While I enjoy housekeeping and speed cleaning my home with Doof Doof blaring through my headphones, I can think of better ways to spend time. For instance, instead of cleaning toilets in my home, I could spend more time collecting home renovation ideas or learning how to make the perfect Chicken Tikka Masala curry. What a fabulous world it would be if we were all free from housekeeping duties! If you have read my Are You A Super Housewife post you will understand my position on this matter! I just want to wiggle my nose bewitched-style and make all that cleaning disappear in a puff of Baking Soda! Well! The good news is that I have created various sneaky methods for reducing the housework burden from setting up a cleaning trolley to cleaning a kitchen in five minutes! If you action everything on this list you will be a clean mean housekeeping machine!
150 ways to free yourself from housework
Appliances – Get the right equipment
- Create a cleaning trolley like a hotel (see Printables)
- Get a washing machine with a 15-minute cycle
- Install a dishwasher if you do not have one
- Invest in a dust buster for spot cleans
- Upgrade appliances for better efficiency
Attitude – Make cleaning fun!
- Change your attitude about cleaning
- Listen to fast music on headphones for motivation.
- Listen to savings podcasts while cleaning!
- Put extra effort into housework and make it a workout
Baby – Time saving tips
- Bath baby in the day
- Clean while you settle baby in the room
- Collect toys on your travels
- Invest in baskets for systems
- Shower baby with dad
- Shower baby with mum
Bathroom – Keeping it clean
- Clean out bathroom rubbish bins when full
- Clean the bath thoroughly one night each week when showering or when bathing the kids
- Clean the shower while you are in it, once a week
- Clean while in the bathroom
- Keep a cleaning kit in the shower
- Keep a dump bucket in the bathroom
- Keep a large washing basket in the bathroom
- Make a bathroom cleaning kit for quick cleans
- Mop the bathroom while bathing the kids
- Place a rubbish bin in the bathroom
- School aged children love cleaning a shower with a big sponge!
- Wash the dog in the shower
Bedroom – Keeping it tidy
- Keep a dump bucket for a dirty partner and throw their stuff in it
- Keep a laundry bag for each person in the master bedroom
- Make your bed immediately after rising
- Make your partner clean out their bedroom dump bucket
- While getting changed pick all items up off the floor
Cooking – Free up week nights
- Buy cheap takeaway one night a week.
- Cook convenience meals two nights a week
- Cook dinner in the day if you are at home
- Cook three crock-pot meals each week
- Create a weekly cooking schedule
- Get a menu-planning book like Table Tucker!
- Teach the kids to cook as soon as possible!
Declutter – Little jobs
- Have a big clean out seasonally
- Bring something new in and throw something new out
- Organise a garage sale or an online one here
- Put stuff for second-hand shops straight in the car
- Remove old stuff every weekend
- Set a reminder on your phone to deliver the stuff to Op shops. E.g. After dropping the kids to school
Delegating – Getting help from others
- Get kids to clean the shower
- Get the kids watching housework YouTube videos
- Give kids a countdown to clean something. Make cleaning a fun game and a challenge for them
- Sell cleaning as a concept to family
- Train up people in the house
General – Housework tips
- Check our housework checklists in Printables
- Create dump buckets. Get family members to clear their own dump buckets
- Divide your home into zones and divide up the housework
- Do housework with headphones and music on
- Draw up a housework roster
- Every time you pay bills also de-cobweb your home
- Get a dust-buster and do spot cleans. Avoid big vacuuming sessions
- Keep on top of your housework always
Groceries – Getting organised
- Buy groceries online while watching telly
- Get auto-deliveries like an Aussie Farmers box
- Shop on a weeknight for groceries. Free up the weekend
Guests – Unexpected guests coming
- Quickly wipe down toilets with water and Eucalyptus oil
- Throw dishes into the dishwasher and wipe benches
- Throw items into named dump buckets
- Wipe down all surfaces for a quick spruce-up
- Wipe down the front door with Eucalyptus oil
Kids bedroom – General tips
- Buy same colour socks. No matching required!
- Get kids cleaning while you organise their room
- Install a rubbish bin in the kid’s room
- Make cleaning fun for kids
Kitchen – Quick cooking and cleaning tips
- Always clean before cooking
- Bath a toddler in a safe tub while you cook dinner
- Clean more while waiting for veggies to steam
- Clean while waiting for a kettle to boil
- Keep bowls, sponges and Eucalyptus oil handy
- Make a rule: First person up cleans the kitchen!
- Make lunches on Sunday
- Put your peelings in a bowl while cooking
- Run a sink of soapy water before cooking
Laundry – Getting it done and fast
- Fold washing in front of the telly
- Have set laundry times and de-slave yourself
- Make an out-and-about box for errands
- Make up Mon-Fri uniform and clothes sets
- Use a good laundry system – check out ours!
Living room – Systems to help you
- Ban eating in the living room
- Clean remote controls and create a wall holder
- Create dump buckets where you dump their stuff
- Get each person to clear their own dump bucket
- Keep a lounge cleaning kit for quick cleans
- Make the family clean up together before bed
- Put a rubbish bin in the living room
- Introduce an old rug to protect carpet from kids
Multi-tasking – Make more use of time
- Clean while you talk on your phone
- Deliver stuff to Op shops while running other errands
- Have a foot spa while watching TV
- Read about reducing housework while on the toilet
- Sort laundry while watching TV
- Sort through mail while watching TV
Paper – Managing the paper war
- Aussie Farmers couple’s box is perfect for archiving
- Box up old stuff constantly
- Bin letters to householders
- Create a bill folder
- Create a great system for mail
- Deal with mail right now
- Create paper archive systems
- Dedicate an evening each month for admin
- Get up early one morning a week and do filing
- Grab boxes for archiving at the supermarket
- Read your junk mail outside near the bin
Parties – Reducing clean up and tips
- Clean as you go during a party
- Create an outdoor entertainment area for parties
- Have potluck parties to reduce work on the night
- If warm enough keep the party outside
- If you clean as you go others will help and follow
Shed or garage – Creating space
- Build a loft in the shed for extra storage
- Dedicate a family shed working bee weekend
- Hang up hooks to get stuff off the floor
- Install great shelving systems
- Keep a little notebook of stuff you are selling
- Photograph items before storing for easy selling
- Sell your stuff ASAP. Use our classifieds
- Send photos of your gear to SR using our app
- Grab uploaded SR photos to load to classifieds
Tomorrow – Staying ahead of things
- Do a little extra at night for an easier tomorrow
- Organise your clothes for tomorrow each evening
- Pack your bags in the evening
- Pack your gym back in the evening so you get there
- Plan tomorrow tonight
- Try to stay ahead of the game all the time
Toilet – Nice to do
- Add books and pictures in your toilet
- Buy toilet paper in bulk every month or season
- Get a toilet duck
- Include rubbish bags in cleaning kits
- Keep cleaners handy in the toilet for quick cleans
- Make or buy toilet deodoriser
- Put a rubbish bin in the toilet
- Put a scented candle in the toilet
- Put inspirational pictures and books in the toilet