House Cleaning - Get More Done In Less Time

There are only a relative few who consider house cleaning anything more than something to get out of the way as easily and effortlessly as possible. For those that enjoy the work and want to make it last, this article is probably not for you. For the rest of you, here are some tips that can help you dispose of the weekly and daily chores that keep us from doing the things we really want to be doing. Short of hiring a service, there’s no way to make the chores disappear, but there are ways to make them less of a burden.

One of the best ways to organize house cleaning is through a division of labor. No, this doesn’t mean giving off chores to the kids and the spouse (although those are perfectly viable suggestions and should definitely be used if possible). It means dividing the chores into types—such as what should be done on a daily basis and what can be done on a weekly basis. For instance, the dishes have to be done every day, so you know you should put that in the daily column. Vacuuming, on the other hand, can likely be done only once a week—twice if you have shedding pets. 

Once you have your divided house cleaning chores, put it in writing. Use some kind of chart to list all of the chores in such a way that you can mark them off when they’ve been completed. Doing this not only helps you remember what needs to be done, but will give you some extra satisfaction when you have finished. Humans thrive on seeing concrete results of their labor. Looking at a freshly dusted table may not provide the kind of instant feedback that a line through your chart will give you. Staying motivated is one of the biggest hurdles you have to overcome when it comes to house cleaning.

Another thing that will be a big help to you as you try to stay on your new schedule: keeping things organized. That means making a list of your cleaning supplies and making sure you have them each week. Don’t wait until you run out of something to get it. Keep track of what you use and what you need and get these items in advance when you do your weekly shopping. Keep all of your supplies in a place where they can be easily found and accessed. This will give you one less excuse when it comes to putting off the chores.