Staying on top of the household chores can be, well, a chore. Life gets in the way, all kinds of things can hinder you when it comes to keeping on top of them. If you end up avoiding them for too long, you can end up with a messy, cluttered home. You might leave it so long that you feel it's getting out of control, which will make you want to put it off for longer. Also, some people think that with a cluttered home, they begin to lead cluttered lives with cluttered minds. Having a tidy home is beneficial in lots of ways, so use this essential guide to staying on top of your household chores:
Create a Rota for Every Member of the Household
Sit down and take the time to create a rota for every member of the household. Make sure everybody has a few jobs they can handle allocated to them, and make sure they know what is expected of them when they do it. Having everybody chipping in is a great way to stay on top of everything. Even young children should be involved, but make sure you only give them jobs they understand and can handle. As they get older, they can take on more jobs. To encourage children to do their tasks, you can even create a star chart and reward them after they get so many stars. If everyone would prefer, you can rotate tasks so that things don't get boring.
Hold Everybody Responsible for Their Own Mess
Make sure every person in the household is responsible for their own mess. This is why it's so important you bring children up in a way that makes them want to help. If you do everything for them, they're going to expect is whether they're 5 or 15. Make sure they can tidy up after themselves, wash up dishes they use, make their own beds, and things like that. It'll make everybody's life easier, teach them important life skills, and the house will look so much better.
Make it Easier With Quality Equipment
If you invest in quality equipment, you'll find staying on top of household chores much more convenient, and even enjoyable. Having a light, quality vacuum can make hoovering much more enjoyable. A steamer can take the backache out of cleaning the floors. Make sure you do some research before splashing out. This way, you know you're investing in only quality equipment. You won't think anything of grabbit something light and simple to clean the floor or hoover the stairs. You'll soon be a real life domestic goddess !
Hire Somebody to Help You
If you struggle to find time because you work so much, consider hiring somebody to help you. This doesn't have to cost the earth, and you can have them in as often or as little as you like. Having them in just once every few weeks can help you to stay on top of the chores. People who specialise in house cleaning will be able to do it much faster and at a much better quality than you.
Rather than leave a dish you've just used in the bowl, do it right after you use it. Give it a quick rinse, wipe, and put away. This will take seconds, as opposed to the amount of time it will take you to do it after the food has congealed and you have 30 more identical pieces of cutlery. Wipe up crumbs, pick up after yourself, and just aim to do things as and when rather than doing it all at once.
Be vigilant when it comes to clutter . If you've read a letter and you don't need it, don't leave it on the table or file it away. Shred it and recycle it. Ask yourself if you really need something. If you don't, get rid of it. Simplicity is the key! Go through everything you have lying around and get rid of as much as possible. For the things you do need, consider whether you can make them paperless or put them in a neat folder to store away. You'll make lots of space and your home will look better automatically.
Make cleaning a . Do things often enough and they'll soon come naturally to you. Although it may be hard at first, it'll get much easier and you'll be glad you've done it.
If you struggle to get motivated, but some music you enjoy on. Put it on loud, and make sure it's nice and upbeat. Keep moving to the music as you do your chores to take your mind of them. Without music, many chores can be mundane. It's essential you make it upbeat; slower music can depress you, slow you down, and encourage you to start looking at your ex boyfriend's facebook profile.... ewwwwww. You won't realise you haven't dusted a single thing until you're 260 pictures deep into his last holiday album. Be strong - don't do it!
Allocate Specific Tasks to Specific Days
If possible, allocate specific tasks or rooms to specific days. Do the living room on a Monday, and the bedrooms on a Tuesday. Work like that so you know exactly what you have to do on a given day. Do minimal chores if it's on your rota, even if the room looks pretty clean. This will still reduce your workload in the future.
I hope these ideas and tips help you to stay on top of your household chores and keep it looking its best. It can be difficult at first, but you'll be so glad you did it after a couple of weeks. It doesn't take much to create healthy habits. It can take a lot of effort to break them, so start now. The sooner the better! Leave any of your own household chore tips below. See you back here for more soon!