Men are typically expected to be more adept at home repairs than house chores. You can have a cluttered bedroom or workshop, and no one will bat an eye just because you’re a man, and therefore “lazy to clean.”
But in this age where stereotyping is now frowned upon, you should not be afraid of being judged for doing housework anymore. Cooking and cleaning won’t make you less of a man; in fact, knowing how to do those may even increase your attractiveness.
That said, if you’re a single gent living in your own bachelor’s pad, here’s a housework cheat sheet to help you break toxic stereotypes:
Chores To Do Every Day
- Sweeping the floors
- Dusting surfaces and decor
- Vacuuming furniture
- Washing the dishes
- Doing the laundry
- Cooking
- Cleaning bathrooms
Some people find doing the laundry weekly more workable because of their schedules, but doing it daily can reduce your burden. You can cut your laundry routine short and not deal with a mound of dirty clothes each time anymore.
Taking 15 to 20 minutes of your day to wash at least one load will be more manageable. You can leave your clean clothes in a basket and only put them back in your closet over the weekend.
Chores To Do Weekly
- Washing bedding
- Mopping the floors
- Tending to your garden
- Taking out the trash
- Washing the car
Since you’re now living alone, taking out the trash cannot be your only share of the housework anymore!
If you’re a novice at gardening or don’t have the green thumb, maintain your garden by watering the beds one to two times every week. Note that it’s better to water the plants in the evening or early in the morning because the soil is cooler. As such, less water will evaporate during the peak of the heat.
Avoid watering the leaves or plant heads to prevent molds. Better yet, invest in an irrigation system so a machine can take care of your garden’s needs. But still, it’s good to know a thing or two about gardening.
Chores to Do Monthly
- Washing the windows
- Cleaning and reorganizing the fridge
- Replacing air filters
- Cleaning window treatments
- Vacuuming curtains
You can save money in washing the windows by swapping out chemical cleaners for a homemade one. Such is made of natural ingredients, including rubbing alcohol, vinegar, cornstarch, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, natural soaps, and essential oils. You may also use ammonia, since it’s a substance that’s produced naturally, and doesn’t last long in the environment. But never use it with chlorine bleach, vinegar, and other acidic substances, because it may release deadly fumes.
Chores to Do Yearly
- Deep-cleaning carpets
- Winterizing your home
- Cleaning the garage
- Pruning trees and shrubs
- Cleaning the air ducts
Yearly chores can be easy to forget, so it’s best to keep a chore list that you can see every day. Put a checkmark on the duties you already accomplished to ensure that you’re not missing anything. And cleaning the air ducts, specifically, isn’t a DIY job. It’s safer to avail trustworthy air duct cleaning services for that, so you can avoid being exposed to dangerous molds and vermin.
But air duct cleaning isn’t required to be performed yearly. Only do it when mold infestation, vermin, and excessive dirt are already noticeable and bothersome.
Now that you have a tidy and fresh bachelor’s pad, you may inspire more men to adopt a better lifestyle and break stereotypes like you. A messy space may be associated with creativity, but it doesn’t make it excusable, so grab that broom and sweep!
