Share Our Lives: 15 Ways I Save Time on Chores

 I'm taking a break from recapping our Hawaii trip this week but will be back on Monday with daily posts from our time on the big island.

Welcome to the first Share Our Lives link up of 2025! This month we're talking about how we're saving time on chores. 

Over the years I have tried so many different ways to streamline the household chores/cleaning.  Now I'm not always 100% convinced that they save time but they definitely make cleaning the house seems like a more manageable job. 

Some things we've tried over the years: 

• First and foremost stop dirt in it's tracks. We ask that people leave their shoes at the door! That cuts down on a lot of dirt coming into the house. 
• Ask for help! I assigned tasks to each of the boys and rotate who had what chore monthly (something that no longer works with Ian working full time and Alec away at school but it was so nice while it lasted).
• Make  it easy on yourself and others. I put stickers on our washer and dryer when the boys were old enough to reach and had them do their own laundry. With laundry pods the detergent is already measured and they knew what to set the machine to thanks to my little stickers. I keep cleaning products near where they are needed and make sure everyone knows where to find them and their refills. 
• Streamline the process. Each person has their own hamper in their room, their own laundry basket and I'm only responsible for my own (and the household stuff); though I'll happily fold laundry for everyone. Keeping clothes sorted by person helps me so much in the long run since most of my boys (and husband) wear very similar items!  Load the dishwasher with like items together so it's quicker to put them away. 

I read my book while folding laundry; but with each person's laundry already pre-sorted I can fold all this in under 10 minutes. 

• Don't procrastinate-- I make sure to put things away where they belong so we have no clutter, I wash the counters/table/ bathroom sink/ etc. at least once a day.  
• Break tasks down into manageable chunks. Small daily tasks often take less than a minute or two and save time in the long run.  
• Make it a game. The boys and I used to set a timer and see what we could do in 10 minutes-- with 4 of us working we actually got a LOT done! 

Start them young!

• Adopt a "good enough" policy-- I rely on my robot vacuum to keep the floors pretty clean between "real" cleanings and I spot clean any areas that need it so we always have an overall appearance of clean. 
• Group similar chores or spaces together-- I tackle cleaning all the bathrooms one day, do all the dusting another, clean the floors on a 3rd or else I'll clean the upstairs one day, the finished basement another and break the main living space across 2 days. 
• Clear out clutter frequently-- the less we have the less things we need to clean!
• Make cleaning products easy to get to-- I keep most of our household cleaners in one handy tote that I can easily cart around. I also keep a dry Swiffer/ spray Freedom mop on each floor of our house as well as broom/dustpan/handheld vacuum; that way I don't have to go far if I need to clean something real quick. 

• Make cleaning enjoyable-- I watch TV or read books while folding clothes, I listen to music or audiobooks while cleaning, cooking, doing the dishes, etc. My husband likes to blare his music while working-- whatever works is worth the help. 
• Think outside the box-- really use your tools-- dishwashers can clean more than dishes (they are great at cleaning kids' toys, glass globes from light fixtures, soap & toothbrush holders, etc.!). A good vacuum can be used to clean the blinds, your mattress, your lint trap. A lint roller is great for cleaning up crumbs from the couch, kids' car seats, your lampshades, and more. 
• Develop a routine-- There are tons of great, printable cleaning schedules out there; we have printed and tried a few and then adopted the policies that work best for us. Having a set routine, just like in any other area of my life, always saves me time since I work more efficiently. 
• When all else fails use disposables-- Dishes out of control? Maybe you need to switch to paper plates for this time in your life. Don't have time to dig out the cleaning supplies right now? Grab a container of Clorox/disinfecting wipes and clean only those essentials areas (doorknobs/light switches/bathroom surfaces). Pledge wipes, toilet cleaning tabs, and other single use products can help cut down on overall cleaning time too. 

Other posts I've shared on this topic:

7 Laundry Hacks that Help Save Me Time

Homeschooling and Finding Time to Clean 

My Favorite Cleaning/Household Hacks

I hope you'll join us next month when we talk about our tips for falling (or staying!) asleep. 

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