Shared kitchens are often one of the busiest spaces in a shared house. Everyone uses them at different times of the day, and in theory they work because everyone makes a small effort to keep things tidy and respectful for the next person.
In practice, there are always a few habits that quietly irritate everyone else in the house. They’re rarely serious enough to start a confrontation, but they’re the sort of things people definitely notice.
Here are ten things people secretly hate about shared kitchens.
1. Dishes that sit in the sink for days
A few dishes after dinner is understandable. But when the same plate has been in the sink for three days, it begins to feel less like washing up and more like a long-term kitchen installation.
At this point some of the mugs are starting to grow interesting biological matter.
2. Someone using the entire counter
Especially when you just need a small corner of space to make toast. You end up performing an impressive balancing act with a plate half hanging off the only available inch of counter.
3. The mysterious food that belongs to no one
Half a jar of sauce, a container of something unidentifiable, or a vegetable that has clearly been there longer than anyone wants to admit.
4. Cooking that somehow fills the whole house with smoke
Usually accompanied by the fire alarm and someone frantically waving a tea towel underneath it.
5. The fridge shelf slowly expanding
Somehow one person’s food gradually spreads across multiple shelves until the rest of the house is left negotiating for space.
6. Leaving things “to soak”
A phrase that occasionally means “this pan will remain in the sink indefinitely.” The baked-on food somehow becomes even harder to remove.
7. Borrowing ingredients without mentioning it
A small splash of milk or olive oil is usually fine, but when half the bottle disappears people start to notice.
8. Cooking extremely elaborate meals at the busiest time
Right when three other people are also trying to make dinner.
9. Loud kitchen activity late at night
The unmistakable sounds of chopping boards, cupboard doors and clattering pans when everyone else is trying to sleep.
10. Finishing shared items without replacing them
Especially things like bin bags, washing-up liquid or kitchen roll.
Shared kitchens rarely stay perfectly harmonious for long. But if you’ve lived in a shared house for any length of time, chances are you’ve encountered at least a few of these moments along the way.
