When it comes to entertainment, TikTok is a melting pot. There’s so much for everyone to enjoy on the app, from dance challenges to home improvement hacks. But every once in a while, you might come across something strange and unusual on the app. And for many British TikTok users, that something is certain American home items.

British Tiktok Users Are Stumped by These American Home Items

Recently, British TikTok user Melissa Herrera posted a video pointing to the differences between British and American households.

@melissaherrera.444 Disclaimer: im not saying every house in america is like this nor am i saying every house in the uk doesnt have there things. Its just my own experience 😌🥰 #americanhouse #britlivinginusa #americanhousehold #usa #unitedkingdom ♬ original sound – Melissa Herrera

If you’re used to a common American home (like many of us are), what she noted might surprise you:

Garbage Disposals

“The sink, it has that thing where you can put the food down and you push the button and it grinds all the food out. We don’t have that in England either,” Herrera notes. In England, garbage disposals are less commonly installed due to different waste disposal systems and plumbing regulations.

Front Porches

Keurig Coffee Makers

“I never saw one of these until I came here. It’s a Keurig coffee machine. Every single household in [the U.S.A.] has them,” she added. The coffee culture in the UK is historically centered around tea consumption. While coffee has gained popularity, traditional methods like drip coffee and espresso machines are more commonly used for coffee preparation.

Window Screens

Herrera finds window screens even more puzzling: “When you open the window, you still haven’t really opened the window because there’s a net there.” In many parts of the U.S., especially in warmer regions and areas with a higher prevalence of insects, window screens are essential for keeping insects out while allowing fresh air to flow into homes. On the other hand, the climate in much of Britain is milder, and insect infestations are generally less severe, making window screens less of a necessity.

Pantries

In many American homes, the pantry is a separate room or a large closet adjacent to the kitchen. It’s often spacious, with shelves and storage units for groceries and kitchen supplies. British pantries are typically smaller and may be integrated into the kitchen layout. They often consist of cabinets, drawers, or shelves designed to store dry goods and kitchen essentials.

Upstairs and Downstairs Living Areas

“So we have a living room downstairs we never, ever, ever sit in this living room. And then we have another living room upstairs. Make that make sense,” she says pointing to a clean and homey living room. American homes often have two living rooms typically because of preferences for formal entertaining spaces and larger home sizes. In contrast, British homes typically prioritize other functional rooms, like dining rooms, and are often smaller in size, making two living rooms less common.

Spacious Built-in Closets

In older British homes, storage space was historically provided by standalone wardrobes or armoires due to different construction practices and available space. In America, it’s typical to find large walk-in closets like the one Herrera shows in her video.