Do you feel like you spend all day, every day doing some kind of cleaning or chore in the home? It could be that you are going the long way around things when a shortcut is right in front of your eyes! If you household tasks are taking too long, read on for some handy hints, tips and ideas to save your precious hours. In some cases, you’ll be able to save whole days!
Washing less = less laundry = less ironing
The equation above seems simple enough, but we often forget that this is probably the best way to do less ironing! If you wash your clothes less often, you’ll end up with less laundry. The smaller the laundry pile, the less time it will take to get through!
Washing clothes less often will also save you money on cleaning products and electricity usage. You’ll also save time; less sorting out piles of clothes, less hanging them out to dry.
This doesn’t mean wearing smelly clothes! But it might mean investing in a better quality of deodorant or antiperspirant. Also, consider how long things actually need washing. Jeans, shoes and outer layers, like coats, can last for weeks. Leaving them out of your load is also wise, as these items tend to take up more room and take longer to dry.
Avoid supermarkets at peak times
If there is one thing that is sure to make your supermarket trips longer, it’s loads of people and long queues. Cut down the amount of time you need to dedicate to this task by shopping at the quieter times.
Avoid evening times, from around 5pm-7pm, as this is the time that people finish work and pop by on the way home. And, of course, avoid the weekends if you want to keep your sanity and finish in under two hours! Wednesdays are usually found to be the quietest days. Go in the mornings when you can, close to opening times, for the smallest crowds. Or go just before closing time. This has double the benefits because you may even be able to pick up some reduced-price goods at this time also.
Cook multiple meals at once
Set yourself a challenge that every time you use the oven, you will cook something on both shelves. So, while cooking your roast chicken and potatoes on the top shelf on a Sunday, throw together an easy pasta bake on the bottom shelf. Let it cool and the divide it up for lunches, or freeze it for an evening meal later in the week. Experts suggest that batch cooking, while a big task, can save you lots of time in the long run. Try and have a ‘cooking day’ where you make a few meals for the week. Scheduling what you will eat when will also help cut back on wastage.
Leave The Big Jobs To The Professionals
A sure-fire way to make a job take way longer than it should is to take it on yourself when you don’t have the right experience. Removing mould from walls is a great example of doing this. Not only is doing so likely to take you far longer than a professional,but it could also put your health at risk. Replacing your roof is another fine example of a task that is best left to those in the know. Companies like Mr Roof promise that they can do most roof replacements in just a day. This is because they have the right tools and training.
Organize files in the car
Not while you’re driving, of course! Just when you’re a passenger, and as long as you’re not on direction duty. Do you have a hefty stack of papers, bills and letters stacked in your hallway or office? Have you still not got around to sorting them out after a few days or weeks? Then take them with you the next time you’ve got to make a journey. You won’t have other distractions and can get on with organizing them. Take a carrier bag with you and put it in the footwell so you can throw out things you don’t need quickly. Also, take an envelope for anything that needs shredding. You’ll feel so smug when you arrive at your destination and you’ve got a job from home done!
Clean the shower when you’re in it!
With all of that splashing water, it can be pretty chaotic to clean the shower or bath while you’re dressed. Stop getting soaked and get two jobs done at once by cleaning the shower while you’re showering! Keep a pair of rubber gloves and your chosen cleaning product in the shower (just make sure it has a safely locking top if you have kids.)
Take the car to a car wash
Take ‘wash the car’ off your to-do list for good. Find a reputable electronic car wash and use it. They’re more affordable than ever, and some now come with anti-scratch guarantees. The car will be washed in less than five minutes, saving you around 55 minutes on how long it could take at home. If you’ve got kids, take them along. They’ll think they’re on a ride at Disneyland once it really starts whirring!
Hire a window cleaner
Like replacing your roof or removing mould, window cleaning is another job that is far quicker with the right tools. Let yourself off doing this task by hiring a window cleaner. They are relatively inexpensive, but cleaning windows can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home. Hire a window cleaner to come around every two weeks if possible, or monthly at a minimum. Clean windows also have a longer lifespan than ones that are dirty for long periods of time.
Hiring professionals also goes for when things break, like your heating or air-conditioning unit.
Make unloading the dishwasher a game
If you have kids in the house, stop making it seem like unloading or loading the dishwasher is a boring chore. Make it fun instead. Set a timer and each night challenge a different member of the family to see who can do it fast enough. Once everyone has had a go, pit the best or worst two against each other. Then keep seeing if everyone can beat their own personal best and the overall best time. Have a weekly prize for whoever has done the best; it can even be something as simple as picking dessert!
Let surfaces soak before wiping them down
Do you spray surface cleaner on and then go to work wiping it off straight away! Stop! A good surface cleaner has properties in it that help break down dirt and grime. If you are wiping it away immediately, you aren’t giving it proper chance to do its thing. Spray, leave it for a few minutes, and then go back to wipe it away. The difference will amaze you.
Play music for the kids when tidying their room
Did you know that some stores play fast and loud music in their stores to encourage you to buy? It works by encouraging you to speed up your walk speed, and motions, and encouraging you to pick up items quickly. You might even find yourself making positive decisions more quickly, thanks to the speed than an item has caught your eye. Music also makes for a more pleasant environment. Research has found that the better your mood, the more likely you are to spend your money.
Use the same psychology for good in your own home. Play music to encourage your children to do their chores. If it is something like tidying their bedroom, challenge them to do it by the end of the ‘Frozen’ soundtrack. Not only will it make for a more fun and pleasant environment, but they’ll also have a tangible end time. Plus, each new song will remind them that time is running out.
Use music to motivate yourself to do tasks too. Turn on the radio, or play yourself an audiobook if you prefer.
Slow cook, not oven cook
On the topic of cooking, investing a slow cooker if you haven’t already. They allow you to dump your ingredients in there in the morning, and then come back to it fully cooked in the evening. It also allows you to get on with other tasks, without needing to think about checking in on what is cooking in the oven or on the hob. In fact, professionals highly recommend that you don’t go peering in the pot while it’s working its magic. Doing so will prevent any liquid from thickening. As long as you’ve set it to the right temperature, however, it will be fine by itself.
Stop doing tasks when you get bored
Once we get bored of doing a task, it’s natural that we start to slow down. If what you’re doing isn’t urgent and you start to lose focus, stop and move onto something else. Come back to it when you’re refreshed. You’ll get it done faster.
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