Better Living Series-Part 10: Tips for Managing Daily Chores

Now that you have a house cleaning schedule set up, things should flow smoothly! Or…will they? Over one half of our household chores are comprised of tasks that must be performed on a daily basis.

Cooking, baking, preparing food. Washing and putting away dishes. Sorting mail. Paying bills. Watering houseplants. Cleaning up toys. Changing diapers and chasing kids.

We need to talk about how we can better manage the daily tasks that are part of every homemaker’s life!

And before we get in too deep, let’s go over 3 lifestyle tips that are essential to a well-run home!

 

TIP 1: CLEAR THE CLUTTER

When trying to manage the home, clutter will bite you every time. No one can keep a orderly house when it simply has too much in it! Sort through personal/household belongings on a yearly basis. Box up, recycle or get rid of items that no longer serve a purpose.

 

TIP 2: A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

If you don’t have a ‘home’ for items within your home, they will always be underfoot and lend themselves to a unkempt atmosphere. Don’t have enough space for everything? Perhaps it’s time to either box up or get rid of some stuff!

 

TIP 3: FINISH WHAT YOU START

When there are distractions coming at you in the form of meal prep, crying kids, phone calls and diaper changes, it’s easy to get side tracked! Always return to an unfinished task and if possible, complete it before starting the next one on your list. Nothing feels messier than a home full of half-finished duties!

 

TIPS FOR PARTICULAR AREAS OF THE HOME

Each season of life is unique. As homemakers, our needs are unique. I can’t tell you which daily tasks are most important for your home! Instead of nailing down particulars, we are going to walk through tips for managing various rooms in the house.

I should also mention that some of these come from my mother. A woman who raised 12 children, she knows a thing or two about household management!

 

KITCHEN

Tip #1-keep a sink full of hot, soapy water while doing meal prep. If you don’t have time to wash pots and pans before the meal, give them a good rinse so foodstuff doesn’t stick.

Tip #2-keep your food prep confined to a small space. Clean your primary work space between tasks so you don’t end up with make a mess on every surface in your kitchen!

Tip #3-make yourself a simple meal plan. Eliminate stress by choosing your meals at the beginning of the day and preparing in advance.

Tip #4-walk your mess to the finish line. When baking or cooking, always return ingredients to cupboards/refrigerator, wipe counters and wash (or at least soak) dishes you created.

Tip #5-soak dishes if leaving overnight. The best of homemakers do this from time to time! Soaking dinner plates and cutlery will keep food/juices from hardening.

Tip #5: sweep the kitchen floor once a day. It doesn’t take long and keeps food bits from being tracked throughout the entire house!

 

DINING ROOM

Tip #1-quickly clear and wipe the table after every meal.

Tip #2-for those with young, messy eaters, make a habit of sweeping the dining room once a day or at least around the messy one’s chair! If needed, give the chair a quick sweep as well!

 

LIVING ROOM

Clear the clutter often, putting shoes, coffee cups, mail, books, games and newspapers in their place. My mom likes to do this every night before going to bed so she can awaken to a fresh, orderly house!

 

LET’S ALSO TALK ABOUT CHILDREN

Children can (and will) both help and hinder your routine. Here’s a few tips from mamas I know:

Tip #1-require that your children stay in the bedroom with books and toys until a set time each morning. This is for peace of mind, so mom can accomplish necessary tasks for the day before the explosion hits.

Tip #2-teach them respect for common areas: whatever is taken out/played with should be put back when finished.

Tip #3-de-clutter their bedrooms so that cleanliness and order is a possibility. Box up winter or outgrown clothing. Weed out toys. Ensure they also have a place for everything.

Tip #4-have them do a 10 minute bedroom cleanup every day of the week. Set guidelines: put away PJ’s, make the bed, throw dirty clothes in the laundry, etc. It won’t be perfect, but it will be better than it was before.

The same rings true for common areas. If they make a jolly mess of things, set a timer and have them do a mass cleanup with a reward at the end (snack, movie, games).

 

START MOVING TOWARD CHANGE

Is there a particular tip that stood out to you? Something that would enable you to stay on top of daily household chores? How will you implement it today?

 

For part 11, read on about clearing the clutter.