I can’t say I’m an expert at being a housewife. Not even close. But I am a very clean and organized person. I don’t like clutter. I don’t like clothes on the floor. And I don’t like dirty dishes in the sink.
So to make housekeeping a little easier, I’ve started using some simple tricks that I’d like to share with you.
Check Out My Housewife Hacks
Laundry
Is your husband messy like mine? Travis has always been much more messy than I am. I would walk into the bathroom in the morning having to navigate through an obstacle course of clothing just to get to the toilet! Now that problem has been solved! I bought a large hamper (that matches our bathroom decor). It sets in our bathroom and now my husband has been great about throwing his clothes in the hamper instead of on the floor when he gets in the shower.
When the hamper starts to get full, I take it to the laundry room and start a load. I keep a laundry basket in that room that is only for clean clothes.
Once the laundry is clean, I put it in the basket and fold it while watching TV. Then I put the hamper and basket back in their separate rooms. We also keep a hamper in our bedroom closet for when we change clothes in there.
Dishes
As you may already know, I hate washing dishes. The worst part is when I’ve cooked supper, we sat down and ate and then the kitchen needs cleaned. After supper, I just want to relax, cuddle with my husband, and watch our favorite shows. I definitely don’t want to go back in the kitchen!
My trick is to clean the kitchen as you go. I start by emptying the dishwasher in the morning before or after breakfast. Then, throughout the day while eating or cooking, I rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. As I cook supper, I can quickly rinse the pots and pans or other utensils and put them in the dishwasher. Then, once we finish eating, all I have to do is stick the plates and silverware in the dishwasher without any real clean up.
After our ice cream or nightly snack, I start the dishwasher so it can run while we sleep. And the process starts all over. But what about the dishes that aren’t dishwasher safe? Well, my husband has graciously agreed to wash those by hand for me because he knows of my disdain for doing dishes. He’s pretty great!
Groceries
Buying groceries and figuring out what to make for supper every night can be overwhelming. Sometimes, I’m excited to try a new recipe and other times I’m just not in the mood to cook. So at the beginning of the week, I make a list of meal ideas. I go through cookbooks, Pinterest, and recipes I have until I decide what I want to make throughout the week.
Once I have a meal plan, I make my grocery list. It makes my time at the grocery store much easier, and it keeps me from being lazy about making supper.
If you, like me, would rather dislocate your shoulder than make two trips when carrying in groceries, this tip is for you! Our apartment is on the second floor so I have to walk up the stairs while carrying 25 bags on my arms and keeping my key available in one hand. That can be, well, difficult.
To make it easier, use a laundry basket! Put your empty laundry basket in your trunk when you go to the grocery store, put all your bags in there and then you can carry it all at once into your house. It’s a lot less awkward than carrying the bags on your arms, and you don’t risk a bag ripping and groceries spilling out everywhere! Just be sure you put your bread and eggs at the top of the basket so they don’t get smashed.
Now, it’s your turn to share! What are your housewife hacks?
I use a lot of these same tips. At the grocery store when I unload my cart, I always put the cold stuff together, the boxes, the jars, etc. that seems to help the sacker too and it helps me when I get home. I just put all the frozen food in the freezer, grab the box sack and head to the pantry, etc.
I make grocery list and also try to plan ahead for the week. It makes it easier to make sure I have all the ingredients.
Yes, I thought of you with the laundry basket to carry groceries in. You used a cooler to keep your groceries cold in the summer, but it also worked for carrying them in the house too!
You have some really great ideas and as a woman who’s been at this for over 42 years, I find I can always learn more efficient ways of doing things. I really liked your idea about keeping the laundry basket in the car to carry in the groceries. I am going to have to give that a try. The best “Housewife Hack” that I can think of, is to always celebrate the small stuff. It isn’t expensive at all to have a candle at meal time or something extra, whether it be a gift that you got at the dollar store, or fixing his favorite meal. Just remember to celebrate the unexpected and make everyday fun. Because no matter what has happened during the day for either of you, HOME is your refuge from the storm. Make it a special place to be.
I love what you said about home being our refuge from the storm. That is so true. Travis has the type of job that could be very stressful, so making our home a place he can rest, relax and be at peace is very important. Thanks for the tip!
Thank you for these tips. I am not good at housekeeping. I am working on it. I love these ideas. My Aunt Kay told me a tip when I was young and in Brownies with her. She said, “don’t set it down, put it away”. I think of that often.
My husband and I just cleaned and redesigned our laundry room and installed a shelf and rod. Now we can hang the close up as they come out of the dryer.
Thanks for the tips!
You’re welcome! I love the tip of don’t set it down, put it away! So true! I wonder how I can teach my husband that one? Haha!