Written by: Mikayla Coleman
Whether one is a college student with multiple roommates trying to maintain a clean apartment, a spouse sharing the load with their partner or a lone ranger holding down a studio, most can agree that completing chores is a universal struggle. To organize and conquer one’s chores, use the tips listed below to create a customized chore chart tailored to one’s personal living situation and needs.
Consider one’s space. What chores one needs to complete will differ based upon the space in which one lives. Some questions to consider include:
- Does one live in a dorm, apartment or house?
- Does one have multiple roommates, a spouse or family members? If one shares a space, it is a good rule of thumb to split chores evenly among each individual.
- Does one or any of the space’s inhabitants have pets or service animals? Animals that live indoors come with their own set of cleaning responsibilities that need to be completed each day.
- Does the space have carpet or hardwood flooring? Depending on the floor type, one may need different tools in order to keep the space clean, such as a broom, vacuum or mop.
Consider how much time one has. Look at how one’s schedule fluctuates. Some time commitments to consider include:
- When does one have class?
- When does one have appointments?
- When does one have shifts or time set aside to work?
- When does one plan to go to the gym?
- When does one plan to rest?
- When does one need to set time aside for self-care?
Consider how often a chore needs to be completed. It is very likely that one does not have the time to deep clean their space every single day. To ensure chores are completed and repeated as much as one desires, consider:
- What chores need to be completed daily? Some examples include making one’s bed, washing dishes, picking up one’s mail, wiping down kitchen or bathroom counters or taking out the trash.
- What chores need to be completed weekly? Some examples include doing one’s laundry, vacuuming and sweeping all floors, throwing out old food from the refrigerator and thoroughly cleaning one’s toilet and shower.
- What chores need to be completed monthly? Some examples include wiping down baseboards, wiping down windows and mirrors or cleaning out one’s dishwasher or garbage disposal.
- What chores need to be completed seasonally? Some examples include cleaning out closets and dressers, organizing one’s hygiene or cosmetic products and cleaning under bigger furniture.
Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu
