I am not a domestic work fan!I’m a lazy housewife and I’m totally opposed to those obsessed cleaners who can spend hours in cleaning and rearranging a home. But I also like to have a clean and tidy home. The scattered home depresses me and it squeezes my energy. And when you have two kids and a husband who is like you regarding housework the result is … messy.
About 7 years ago I started wondering where the lazy housewife and the obsessed cleaner meet. It turned out that this happens in the most unexpected place of all… The timer!
You can do everything in 15 minutes!
Usually, what stops us from doing the housework is that it is always a lot, and it takes a lot of time (or at least it seems so). But here is a simple trick to use when you do whatever (hateful or not) housework you have. Use a timer!
You put a timer to ring after 10, 15 or 20 minutes, and you start with that pile of dirty dishes or the mountain of unfolded laundry. The clock ring and you stop your work and leave everything no matter where you are up to. Set the timer again for the same time you have been working, and take a break or do your favourite activity. Do not miss the break in any case!
Think about it – what are 10-15 minutes? By using the timer, we know exactly how long it will take us to do something and in this way we put an acceptable frame. Gradually, we begin to from an idea of how much work we can cross out for these 15 minutes. You will be pleasantly surprise how much that is actually!
My other favourite trick is to do things “meanwhile”. For example, while waiting to boil the water for mu cuppa, I can wipe the kitchen tops. Or, going from one room to another, I can put back few things in their places. Or, before I wash my hands, I can wipe the bathroom sink. When I started using these tricks on a daily basis, I was pleasantly surprised how clean and tidy my home became as if on itself.
It is very important to include the whole family. Housekeeping is not only “female work”. Every family member uses the bathroom, eats, has dirty clothes for washing, so everyone should take part in maintaining the home clean and tidy according to their abilities. Little children can also help with simple tasks, such as tidying up toys (with help if necessary). It is normal for everyone to have different preferences – one likes to wash dishes, another to cook, and third one to vacuum. Distribute the tasks so that everyone is engaged and doing things that they like. And for tasks that are unpleasant – take turns.
Remember! You do not have to do it all at once. Housework never ends – you finish with one task and another one comes up. Be practical, divide the work into small tasks and do not forget to rest between each one!
