No one enjoys doing chores, so how can you make them go by faster? Here are 22 tips to help you get your household chores done quicker.
Doing household chores can take all day — by the time you finish the last one, it feels like it’s time to start over again. Tackle your household chores and save time with these 22 easy-to-implement tips:
- Include the Family
Everyone makes the mess, so everyone should help clean it. According to the Housekeeping Channel, a study by the University of Minnesota found that the best predictor of a child’s success is the age at which he or she begins helping with household chores.
- Assign Tasks
Ensure that nothing gets overlooked by assigning jobs to each family member.
- Set a Clock for 15 Minutes
Doing a little bit each day will keep you from spending all Saturday scrubbing.
- Divide Household Chores Into Chunks
“Create separate lists for chores that need to be done daily, weekly and monthly,” says Sheila Delson, the founder of FreeDomain Concepts. “Maintain focus on just what needs to be done at that specific time.”
- Develop Time Awareness
Complete each task. Give yourself enough time to accomplish each of your goals. - Have a Space for Supplies
Designate one place for all your cleaning supplies.
- Make a Cleaning Caddy
Use a bucket or pail that’s easy to fill with supplies, yet small enough to cart from room-to-room.
- Prioritise
Do the most important tasks first in case you run out of time. Next time, the leftover items will be the priority.”
- Create a Check-off System for Kids
Kids love to see their achievements. Create a list of tasks for them and have a reward for when they are completed.
- Keep It Simple
Use cleaning supplies that have more than one purpose instead of one cleaning supply per need — you don’t need separate cleaners for the bathroom and the kitchen. This is also a good way to be environmentally friendly by cutting down on your plastic usage.
- Make Zones
Monday you’ll clean the kitchen, Tuesday the bathroom, and so on.
- Eliminate Clutter
The less you have, the less you have to clean.
- Attack the Rooms From Top to Bottom
“Clear all surfaces and floor space. Grab a basket and place items from the tops of furniture and floors into a basket (or two). This makes polishing furniture, sweeping and vacuuming go much faster,” says Colleen Ashe, the creator of Ashe Organizing Solutions.
- Dust and Polish Surfaces First
“Vacuum last and avoid redusting your furniture,” says Ashe.
- Use More Than One Vacuum
One big vacuum is a good idea, but keeping a few smaller hand-held vacs in a few rooms will help pick up as you go.
- Think Ahead
Take steps to keep things clean ahead of time — things like adding extra liners to garbage cans and lining the refrigerator shelves with plastic wrap can save you precious minutes.
- Designate a Day for Laundry
“Teach the kids that on Saturdays you always strip the beds and sort the laundry,” says Ashe.
- Clean as You Go
“Teach children to rinse the sink after brushing teeth and empty trash containers when they’re full,” says Ashe. “For these often used spots, consider storing cleaning wipes under the sinks that are ready for a quick clean after baths are done.”
- Repurpose Supplies You Already Have
Save yourself a trip to the store and use what you’ve got to clean. “I suggest vinegar for cleaning coffee pots, microwave ovens, shower heads and tile grout — to name a few,” says Ashe.
- Self-clean
“For barbecue lovers looking to make their grills sparkle, place your grill racks in your self-cleaning oven,” says Ashe. “Set the temp to 260C and set timer for 45 minutes.”
- Keep It Together
Keep items organised. For example, all coffee supplies should go with the coffee maker, so it’s easy to clean up quickly.
- Empty It
For the sport enthusiasts, get in the habit of emptying and cleaning out sport bags after each use. “Toss the uniforms in the wash and clean up gear (cleats and mouth guards),” says Ashe.