Quick Chores That Only Take a Minute
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Hang this list of quick chores on your fridge. They’re a great way to clean in your spare time. You’ll be amazed at how these little tasks add up to a clean home.
The beautiful thing about quick chores is that you can squeeze them in when you’re doing other things, too. Using spare minutes is an important key to being more productive. Plus, most of these are so simple that you can assign them to your kids when they whine about being bored. So, grab the checklist at the bottom of this entry and keep it handy!
Quick Chores Anywhere In Your Home
- Change the battery in your smoke- or carbon monoxide detector, and dust it!
- Empty your vacuum dustbin or change the bag.
- Dust a room’s air vents and registers.
- Pinch dead leaves off a houseplant.
- Wipe a room’s light bulbs while cool to maximize their efficiency.
- Clean your phone with a disinfecting wipe.
- Vacuum or sweep dust from a dirty window screen.
- Wipe fingerprints on light switches.
In the Bathroom
- Put a bag filled with white vinegar on the showerhead to get rid of bacteria build-up.
- Refill the toilet paper supply.
- Rinse the soap holder to remove scum.
In Bedrooms
- Scoop dirty clothes from a bedroom floor.
- Stuff tea bags in your shoes to deodorize them.
- Toss bed pillows into the dryer to fluff them.
In the Kitchen
- Remove crumbs from an unplugged toaster/toaster oven with a pastry brush.
- Dust the top of your fridge.
- Fill your dishwasher‘s rinse aid with white vinegar.
- Get the crumbs out of your silverware drawer.
- Run a lemon slice in your garbage disposal to freshen it.
- Throw away expired food in your fridge.
- Wipe grease from your stove knobs.
In the Laundry Room
- Toss your reusable grocery sacks in the washer.
- Wipe your laundry basket with disinfectant.
- Clean the lint off the top of your dryer.
In the Family Room
- Plump a couple of pillows.
- Use a lint roller on your sofa/chair cushions.
- Collect dirty dishes and take them to the kitchen.
- Straighten picture frames.
Quick Outside Chores
- Brush your pet’s back.
- Wipe down your dirty patio or deck table with a clean, wet cloth.
Finding Time for Quick Chores
If you have difficulty setting aside a whole afternoon or even just an hour to clean the house, try this approach.
- Try a few while dinner is simmering or baking.
- Do a few when you’re on hold on the phone.
- Waiting for the kids to get ready for school? Knock out a quick chore or two.
- Finish a couple as your coffee brews in the morning.
- Tackle them when there’s a commercial during your favorite TV show.
- Try the bathroom touch-ups while you’re brushing your teeth.
- Need to squeeze in more walking to hit your 10,000 steps? Do several in different rooms.
Printable List of Quick House Cleaning Tasks
Note: The following checklist is for personal use only. Not to be distributed or sold. Copyright 2023 Katie Berry.
On desktop: download or print from the screen.
On phones and tablets: download then print from your device.
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i just did one with was pinch dead leaves
I love this list! This is going to be a new go-to for me for sure, thanks!
Now that i have read this list, I am headed to clean the toaster.
Great list!!
Thank you, Jen!
I love these tips, Katie…and I’m inspired to take action the next time I look at the knobs on my stove and think “ew, gross”…in that time, I could wipe ’em down.Â
Yes, Lina Bickel!
Ditto cleaning my bathroom sink faucet.
Or toilet bowl.
This whole article is inspiring me to make a 1-minute chore list for each room of my home.
Thank you, Housewife How-To’s!