Ours are looking nasty. And the former owners put in a super flat vessel sink in the guest bathroom. I despise that thing. The water splashes everywhere. We have a dual shower head in the shower, consisting of a mounted rain shower head and a second small one, that's detachable. I would highly recommend this combo!

[@mffmoniz2948]

This hotel renovated and they replaced the reception wood countertop with a dark glass one. They had to start to keep a glass cleaner there because finger prints would just scream from the surface. Changed the hardwood floors with carpet... Why? How do you keep that clean? Now you can't move the bed to vacuum underneath, now you can't mope a spill... 🤦‍♀️

[@dbartz5510]

Wise list. I am in my 16th house, and all of these are a real pain. This helps if you are thinking of doing any updates or diy projects. We are getting older and want a maintenance free exterior and a simplified interior. Thank you!

[@PrairieGirlio]

I completely agree with you about pedestal sinks (edit: i meant vessel sinks). We have 2 and I will never have them again. And they cannot be replaced without getting a whole new cabinet due to the lower height of the actual counter top. PLEASE read up on gas stoves! They are being phased out due to the risks, especially for children, with the gas in the air.

[@MyFocusVaries]

Yes, gas stoves reduce indoor air quality.

[@Dutch_chess]

I agree with gas top. I'm adding electric cooktops to this. Those can be hard to clean. I'm always amazed how resistant to scratching and chipping induction is to cleaning. I use Barkeeper's Friend when it gets so badly crusted frying huge batches of messy deepfry. It looks new after cleaning.

[@ciaradresser2303]

Love your videos!!! Totally agree with almost all of these. When I was 18, I was taking a bath at a friend’s house and thought “ooo jacuzzi!” And flipped that horrible little switch. All that black stuff came pouring out all over me! 🤢🤮

[@AtoZenLife]

YES oh my goodness - sounds cute and romantic, is a nightmare to clean!

[@arabianknights7391]

That's old soap scum that has worked its way through the plumbing. Same as what comes out of the holes in your sink. Yuck.

[@cheryl5218]

Ewwwww. I had never heard of that. 😳

[@bnbtemple5936]

One of the most value- packed videos I've seen in quite a while. So much valuable info! Yes to all your suggestions, Marissa! (Still working on the decluttering 😊) I'd add to your list: no plastic-coated open shelving in laundry room. The greasy, caked-in dust is a bear to clean off. Never again. Next time: closed cabinets above washer/dryer.

[@laurawood4476]

Yes ! Down with dark counter tops and especially dark floors . Wood floors are so awesome .

[@Kelliewynn1976]

There’s only 3 things I need to avoid…kids, a husband and double coated dogs!! 😉

[@AtoZenLife]

😂

[@pia9343]

We have an Aussie/lab mix, enough said, who sleeps in the bed with us. You can imagine my daily routine with our bedding! But he is the sweetest thing and we love him snuggling with us❤.

[@gracemeneses9217]

So true😂

[@nanchesca3950]

So true! My kids have left the nest, I'm single and for the first time in 30 years, no pets. Very easy to keep clean

[@AnaRodriguez-wn8qq]

Loll oh boy, I have all 3 😅

[@jeanbutler2832]

The same color principles apply to the color or your automobile. Black and white show dirt. I've owned two silver cars that hide the dirt well.

[@francoiselafferty-hancock5112]

Argh yes! We've had two beige, suede-ish fabric armchairs that we bought in 2006 when we bought our home. I wanted a darker colour but that's all they had in the shop and i liked the style. We had our child in 2019 and it was already hard to keep these clean. So gross now! I was actually pleased when one of the chairs broke last year and we had to dump it. The other one doesn't have much longer either and we have a second hand set of two green, leather armchairs. One we're using now and the other is waiting in the wings! So much more durable! ☺️

[@mrsb_96]

Excellent list, Marissa. I would add a few things to my 'avoid' list: - decorative kitchen cabinets with ornate handles. Flat fronted cabinets are so easy and quick to wipe down. Handleless would be even better. - Glossy kitchen cabinets: they show every fingerprint! - Venetian blinds: dust collectors! - Decorative blankets & cushions, they look messy quickly and attract dust. - shower cubicles with folding doors: too many working parts to clean and maintain. I'm currently living with a number of the above 😂 but I think about these things a lot, and I'm working towards a much more simplified, easy to clean home in the future 🤞🏻

[@trekkie-cat]

Absolutely agree about open shelving. It looks messy and cluttered and more frequent dusting is needed. Next couch we get is not going to be light that's for sure, it gets dirty so easily! I'm sick of gas stovetops too!

[@melaniereynders]

We rented a place that had white marble countertops minimal grey streaks through it! It was a nightmare to clean and got stained all the time. I don’t love the shade of brown of the countertops in our house, but I LOVE how low maintenance they are.

[@sunshine3914]

As someone who has sold natural stone & ceramic, & as someone who’s a housekeeper… you’re 💯 correct. Choose granite over marble, larger tiles over small ones, & dark grout (never use bleach). The nightmare 3 story townhome with dark chocolate wood flooring that I clean, belongs to a princess, & it shows every strand of blonde hair & every skin cell ever shed… I have to wear a hair net in order to get out of there.

[@AtoZenLife]

😳😳😳

[@dianasimplifies]

I clean houses and I hate granite and marble both. Would never have it but each to his own lol.

[@educationcafeCanada]

I have white slip covered furniture with three dogs and love them. Stained? Toss those cushion covers etc. in to the wash and voila all is good. So, some white is good.

[@mojyoqueen350]

I have similar experience with induction. In my childhood home we always had a classic gas stove, but recently I moved in with my partner and in our rented flat we have induction stove and cleaning it usually takes me 5 minutes max. Life-changing!

[@thebestwillow]

If I had dark flooring, I think I'd get a robot hoover. And have it go round main areas three times a day.

[@Summer_and_Rain]

wall mounted storage is great for vacuuming! Also having chairs and sofas that does not go all the way down to the floor, will also make cleaning easier.

[@renabale1541]

I have a play mat that looks like a rug. It was an expensive purchase, but such a good investment. Gives the kids a cushioned place to sit on the tile floor and play, but easy to clean when spills happen. Maybe not as aesthetic as a rug, but practical.

[@francoiselafferty-hancock5112]

I hate hand held shower heads but I do understand how they'd be useful for cleaning. Every place I've stayed at for some reason the metal cord thing always knocks into my bottom when I'm trying to have a shower. It's so gross and annoying!

[@GiftSparks]

About Dark Flooring. PREACH! I had them put dark tiling in my kitchen. Worst mistake ever! Also- Dark flooring makes any room look smaller.

[@BMRoper]

Black end tabes and coffee tables are horrible at showing every speck of dust. Before I can even finish dusting all the pieces, the one I started on first has dust on it already.

[@nanchesca3950]

Years ago I cleaned a 10,000 sq/ft house. I used to be there 2 full days a week! They had huge black granite tiles in the front entry and corridor and they were high gloss so they had to be washed and polished every day, they showed every foot print!

[@AtoZenLife]

Oh my goodness! That sounds a like a nightmare to maintain 😰

[@ellat8804]

Thanks for another awesome video Marissa! ❤ I don't know anything good about vessel sinks...and small tiles in the bathroom...oh gosh, no thanks! My new apartment has large water repelling floor tiles with minimal grout space, they are non slip, dry quickly and low cleaning effort due to their large size, highly recommend them!

[@helenafernandes5857]

Definitely a video to save for life! Thank you so much

[@catherinegilmore2709]

Ugh! If this was a test I would have failed. Currently moving into my in-laws former B&B (6,000 sq ft!), now with 3 long term rental spaces above, leaving my family a 3-4,000 sq ft home still. It's got stucco walls, stone floors, gas range, jetted tub (yes, it's disgusting), too much wasted space, and VERY cluttered. Your my muse Marissa as I go through deciding what stays, gets donated, sold, or tossed. Love that your new home in Chicago the boys were leap frogging. My 4 girls have enough space in most areas to use their scooters and balance bikes! Kinda loving that ability. Thank you for your content, wisdom, and inspiration.

[@vladimir.zlokazov]

I've been visiting the US for a short while and was totally baffled that some people would have carpet flooring in their house and would not take their street shoes while indoors.

[@AtoZenLife]

Yep, yep, I grew up like that. 😂 My husband was appalled when he saw us wearing shoes in the house!

[@vladimir.zlokazov]

@@AtoZenLife yeah, I was too when I saw it, because since childhood not taking off shoes at the door was a total taboo :)

[@queenbee7819]

Excellent video. Agree with everything.. Additions: IMO shower curtains are way easier to clean than glass shower doors (& the grimy metal runners for those doors). Even though out of style, I like my patterned granite countertop (it never looks dirty) vs solid color. Leather furniture cleans with damp cloth. Microfiber much harder to clean. Towels - dark colors easier than light colors. Appliances - textured white (I don't care if they're out of style), super easy to clean. Never show fingerprints. Our laminate plank flooring (even though unfortunately darker than was wise), infinitely easier to clean than the wood flooring. The spacing between wood floor planks, shrunk/expanded through out year & was impossible to keep clean.

[@joannewilson1306]

Agree with all these. We have dark floors and dark matt benches and they are a nightmare. They look dirty straight after they've been cleaned (having two cats with white fur doesn't help...)

[@oklyuchinskaya]

great advice! yet in a country like mine, you like gas stove for the fact that if something happens to electricity and hot water you still can cook and heat for some time :) a backup, same with landline as a backup for mobile.

[@carollane7938]

I swapped to gas because of power outages. We dropped our land line because it was bundled with the internet, and satellite then the phone would go out with the electricity.

[@Erica-en2qz]

​@carollane7938 I LOVE my landline -- I had to really insist on actual landlines, not a voip, which is what they want everyone to have, but my area still has the old wiring, so I told them to let me have a real landline while the old landline phone wires are still available. I don't know why they are so insistent on getting rid of them.

[@pamelastroud]

Thank you for mentioning the open shelves. I see these all the time on home renovation shows, and I get that they are very popular right now but I'm always thinking about the dust and grease that would collect on not only the shelves but everything stored on them. I also have a vinyl tub/shower combo, which I know is not as beautiful as tile and a glass door, but they are so easy to clean! I also agree about the area rugs!

[@huitrecouture]

My neighbor installed carpet with COVE baseboard. Like a hotel. Brilliant. She only has to vacuum never clean baseboards.

[@sarahthatcher123]

So refreshing to hear someone on KZbin being so realistic and practical. Great tips. Thank you.

[@lennyburdick3192]

I have always rented. First thing I do is install a hand held shower head. Usually I install and leave them gifting the next person.

[@utek3420]

We had countertops in a similar granite that you show, and one thing I really didn't like about it was that it doesn't show dirt at all. So, there was always some mess left behind by ... well, not me ... and I hate setting stuff down on a dirty countertop. Our new house has high-end laminate, and I am very happy about that.

[@rhondatallent2396]

I use a dishbrush to clean my floor-mounted toilet.

[@MESDR6886]

I had a jacuzzi tub, cleaned it with bleach throughout the system and other agents as prescribed to sanitize the P.O.S..... sanitized system no less than 5x before use and still got a bladder infection upon first use, and will never use one again!

[@AtoZenLife]

Ugh, how frustrating 😢

[@hopeinparis]

I love the look of a pristine, clean, white tiled floor in a bathroom. I hate - hate - living with it.

[@TasNiaki]

I had a wall mounted toilet once, and it's not stable. It could not bear the continued on and off weight. So it got cracks and fell off the wall.

[@lenakohl2339]

Induction cooktop works like a gas cooktop (e.g. the heat gets reduced immediately), but without the mess. And not just the mess on the cooktop, but also on all surfaces, since an open flame leads to film on all surfaces from the fumes.

[@abbibrannan333]

Building code everywhere I have lived, say a vent fan or a window is a must have in a bathroom, absolute.

[@bnbtemple5936]

Have a powerful vent fan in second bathroom, but how I yearn for a window instead.

[@jessicaquiroz7178]

The one mistake I made in my kitchen was using a metal shelf as my pantry. Metal shelves are the worst when it comes to cleaning. I could get the dust and grime from everyday living off of them no matter how much I scrubbed.

[@leem-tt6dh]

I had so many Billy book cases with doors in my home in The Netherlands. Essentially no storage in the houses besides in the tiny kitchens and bedrooms. Now I've left Europe I've put all tall Billy's in my library (without doors) so have 8 of them in the room. In Europe they held everything but now they only have books and board games in them.

[@treluvstrees999]

Good video! I am getting a gas stove for the first time ever. Came with the house. And yep, have a bathroom with a window that doesn’t open but will just keep a fan going, I guess.😮

[@flohough1870]

Agree with you on everything. My induction cooktop was such a game changer after 14 years of dealing with a gas one. I don't ever want to go back to gas.

[@reginaquinones4190]

Great video! My husband and I are planning to downsize soon and I will keep your list in mind as we look for our next home.

[@AtoZenLife]

Wishing you the best of luck. It’s a tough market right now 🙏 (at least where we are!)

[@judithscharf6318]

Open shelving and knickknacks.

[@bonnytiley3998]

Great tips! Love your channel ❤

[@laura6796]

Great advice! I like a gas stove, but keeping it clean is a nightmare! 😮

[@niajones9017]

Brilliant video! Definitely in my keep folder. We have dark floors and a gas hob in the kitchen and small tiles in the bathroom that the previous owner put in 🙈

[@maryloukelly7696]

I agree with you 100% on all 20 points!

[@Sassa328]

Gas lobby got us all to believe that gas was the best for cooking (Vox has a great piece on this). Induction is actually more precise. There’s also inevitably leakage that happens with gas piping in your home which is obviously bad for you.

[@AtoZenLife]

Oh that’s interesting! Will have to hunt for that article 👍

[@wolfe6220]

When I move, my handheld showerhead goes with me. Its great for bathing our dogs, plus it has a filter in the handle that removes all the icky stuff in our hard water. Now my hair feels much softer, my skin doesn't itch and I use way less moisturizer.

[@cheryl5218]

That was a really good video. 🥰 I could see from past places and learn what to watch for as well in the future. My Condo now has a shower insert with a grab bar. Best invention. I purchased a house that vented into the attic. I had to replace the roof, the beams holding it up and the venting system in the bathroom. Ugh. Thank you for your Information and inspiring way of presenting it. 😊

[@kwinsane1294]

Buy your own showerhead! We rent, and the places we have been always had the crappiest showerheads. We have a showerhead that is a big square with a separate hose attachment. It was like $40 and only takes a few minutes to swap out the original. I love a relaxing shower. I can't make my tiny tub from the 80s bigger or get a wall mounted toilet, but I can add my showerhead and bidet! One way we've made our cheap rentals more comfortable ❤ Just don't accidentally throw out the original or you'll have problems on moving day!

[@veronikab1607]

May I ask where you bought that beautiful orange couch in your Berlin apartment? Can't stop thinking about it ❤ thank you, also for your content;) ;)

[@AtoZenLife]

It’s an IKEA Landskrona 4-seater 😉👍

[@gwenj5419]

Another problem is with surfaces that are too shiny. They show everything especially when the light hits them. I had this problem with bamboo flooring that showed every footprint. My quartz countertops are like this too because they are a solid color shiny surface. Better too get something matt and with some color variation.

[@teresapadilla1958]

Studies say people that have a pet: dog, cat, etc. Live longer! Not negotiable! Love my 4 foot babies❤ Can't imagine my life without my canines!

[@verazeppelin2147]

Except our neighbour grandmother is 102 yearsold ,she never had any pet yet. 😅

[@RhondaTowanda]

Log walls and 20 foot high ceilings! Things I would live with gas stove, my 8 dogs, and dark floors! 🤎🌻🤎🌻🤎🌻

[@bnbtemple5936]

And, popcorn ceilings!

[@Shiryone]

I have a medium colored floor and I feel like I can see every spot on it too. There's no winning with floors.

[@glamourgirl1962]

We have had a jacuzzi for at least 13 years. It’s used regularly and I’ve never seen black chunks coming from the jets like shown here coming from yours.

[@DFBurgermeister]

Wow! With the exception of the free standing bathtub, I’ve had to deal with all the ‘don’t do’ things you named. I’ve been able to avoid most in my new home, but some (like floor mounted toilets) were unavoidable. I don’t have kids living with me so I have rugs, carpets, upholstered dining chairs, and light colored upholstered furniture. One of the perks of life after kids.

[@sinkintostillness]

I love a clean home, don't particularly enjoy cleaning though (although I'm working on changing that attitude - cleaning is becoming my time to pop on an audio book and be productive. I wish I could send you a picture of my dogs right now. We're all cuddled up together under a blanket, no need to put the heating on! I wouldn't change that, they're my company (they are very messy, but not necessarily more than my husband abd daughter 😂)

[@boasjanet7265]

Well - I agree and disagree with you about the rugs. Yes, they’re more work. But no - I don’t like an echo. And most homes without any rugs at all look cold and stark to me, not at all cozy and homelike. Also, I live in a condo unit where rules require 85% carpeting on any level over ground level. My friend lives in an apt with parquet floors, but the rules likewise require the floors covered as much as possible with area rugs. I’m sure this is to minimize noise for the residents below. I have two cats, and I agree wall to wall carpeting isn’t great. But I would still opt for hardwood floors with large area rugs if possible. Everything else you say is 💯% !

[@nancymillet8210]

I agree with everything you said. Having owned two homes and having dark floors in the kitchen I can relate to every little thing showing on it.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

I hate stainless steel appliances with a passion! Even the “less fingerprints” ones are a joke. And those clear plastic (or acrylic) ghost chairs and tables? What a nightmare to keep clean.

[@isabelle3365]

I regret buying a vacuum supposed to work by itself as it is such a pain to empty the dust tray...but that thing is still in a corner my livingroom as it works so my husband does not let me give it away. We use a new regular vacuum with a dust bag.

[@AtoZenLife]

Oh really!? So you don’t like your robot vacuum? I was thinking that might be a good solution for these dreadful floors that are never clean 🥲

[@trinam2503]

​@@AtoZenLifemake sure to read reviews when looking at them. My boss bought one for our shop and its really easy to clean. The shop still gets a good vacuuming every week or so by the housekeeper. But that little shark robot vacuum does the daily cleaning and honestly does a better job than we do!

[@marypladsen5231]

I liked this video a lot! There were things in it I hadn't thought of. The bathroom stuff especially. I always have a gas stove and I like it but boy is it hard to clean and easy to get dirty. Oh well.

[@jmsl_910]

good job melissa!

[@1anita1m]

Great information. Thank you 😊