Got A Minute? Try These One Minute Chores

One minute chores are a great way to get the house clean without burning yourself out. Grab the printable checklist and post it on your refrigerator or, hey, hand it to your kids anytime they complain about being bored!

Cleaning doesn’t always mean setting aside an entire day — even one minute chores can make a big difference!

DOES A MINUTE REALLY MATTER?

Sure, a minute doesn’t seem like that much time when you’re doing something fun. But think of all those minutes you’re waiting for everyone to get ready to leave, or you’re watching commercials on TV.

Now, add in the time trying to make an appointment and get put on hold. Or when you know the school bus is going to drop the kids off any second, so you don’t have time to get involved in a longer project.

Turn those times into task times, and you’ll start to notice a significant impact on how clean and uncluttered your home feels!

One Minute Chores

Now, I’m not saying you should fill every minute of your day with housework. Where’s the fun in that? The point is that by using spare minutes here and there to do housework, you can free up time in your day for more enjoyable things. Here’s how.

In the bathroom

Find free time when… waiting for the tub to fill or drain. While your hair straightener heats. As your facial mask does its thing. While watching the kids play in the bath.

Do this:

• Change the towels
• Clean the mirror
• Wipe sinks and fixtures
• Wipe the vanity
• Wipe the toilet tank
• Scrub the toilet bowl

In the entryway

Find free time when… waiting for the kids to get ready for school. While you’re on the phone. Waiting for a visitor. While the dog does his business.

Do this:

• Shake out your Welcome Mat
• Knock down cobwebs
• Sweep the front step
• Polish the door’s knobs
• Pick up shoes near the front door
• Sweep the entry way
• Go through coat pockets for trash
• Straighten your door wreath

In the garage

Find free time when… waiting for the kids to get in the car. While the car warms up in the morning. Waiting for the kids to get out of the car. While watching the kids play in front of the house.

Do this:

• Get the trash out of your car
• Clean your car’s cupholders
• Dust your car’s console
• Wipe smudges off door to the house
• Sweep steps leading into the house

In the kitchen

Find free time when… the kids are doing homework. You’re waiting for the coffee maker. Dinner is in the oven. You’re on the phone.

Do this:

• Change the kitchen towels
• Rinse the kitchen sink
• Toss the junk mail
• Wipe fingerprints off an appliance front
• Clean the window over the kitchen sink
• Empty one rack of the dishwasher
• Run ice cubes in the garbage disposal to clean it
• Run hot vinegar down the drain to remove gunk
• Wipe the kitchen table
• Wash your coffee pot
• Wipe the front of kitchen cupboards
• Microwave your wet kitchen sponge to sanitize it
• Wipe up spills in the refrigerator

In the laundry room

Find free time when… you’re waiting for the washing machine to finish. You’re on the phone. You just started the dryer.

Do this:

• Treat a clothing stain
• Wipe the top of your washer and dryer
• Clean lint from the dryer screen
• Wipe spills off of detergent bottles
• Dust lint off of shelves

In the living room

Find free time when… there’s a commercial on. You’re not really into the show that’s playing. The kids are getting ready for bed. You’re waiting for your show to start.

Do this:

• Dust the coffee table
• Straighten magazines
• Straighten sofa pillows
• Dust your entertainment center
• Wipe TV remotes with a disinfecting cloth
• Pick up toys
• Fold throw blankets
• Dust lampshades
• Fluff throw cushions

In the home office

Find free time when… you’re on hold. You’re waiting for someone to reply in chat. You’re searching for a word or idea. You’re waiting for a slow website to load.

Do this:

• Dust your computer monitor and keyboard
• Empty the paper shredder
• Dust a bookshelf
• Toss ink pens that have dried up
• Dust your desk
• Straighten paperwork into neat piles
• Tidy a drawer

In any room

Find free time when… the school bus is due any minute. You’re ready to go but no one else in the family is. You’re on the phone. You’ve been sitting too long.

Do this:

• Empty a trash can
• Wash your pet’s food and water bowls
• Water a plant
• Wipe down a room’s light switches
• Dust a room’s picture frames
• Take magazines or newspapers to the recycling bin
• Dust the horizontal surfaces in a room
• Dust a window blind
• Straighten paper clutter into neat stacks
• Scoop the cats’ litter box

Remember!

The point isn’t to be always busy. That will only lead you to feel overwhelmed and burned out! But, by using spare minutes here and there you can get quite a bit of housework done. Then, rather than setting aside a half hour to clean the bathroom on Saturday, you can take that time to relax and do something you love!

Printable List of One Minute Chores

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One Minute Chores

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