eremedies

What a Chore!

Are chores taking too much time? Maybe it's time to take a look and rethink them - and save HOURS every day, every week, every month.

* Laundry - do it faster by remembering you don't get as dirty as you think. Most clothes can be worn at least twice before they're washed. Save time by not folding and sorting socks - instead, have identical pairs, throw them together in a mesh bag into the washer (no folding, no sorting). Each person should use a single towel and hand towel per week. Do no more than 1 load per person per month. Get everyone from little kids to teens to partners to help clean their own laundry!

* Cleaning - go from top to bottom. Use a minimal amount of cleaners: glass cleaner, tile and surface cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner. Get a good lint-free cloth to do glass and mirrors (or a great squeegee). A good duster will make quick work. Remember that the less trinkets you have around, the faster it'll go. Do your floors (vacuuming, sweeping) last. This should never take more than a couple of hours for your house once every week or two, even if your house is pretty big. With an apartment, an hour tops.

* Dishes - if you have a dishwasher, make everyone throw out scraps, rinse and load dishes directly to the washer. That way you just have to add soap and turn it on! If you don't have a dishwasher, make a habit of washing dishes as soon as they're used, and never leave dishes overnight. They attract flies and grow fungus. Things that have only been used once and are dry (potato chip bowls) can simply be rinsed in hot water.

* Mail - when you pick it up, stand over the trash can and a recycling bag. Throw out trash with personal info on it, recycle any other trash, and decide if the others have to be acted on or filed. File as soon as you can. Set aside a specific time of the month to pay bills and act on things. You can call up to have bills due at a specific time of the month. Even better, set them up to be paid online or automatically. You'll save many gray hairs.

* Errands - you don't want to be running back and forth all the time. Make a list of all the things you need, and keep adding to it when you remember. A chalkboard or erase board will help. Carry the list with you when you go out, and plan where you're going. So you can pick up some milk while you're getting 1 hour photos, or drop off your kids while your laundry's getting done at home.