One-Minute Chores

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

Many of us struggle to set aside a half-hour or more daily to clean our homes, and who wants to give up their entire Saturday to do it? So, here’s some good news: doing one-minute chores throughout the day is an excellent way to get housework done. Grab the printable checklist at the end and post it on your refrigerator to use. Or hand the list of one-minute chores to your kids when they complain about being bored.

One-Minute Chores to Do Around the House

A minute doesn’t seem like that much time when you’re doing something fun. But think of all those minutes when you’re waiting for everyone to get ready for school. What about the time spent watching commercials on TV. Now, add the time you’re on the phone and get put on hold. Or when you’re waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. Turn those waiting times into working times, and you’ll be surprised at how much cleaner your house looks.

In the Bathroom

Do these chores in one minute while you’re waiting for the tub to fill, for your hair straightener to heat, or while your facial mask does its thing.

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

In the Entryway

Try these one-minute chores when you’re waiting for the kids to get ready for school or you’re on the phone.

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

In the Garage

Use a spare minute to do these chores as you’re waiting for the kids to get in or out of the car.

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

In the Kitchen

Use an extra minute for chores while your coffee maker is brewing or you’re waiting on dinner.

• 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

Do a one-minute chore or two when you’re waiting for the washing machine to finish.

• 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

During commercials is a great time to do a few one-minute chores.

• 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

There are plenty of chances to do some one-minute chores when you’re on hold or waiting for someone to join a Zoom call.

• 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

Need to find some more spare time to do one-minute chores? Squeeze them in when you’re ready to go, but no one else in the family is, or you need to hit that step count for the day.

• 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

Printable List of One-Minute Chores

A great way to make one-minute chores part of your house cleaning routine is by referring to this list whenever you’ve got a spare minute. Print a copy and hang it in your cleaning closet or inside a cupboard to keep it handy. You can even slip the list of one-minute chores into a plastic page protector and post it on your fridge. Use a dry erase marker to cross off minute tasks as you complete them, and wipe it clean once you’ve got them all done.