Have more to do in the day than you can possibly finish? There are some household chores you can skip and reduce your to-do list.
We all seem to have more we want to get done in a day than is possible. Over the last couple of years, this has become very true for me. It’s something I’m working on and one thing I’ve learned is you have to remove somethings from your day. Having too much to do all of the time will burn you out and over time can even impact your health.
Keeping up with our homes can take a lot of time and energy. There are an endless number of chores to do and our time to do these chores seems to be shrinking.
Decluttering can help a lot and organizing does as well. However, that isn’t always enough. You may find you are still spending more time on your home than you would prefer. There are a few household chores that really aren’t worth your time and may even be bad for your home.
There are four common household chores that I have found to fit this category. Each by themselves may not seem to save you time but they add up. And your home will actually be cleaner if you skip these household chores.
Household Chores You Can Skip
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Drying Dishes
Hand drying dishes can seem like a good idea but it actually causes more bacteria on your dishes. If you hand wash your dishes let them air dry. If you have a dishwasher you can use the heat dry cycle, or if you have the time crack the dishwasher when it’s done running and let them air dry. This option saves energy but takes a bit longer. If you must towel dry a dish make sure the towel is freshly washed and hasn’t been used for anything else.
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Washing Clothes Every Day
Some clothing items like socks and underwear should be washed after every wear but not all clothes should be. Outer layers that were not gotten dirty, sleepwear, and clothes not worn for very long can be worn multiple times before being washed. This not only cuts down on laundry, it also helps make your clothes last longer. If possible set up a place to keep clothes that can be worn again separate from clean clothes. It’s best if they can be hung up so they can get some air. Bath towels can also be used a couple of times before washing. Just be sure they are hung up and allowed to dry between uses.
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Making the Bed in the Morning
This chore isn’t really one you should totally skip but it’s one you should delay. When you get up throw your blankets to the end of the bed and allow your bed to air out, at least for a couple of hours. This helps keep your bed fresh and clean. Go ahead and make it later to have a more put together room. Though if you are running low on time, this is a chore that is not critical. I know this goes against many homemakers that say you should always make your bed. For some this is important but if it doesn’t really bother you or anyone sharing the room with you, it’s okay to skip on busy days. Try to make it when you have time because it will make the room look less messy but don’t stress about it. Airing out your bed is far more important.
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Washing Poultry
This is one that many people believe is necessary for food safety. However, it has not been shown to reduce any pathogens in food and actually can cause foodborne illnesses. When you wash the poultry water and bacteria are being spread around your kitchen. Instead just make sure to cook the poultry to the FDA recommended temperature. I recommend a good digital thermometer to make sure your poultry is cooked properly.
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Meal Planning
I don’t mind meal planning and I have gotten it down to a science but if you just can’t find the time or hate it try Eat at Home. Eat at Home is a service that makes meal plans and shopping lists for you. This can save you a lot of time and if you weren’t meal planning before it can save you money as well.
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Vacuuming
Robot vacuums are getting more affordable and can be a great option if you find yourself vacuuming a lot. There are several options on Amazon with great reviews. You likely will need to occasionally do a good deep vacuuming but this can save a lot of time. It’s especially helpful if you have pets.
Look at your to-do list and see if you can mark off any of these household chores. It’s always nice to spend less time doing chores and more time enjoying our families.
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Leslie Soto
I am all for #1 especially. I rarely towel dry dishes. We use the dishwasher for most things but the things, like pots and pans, that I hand wash-we air dry. I have never heard of washing poultry before. That one just doesn’t even sound right though. These are great tips for cutting some corners and saving time!
Lisa Sharp
A lot of people think you need to rinse (many say wash) their poultry but I think it’s starting to be less common, which is good. 🙂
Sarah
Making the bed is my least favorite chore, so I am all about number 3 – I mean, who wants to clean as soon as they wake up?! Thanks for sharing!
Peace, Sarah
simplysarahs.blogspot.com
Lisa Sharp
So true! I’m not a morning person, all I want to do is drink a cup of tea and very slowly join the world.
Thana Fauteux
Now I don’t feel so bad about not drying my dishes, I never even thought about the bacteria transfer. This was a well thought-out list, you know your stuff!
Lisa Sharp
Glad I could help. 🙂
Akram Taghavi-Burris
With busy lives it’s nice to know you can skip certain tasks. I never hand dry my dishes. If they are still wet when the dishwasher is through, I open the dishwasher door and roll out the racks and let them air dry for a while. Also, I hate doing laundry so the less I have to wash the better.
Lisa Sharp
I don’t mind laundry, I just hate putting it away.
Nina @ Hugs and Lattes
Well I’ve never washed my poultry. . . nor do I make my bed. So it looks like I’m doing great!
Lisa Sharp
Good job! 🙂
Samantha
I was just wondering about the chicken thing the other day. I’ve seen people rinse it before, but it always seemed like an unnecessary step, so I’ve never done it. I’m really glad your cleared the air on that one for me! And our bed rarely gets made. When it does, it’s in the afternoon usually.
Lisa Sharp
I did it at one point until I learned it’s not really helpful and can be harmful. Not a fan of handling raw meat so glad to not be doing that anymore.
Lauren Jane
We already don’t do the drying dishes, I have always preferred letting them air dry. But I can stop washing chicken and maybe do laundry less often! (I have never made a bed haha!)
Lisa Sharp
Yay, less to do! 🙂
Amanda Butler
Thanks for giving me an excuse to skip a few chores! 🙂
Lisa Sharp
I’m here to help! ha
Bree Hogan
Lol I am not going to show my hubby this post as he will skip around the house singing that he doesn’t need to dry the dishes or make the bed!
Lisa Sharp
haha well I did say it’s still good to make the bed at some point.
Chocolate Mama Loves Vanilla
I was into this post by the moment I read the title! This is a great list… is there any way to add on some more to the list!?!? LOL 😀
Lisa Sharp
I’d love to add more to the list if anyone has suggestions! 🙂
Rachel
Letting the bed air out for a while after you get up may help reduce dust mites and such in the bedding (they like it warm and moist, which it is after you’ve been in it all night. We toss our things back til we are done with breakfast, about 45 min)…Dishes get air dried when they are hand washed, or if they are machine washed and will be done before bedtime ( Mr doesn’t like leaving them in the warm moist air overnight, so if we *have* to have a load done overnight, it gets the heated dry..). I have never washed chicken off, unless its thawed a little longer than usual, but that isn’t very often. And with five children, believe me, I am alllllll about minimizing laundry!?