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Do it now, not later

As you walk in the door, automatically hang up your coat and put your shoes away. As you prepare for bed, put dirty clothes in the hamper. After eating, immediately place dirty dishes in the dishwasher. By taking a few seconds to put things away as you finish with them, you save yourself the time it would take to do it later. A good rule of thumb is, if it takes less than three minutes to do, do it right away.

Let expectations go a little

Maintaining a clean house can be a challenge for a busy, active family on the go. There will always be toys to pick up, laundry and dishes to wash, and school papers to sort. Figure out the level of cleanliness you can comfortably live with and maintain it. For some, everything must be clean and put away and for others, a little clutter makes us feel at home. “Lower your expectations a little. Don’t stress over trying to make things perfect because they never will be,” says Laws.

By following these simple and realistic tips, you can cut your chores in half and spend more time doing the things you enjoy.

Sidebar:

Tame Mount Laundry

1. Wait until the washer is full to run a load
2. Reuse towels
3. Pajama Day
4. Wear an apron while cooking and cleaning
5. Wear it again
6. Treat stains as soon as possible.
7. Choose one to two days a week to do laundry
8. OR for the larger family do one to two loads a day to keep up