Keeping on top of household chores can feel like an endless battle. As soon as you finish one task, five more seem to pop up in its place. However, with some planning and effort, it is possible to stay on top of chores without feeling overwhelmed. Here are some hassle-free ways I’ve found to keep my home clean and avoid chore burnout:
1. Create a Chore Schedule
Having a set chore schedule is key to staying on top of cleaning. I designate a specific day for each chore, so I know exactly what needs to be done each week. Here’s my current schedule:
- Monday: Laundry day – Wash, dry and put away all laundry
- Tuesday: Bathrooms – Scrub toilet, shower, counters
- Wednesday: Vacuum and mop all floors
- Thursday: Kitchen – Clean appliances, counters, take out garbage
- Friday: Dust and tidy living spaces
- Saturday: Grocery shop and meal prep
- Sunday: Miscellaneous tasks – Anything that needs extra attention
Creating a schedule takes the guesswork out of chores and helps ensure things get done regularly.
2. Do a Little Bit Each Day
Rather than saving all chores for your designated days, try to do small daily tasks to prevent messes from piling up. For example, I wipe down the bathroom sink and mirror while I brush my teeth in the morning and do a quick tidy of the living room at night.
Doing these mini-chores takes just a few minutes but makes a big difference in preventing clutter and grime buildup. It also means I don’t spend hours deep cleaning on chore days.
3. Get Help from Others
Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. Enlist your family members or roommates to help with chores. Sit down together and make a list of tasks, then divide them up based on each person’s abilities and schedule.
For example, if you hate folding laundry but your spouse doesn’t mind it, make that their task. Sharing chores takes the burden off any one person. You can also offer small incentives like cooking a favorite meal for the week for those who complete their tasks.
4. Make It a Game
Adding some fun and competitiveness can take the drudgery out of cleaning. Have each family member select one daily chore that becomes “theirs” for the week, then track who does the best job. At the end of the week, the person with the most complete chore chart gets first dibs on Friday night movie or a small reward.
Turning chores into a game incentivizes everyone to stay on top of their tasks. Just be sure to keep the stakes low to avoid resentment.
5. Give Yourself Grace
No matter how organized you are, there will be times when chores fall by the wayside. Rather than beating yourself up, give yourself grace. Life gets busy, and cleaning often takes a backseat.
When you do fall behind, don’t overdo it trying to catch up all at once. Just reset your schedule and work your way back to your regular routine. Beating yourself up over a messy home only breeds guilt and shame.
Staying on top of chores is challenging, but very doable with some planning and realistic expectations. Try out a schedule, get others to help, make it fun when you can, and go easy on yourself when life gets in the way. With some time and tweaking, you’ll find a system that works for you.
