Share Our Lives: 15 Ways I Save Time on Chores

 I'm taking a break from recapping our Hawaii trip this week but will be back on Monday with daily posts from our time on the big island.

Welcome to the first Share Our Lives link up of 2025! This month we're talking about how we're saving time on chores. 


Over the years I have tried so many different ways to streamline the household chores/cleaning.  Now I'm not always 100% convinced that they save time but they definitely make cleaning the house seems like a more manageable job. 


Some things we've tried over the years: 
  • First and foremost stop dirt in it's tracks. We ask that people leave their shoes at the door! That cuts down on a lot of dirt coming into the house. 
  • Ask for help! I assigned tasks to each of the boys and rotate who had what chore monthly (something that no longer works with Ian working full time and Alec away at school but it was so nice while it lasted).
  • Make  it easy on yourself and others. I put stickers on our washer and dryer when the boys were old enough to reach and had them do their own laundry. With laundry pods the detergent is already measured and they knew what to set the machine to thanks to my little stickers. I keep cleaning products near where they are needed and make sure everyone knows where to find them and their refills. 
  • Streamline the process. Each person has their own hamper in their room, their own laundry basket and I'm only responsible for my own (and the household stuff); though I'll happily fold laundry for everyone. Keeping clothes sorted by person helps me so much in the long run since most of my boys (and husband) wear very similar items!  Load the dishwasher with like items together so it's quicker to put them away. 
I read my book while folding laundry; but with each person's laundry already pre-sorted I can fold all this in under 10 minutes. 
  • Don't procrastinate-- I make sure to put things away where they belong so we have no clutter, I wash the counters/table/ bathroom sink/ etc. at least once a day.  
  • Break tasks down into manageable chunks. Small daily tasks often take less than a minute or two and save time in the long run.  
  • Make it a game. The boys and I used to set a timer and see what we could do in 10 minutes-- with 4 of us working we actually got a LOT done! 
Start them young!
  • Adopt a "good enough" policy-- I rely on my robot vacuum to keep the floors pretty clean between "real" cleanings and I spot clean any areas that need it so we always have an overall appearance of clean. 
  • Group similar chores or spaces together-- I tackle cleaning all the bathrooms one day, do all the dusting another, clean the floors on a 3rd or else I'll clean the upstairs one day, the finished basement another and break the main living space across 2 days. 
  • Clear out clutter frequently-- the less we have the less things we need to clean!
  • Make cleaning products easy to get to-- I keep most of our household cleaners in one handy tote that I can easily cart around. I also keep a dry Swiffer/ spray Freedom mop on each floor of our house as well as broom/dustpan/handheld vacuum; that way I don't have to go far if I need to clean something real quick. 


  • Make cleaning enjoyable-- I watch TV or read books while folding clothes, I listen to music or audiobooks while cleaning, cooking, doing the dishes, etc. My husband likes to blare his music while working-- whatever works is worth the help. 
  • Think outside the box-- really use your tools-- dishwashers can clean more than dishes (they are great at cleaning kids' toys, glass globes from light fixtures, soap & toothbrush holders, etc.!). A good vacuum can be used to clean the blinds, your mattress, your lint trap. A lint roller is great for cleaning up crumbs from the couch, kids' car seats, your lampshades, and more. 
  • Develop a routine-- There are tons of great, printable cleaning schedules out there; we have printed and tried a few and then adopted the policies that work best for us. Having a set routine, just like in any other area of my life, always saves me time since I work more efficiently. 
  • When all else fails use disposables-- Dishes out of control? Maybe you need to switch to paper plates for this time in your life. Don't have time to dig out the cleaning supplies right now? Grab a container of Clorox/disinfecting wipes and clean only those essentials areas (doorknobs/light switches/bathroom surfaces). Pledge wipes, toilet cleaning tabs, and other single use products can help cut down on overall cleaning time too. 

Other posts I've shared on this topic:

7 Laundry Hacks that Help Save Me Time

Homeschooling and Finding Time to Clean 

My Favorite Cleaning/Household Hacks

I hope you'll join us next month when we talk about our tips for falling (or staying!) asleep. 


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Comments

  1. Oh you make this sound so easy and seamless and kudos to you for making it work! Very inspirational :)

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    1. Ha! It's easy to say but not nearly as easy to keep it going and get it done every week.

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  2. Good tips! I use the time that I clean to listen to podcasts. I am then at least learning something (which I enjoy) while doing something that I'd rather not be doing (cleaning!).

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    1. Thank you! I really enjoy listening to books while cleaning too because it does make me feel less like I'm wasting my time (because nothing ever stays clean for very long!).

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  3. love these tips! Having the right cleaners in the right places goes a long way. I need to work on the routine more and you are so right about keeping clutter at bay and less knick knacks really helps me.

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    1. I need to work on the routine more too; and actually keeping it going instead of always starting over at the top.

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  4. We absolutely have a "good enough" policy when it comes to chores. Also, I forgot to mention "declutter regularly" -- it definitely helps when you have less stuff to work around. When I read "think outside the box" it reminded me of when my dad said they washed their garden carrots in the washing machine one year. According to him, that was NOT a good idea, in case you were wondering :)

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    1. Oh my good; I am laughing at that idea. Good to know that was NOT a good idea.

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  5. Your tips are so good. And I love the idea of making it a game!

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    1. Thank you. That really seemed to motivate the kids when they were younger.

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  6. I did a lot of those things when I had a houseful of people, and I think that I got some pretty good help from the kids though now when I visit their/our house I sometimes wonder if I taught them well enough! LOL My biggest enemies are still procrastination and failing to declutter. Great tips that I can still learn from!

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    1. Procrastination is definitely my biggest problem. I'll do just about anything to avoid vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning toilets.

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  7. I saw myself in many of your tips! Even our tiny home needs organization or we are over run with clutter. #anythinggoes

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    1. Oh I bet it's even more obvious with a tiny house!

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  8. I loved reading this! It's a topic I love, and shared my own post just now. Thanks for sharing and hosting, my friend!

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    1. Thank you so much for joining in with us today, Jen!

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  9. I love these tips, particularly the ones about breaking tasks down and making them enjoyable.

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    1. Thank you! I do find it helps to try and make it as enjoyable as possible.

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  10. You're very organized and really have the tasks broken down and orderly. #MMBC

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    1. Aw, thank you. I am (usually) a very organized person.

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  11. Joanne, I enjoyed reading this post and I am amazed at how fast you fold the laundry. I hope you have a nice day.

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    1. I actually timed myself once because I honestly thought it was a more time consuming chore than it actually turned out to be.

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    1. I think that a routine is key; though I can get fixated on always cleaning the same things and forget about those seasonal/ monthly chores that don't always need doing.

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  13. What great ideas and tips!
    I think cleaning is easier when it's fun so always have the TV or music on when I am doing chores.

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    1. I definitely think that helps. At least it makes the chores more bearable.

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  14. Excellent tips. The boys do their own laundry and while I fold they put away. They also empty the dishwasher in the morning. I agree with the do enough bit too. While I would love to all Monica on the house I know that I can not. Audio books have been a game changer.. makes chores much more enjoyable.

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    1. I'll still fold for my boys but they definitely are in charge of putting them away. I could easily go all Monica (and used to! but it definitely drove my family nutty) and really wore me out.

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  15. Thanks Joanne for hosting Share Our Lives and appreciate your share about ways you save time with chores. My shares are #11-13, posts devoted to decluttering, saving time, money, and energy so I can be more productive and more at ease. Have a great day!

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  16. Thanks for this one, Joanne. I'm always looking for homekeeping hacks! Chores are no one's favorites and you have some excellent tips here!

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    1. I always wish I was one of those people that enjoyed cleaning but I don't; organizing I love but actually cleaning, not so much.

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  17. You have so many good tips. I like the one to set a timer, you're right, you can get a lot done!

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  18. My top tips would be to keep on top of it. Always do a little bit at a time, so it doesn't all just creep up on you #MMBC

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    1. Yes, I like to try cleaning just a few little somethings each day.

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  19. All that laundry! I won't complain about mine any more. This made me feel ready to tackle my Monday morning laundry pile!

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    1. Yep, big huge guys and lots of cold weather equals giant mounds of laundry. Thankfully, the rarely wash theirs on the same day!

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  20. I often listen to a podcast or book when I clean. I've been known to blast music too. Depends on my mood. My hubs is super neat and that helps a lot. He likes to vacuum and clean the showers and I let him lol.

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  21. Thanks some good suggestions here. I do like to play music when doing chores and lately, I 've been watching Netflix on my little Alexa screen when I cook. It really helps the time fly by.

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  22. I agree, such great household tips and it seems like you have done great with these for yourself and teaching good habits to your boys.

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  23. My favorite is "good enough." When I was a kid, Saturday mornings were spent cleaning. We washed baseboards, swept out the vents, dusted everything, including the tops and frames of doors. I think Mom must have done anything involving chemicals because I don't remember doing that. I think, because of that, I skip most of those things. I do make sure the vents are always clean, including the cold air return. Our last Roomba died, and we replaced it with a less expensive model. Big mistake. This one is so dumb...it's always getting stuck and has never learned a pattern. We will be replacing some floors in a year or so. I'm thinking about getting one of them that also mops as it goes. Lots of good tips, Joanne! Thanks for sharing!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. Good to know; ours is a knock off Roomba and it drives me nuts because it's always stuck under our couches and things (not that it can't find its way around; it does but it literally wedges itself under the couch!).

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  24. You are very efficient! I like that, I work that way too.

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  25. I loved all of your ideas for saving time... especially your "think outside the box" ideas! Brilliant!

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  26. I love that "good enough" policy. I'm SUCH a perfectionist, and this year I'm trying to throw that out the window. It's not realistic for everything to be perfect all the time, so I don't know why I even try. It's my Type A eldest child syndrome I suppose. Haha. But these are all really great tips!

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    1. It was SO HARD to let go of the perfectionism but we were all so much happier once I did; of course having kids aged 3-7 home with me all day every day kind of made that necessary (especially once we had science and art projects all over the place).

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  27. I do the no shoes in the house rule. Brian is the worst of not sticking to it then letting others side. Right now I hate the sound so salt being hit across the floor and you can't see it.

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    1. My oldest son and husband are the worst about not sticking to that no-shoe rule (though my husband was great about it when we had babies and toddlers around). In the winter they track in lots of salt but the other 3 seasons we get lots and lots of sand since they both work in the sand and gravel industry.

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  28. Making cleaning a game with kids is great! My little one loves to do that, he might not clean as good as I'd like it's just the point of him doing it!

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    1. Exactly! I always figured as long as it was better than when we started and we weren't adding to the mess that I was still ahead in the end and that time spent teaching them when they're young is so helpful later on down the road when they really do get it and can help.

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