How to tackle your list of home chores as a couple

A very famous quote says that everything in love and war is fair. Indeed, your home can turn into a war zone sometimes when a quarrel starts, and what causes many of them? Home chores! When someone forgets to take out the trash and it starts to smell or someone forgets to wash the dishes or buy the groceries, etc., things can get heated, understandably.  

If you are living with your significant other, compromises are necessary. Issues can arise when only one person is doing the compromising. You both live under the same roof, you both make a mess, you eat, you shower, you do the laundry, it is only natural that both of you must do the cleaning as well.

Here are a few tips to help you tackle your list of home chores as a couple:

1) Sit down and make individual lists

You should each write down the chores you like doing and the chores you do not want to do. If you both have the same chores on your dislike list, then you can alternate daily or weekly. This is a very easy and straightforward way to arrive at a fair compromise. If there is one person in the relationship that does not work a day job, then it would be fair for them to carry a heavier list of chores.  

2) Make daily, weekly and monthly lists

Once the chores are broken down into daily, weekly, and monthly lists, the workload won’t seem as intimidating. Then based on your individual lists, assign roles. It’s important to remember that your long term chores may change or become necessary earlier than anticipated, so be prepared to be flexible. Don’t let a mess just sit there because your schedule says you don’t have to clean it for another week.  

3) Consider timing

Your work schedules are likely different, so take this into consideration when setting up your chores. For example, if one of you gets home earlier, then you can be in charge of dinner, then the other person will be in charge of doing the dishes afterward.

4) Consider lifestyles

If you’ve been living together for a long time, then you know each other’s habits. If not, you have some learning to do! It will come with experience. If one person tends to wear their shoes indoors more, then they should be in charge of sweeping and mopping. For example, if you’re a construction worker and you drag dirt into your home on a daily basis, then make sure you clean the floors! Then maybe your partner will be grateful and willing to do an extra load of laundry just for your work clothes.

The key to living with your loved one is to not only compromise but also understand each other and realize that you’re sharing everything. If you're buying a new home together, you can keep it clean right from the get-go with these tips! 

This is the advice given by Demi Giles on behalf of Cleaning Services London.