QuestionsAnswered.net
What's Your Question?
Understanding Duty-free Prices
Have you ever considered buying a duty-free product, whether a souvenir, alcohol or perfume, but weren’t sure if it was really a good deal? Here’s a guideline to understanding duty-free prices.
Meaning of Duty-free
The term “duty-free” simply means that you are free of paying the “duty,” or tax, when you bring a product across international borders. No one wants to be double taxed, so if you buy duty-free alcohol in the Naples International Airport, for example, you won’t be taxed in Italy, although once you return to the United States, you may have to pay taxes on those bottles of grappa. However, U.S. residents are granted an exemption on duty-free purchases, usually $800 each year, according to Travel + Leisure.
Saving Money
So, how much of a bargain are you getting when you buy duty-free items? It depends on the airport and the country it’s in, which means you’ll need to do some comparison shopping, such as determining duty-free Canada prices. Fortunately, that’s easy to do online, but it does require taking the time to check duty-free prices, states Travel + Leisure. If you’re buying a big-ticket item such as a consumer electronics product, you can see real savings by buying it duty-free.
Types of Items to Buy Duty-free
Because you have to pay high taxes on liquor and tobacco products, you can end up paying less by buying them duty-free. However, the actual prices could be the same or higher as you’d pay back home or in the country where you’re traveling, so you’ll need to do some calculating to see if making a duty-free purchase is worth it, according to Travel + Leisure. If the price is the same and you’d save on the cigarette or liquor tax, then buying duty-free would be a good bargain.
Keep Track of Purchases
When buying duty-free items, make sure you save your receipts. Passing through customs is serious business, and you may be required to present receipts for your purchases. Even if you have items shipped from a foreign country to your home, you still are required to declare the purchases, states the New York Times.
Other Considerations
Whether or not you owe customs duty, aka tax, once you’re back in the U.S. _ and whether it qualifies as part of the aforementioned $800 exemption _ can vary based on other factors, such as the length of your visit, the country you’re traveling from, the type of item purchased and if it was purchased as a gift, states the New York Times. When you buy alcohol, for example, it must be for your own use, and not for resale. There may be additional restrictions in place depending on the U.S. state that you’re flying into, according to the New York Times.
MORE FROM QUESTIONSANSWERED.NET
household duties definition
Related to household duties.
Household means a family group living in the same domestic dwelling.
Household members means those persons who reside in the same home, who have reciprocal duties to and do provide financial support for one another. This term shall include foster children and legal wards even if they do not live in the household. The term does not include persons sharing the same general house, when the living style is primarily that of a dormitory or commune;
Households means one or more natural persons or a family who pays 30 percent of their household income toward their monthly rent and is determined by Grantee to be eligible for rental assistance under this Agreement.
Household goods means personal effects and property used or to be used in a dwelling when a part of the equipment or supply of that dwelling. Household goods do not include property moving from a factory or store, unless the property was purchased by the householder with intent to use the property in his or her dwelling, the property is transported at the request of the householder, and the householder pays the carrier's transportation charges either directly or indirectly.
Household member means a spouse, former spouse, parent, present or former stepparent, present or former parent in-law, grandparent, grandparent-in-law, a co-parent of a child or a person with whom a person has had a continuing personal relationship. Cohabitation is not necessary to be deemed a household member for the purposes of the Crimes Against Household Members Act; and
household customer means a customer purchasing electricity for his own household consumption, excluding commercial or professional activities;
Personal Services means “the performance of any work or labor and shall also include acting as an independent contractor or providing any consulting advice or assistance, or otherwise acting as an agent pursuant to a contractual relationship.”
Family or household members means spouses, domestic partners, former spouses, former domestic partners, persons who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have lived together at any time, adult persons related by blood or marriage, adult persons who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past, persons sixteen years of age or older who are presently residing together or who have resided together in the past and who have or have had a dating relationship, persons sixteen years of age or older with whom a person sixteen years of age or older has or has had a dating relationship, and persons who have a biological or legal parent-child relationship, including stepparents and stepchildren and grandparents and grandchildren.
Household waste means any waste material, including garbage, trash, and sanitary wastes in septic tanks, derived from households, including single-family and multiple-family residences, hotels and motels, bunk houses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas.
Resident Personnel means such persons who at the time of being so hired had their domicile inside India;
Permitted Recipients means the parties to this agreement, the employees of each party, any third parties engaged to perform obligations in connection with this agreement.
Intermittent stream means a well-defined channel that contains water for only part of the year, typically during winter and spring when the aquatic bed is below the water table. The flow may be heavily supplemented by stormwater runoff. An intermittent stream often lacks the biological and hydrological characteristics commonly associated with the continuous conveyance of water.
Family or household member means spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married. With the exception of persons who have a child in common, the family or household members must be currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same single dwelling unit.
Service Provider Personnel means and refers to Service Provider employees or subcontractors hired and maintained to perform Services hereunder.
Emergency medical services personnel means that term as defined in section 20904 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.20904.
Resident Representative means (if any) the individual (or, if permitted in accordance with the Companies Acts, the company) appointed to perform the duties of resident representative set out in the Companies Acts and includes any assistant or deputy Resident Representative appointed by the Board to perform any of the duties of the Resident Representative;
Personal care means the provision of hands-on services to assist an individual with activities of daily living.
Window sign means a sign posted, painted, placed or affixed in or on a window exposed to public view, and shall include an interior sign that faces a window exposed to public view and located within 1 metre of a window;(240-07)
Home health aide services means the personal care and maintenance activities provided to individuals for the purpose of promoting normal standards of health and hygiene.
Transportation purpose means a purpose that directly
Farmworker Household means a household of one or more persons wherein at least one member of the household is a Farmworker at the time of initial occupancy.
Personal services contract means a contract that, by its express terms or as administered, makes the contractor per- sonnel appear to be, in effect, Government employees (see 37.104).
Household income means the combined income of the members
Local Calling Area is a geographically defined area as established by the effective tariffs of Qwest as approved by the Commission.
Extremely low-income household means a single person,
Personal service means professional or technical expertise
- Skip to language switcher
- Skip to main categories navigation
- Skip to secondary categories navigation
- Skip to current category navigation
- Skip to main navigation
- Skip to main content
- Skip to footer
- Glossary & Thesaurus
domestic responsibilities
View definition in:.
- Latviešu valoda
- Lietuvių kalba
- Slovenčina (slovenský jazyk)
- Slovenščina (slovenski jezik)
- Sprski (Latin)
- Српски (Cyrilic)
- Српски (Cyrilic) (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Tasks performed inside a household in order to ensure that the basic needs of its members are met, such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children or older adults and other dependent family members.
See also: domestic division of labour
Additional notes and information
Traditionally, a person is not paid for performing these tasks, and power or status is not necessarily accorded because of these responsibilities. In many societies, the person responsible for the household is in a subordinate position within it, and, most often, women and girls are responsible for all household tasks, even if they work outside the home.
IPS-Inter Press Service (2010). Gender and Development Glossary: A Tool for Journalists and Writers.
The concepts and definitions found in this glossary were published in 2016, and some may be out-of-date. EIGE is currently looking into which terms may need to be updated in the future.
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
In order to properly experience our website, please enable Javascript.
- Share on Facebook
- Share on Twitter
- Share on LinkedIn
- Share via Email
Women Still Handle Main Household Tasks in U.S.
Story Highlights
- Women mainly responsible for laundry (58%), cleaning and cooking (51%)
- Men take lead on keeping car in order (69%) and doing yardwork (59%)
- Perceptions about who does certain household tasks differ sharply by gender
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Although women comprise nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they still fulfill a larger share of household responsibilities. Married or partnered heterosexual couples in the U.S. continue to divide household chores along largely traditional lines, with the woman in the relationship shouldering primary responsibility for doing the laundry (58%), cleaning the house (51%) and preparing meals (51%). At the same time, men continue to take the lead in keeping the car in good condition (69%) and doing yardwork (59%).
In addition to laundry, cleaning and cooking, women are the primary decision-makers when it comes to home decor in 62% of households. Although there is more equity in some of the other tasks, women are also much more likely than their husbands to care for children on a daily basis, shop for groceries and wash dishes.
There is only one task that men and women are equally likely to take the lead on -- paying bills. In 37% of U.S. households, the woman primarily pays the bills, while in 34% of households, the man does.
Planning family activities is the only task that is reported as being shared equally by a majority, 52%. In households that don't share the job, women are more likely to be responsible (37%) than are men (10%).
Half say that decisions about savings or investments are shared equally, but in most other households (31%), it's the man making these decisions.
These latest readings, based on combined data from three polls conducted in mid-2019, mark the third time that Gallup has asked married and cohabitating couples to report who is most likely to perform various tasks in their household. The previous readings were in 1996 and 2007. Analysis of the 2019 data is limited to heterosexual couples (97% of the sample) to facilitate comparison with past data collected before same-sex marriage was legal.
Distribution of Household Tasks Has Become More Equitable Since 1996
Although women remain more likely than men to perform most of the duties at home, this has declined in some cases over the past two decades. Since 1996, women have become less likely to be the primary partner handling grocery shopping (down 14 percentage points), laundry (down 12 points), cooking (down 12 points), dishwashing (down 11 points) and cleaning (down nine points). These shifts are accompanied by some combination of increases in the percentage of men primarily performing the tasks or sharing the work equally with their partners.
Women also have become less likely to be the main spouse to pay bills as more have said this job is now shared equally between partners.
Over the same period, men have become more likely to take over the decision-making about savings or investments (up five points), and they have steadily remained most likely to keep both the car and yard in good condition.
Husbands and Wives See Things Differently
The above findings are based on the views of all married or cohabitating heterosexual couples. However, perceptions about who does what differ sharply by gender. Specifically, for eight of the 12 tasks -- caring for children, cleaning the house, preparing meals, washing dishes, grocery shopping, paying bills, planning family activities and making decisions about savings or investments -- men and women are each more likely to say that they personally perform an equal or larger share of the work than their partner does.
Parents' Household Tasks Tied to Employment and Earnings
Although mothers are more likely than fathers to say they perform most of the housekeeping chores, the division of labor among parents with at least one child under the age of 18 at home varies largely on each parent's employment situation and earnings.
For example, among parents in single- and dual-income households:
- In households where both parents work, men shoulder slightly more of the burden of chores than do men in single-income households.
- Although women in both types of households are still more likely to be responsible for laundry, meal preparation, dishwashing and cleaning, men in dual-income homes pitch in slightly more on these chores than do men in single-income homes.
- When it comes to caring for children, a plurality of adults in dual-income homes report sharing the responsibilities of childcare. This compares to a majority of mothers in single-income homes who care for children.
And when looking at parents' individual earnings in dual-income households:
- In households where the father earns more than his wife, the wife is more likely to take the lead on the core housekeeping tasks of laundry, cooking, cleaning, dishwashing, grocery shopping, decorating and childcare. When the mother's income is higher than her husband's, he takes on a greater role in all of these tasks.
- When both parents earn roughly the same income, men are more likely to help with taking care of children, washing dishes and cleaning.
- In households where one parent earns more than the other, that person is more likely to be responsible for paying the bills, but long-term financial decisions about savings or investments are most likely to be shared regardless of who the chief earner is.
Direct Link Between College Degree and Household Roles
Women with a college degree are slightly less likely than women without one to be solely responsible for several domestic tasks, including laundry, cleaning, washing dishes and caring for children. This may be because women with a college degree are much more likely than those without one to be working full time and thereby sharing the household responsibilities more.
Men with a college degree are more likely than those without one to be solely responsible for the family's finances -- both paying bills and making decisions about savings or investments.
Younger Couples Maintaining Traditional Gender Roles
As was the case in 2007 , married couples of different ages are strikingly similar in their reports about the division of jobs in their homes.
The only task for which there is a significant difference by age is paying household bills. A 39% plurality of those aged 18 to 34 say both spouses share this responsibility equally, while those aged 35 to 54 are divided and a 44% plurality of those aged 55 and older report that the wife is responsible for the bills.
Bottom Line
Despite some changes over the past two decades, the division of labor in U.S. households remains largely tilted toward traditional stereotypes: Women are more likely than their husbands to take care of the house and children, and men remain the primary caretakers of the car and the yard.
As working women and mothers continue to struggle for equal treatment at work, they are more likely than men to fulfill many core housekeeping tasks at home. Yet, there are some signs that women's roles, particularly those whose salaries match or exceed their husband's, are more equitable.
A recent Gallup poll found that a record-high percentage of women prefer to be in the workforce than at home, which could portend greater shifts in household responsibilities.
Survey Methods
Related topics include:, access crucial data for your research.
Search, examine, compare and export nearly a century of primary data.
Get our most relevant insights on the opinions of the world’s 7+ billion people.
Sign up to receive essential insights on the thoughts and feelings of people in more than 140 countries.
Fields marked with an asterisk ( * ) are required
Recommended
Record-High 56% of U.S. Women Prefer Working to Homemaking
A new high of 56% of U.S. women would prefer to work outside the home rather than stay home and take care of the house and family.
Nurses Continue to Rate Highest in Honesty, Ethics
Americans continue to rate nurses as being the most honest and ethical of any profession Gallup routinely asks about.
Obama, Trump Tie as Most Admired Man in 2019
Barack Obama and Donald Trump tie as the most admired man this year. Michelle Obama remains the most admired woman.
10 Major Social Changes in the 50 Years Since Woodstock
Fifty years after Woodstock became the symbol of 1960s social upheaval, Gallup trends highlight how much has changed in U.S. society.
January 29, 2020 Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/283979/women-handle-main-household-tasks.aspx Gallup World Headquarters, 901 F Street, Washington, D.C., 20001, U.S.A +1 202.715.3030
I Created a System to Make Sure My Husband and I Divide Household Duties Fairly. Here's How It Works
I was just pulling up to the departures gate at LAX, where I was catching an early morning flight to my one-day business meeting up in Seattle, when I got the following text from my husband, Seth: Some guy left his jacket and beer bottle on our lawn.
Weird. Gross. And, more importantly, what am I supposed to do about it from the road?
When I returned home 16 hours later and long after the sun had gone down, I’d forgotten about the text until I pulled into my driveway, and there they were sitting in the dark — some guy’s jacket and beer bottle on our lawn. Seriously? I began to seethe. As I unlocked the front door, I quickly tried to work out why.
I was reminded of the many girlfriends who had described “the text” and its spiritual cousin, “the email forward,” as trigger issues in their marriages — a correspondence comes through to both you and your partner from your child’s school, coach, music teacher, doctor’s office or the DMV, and your partner forwards it to you. The implication: I don’t have time to handle this — it’s on you.
That night, standing in the doorway to our bedroom, I understood that my husband expected me to put down my carry-on, grab a trash bag and a pair of rubber gloves, walk outside, pick up the jacket and beer bottle, throw them into the bag, walk the whole thing to the bin in the alley and return home. When I did just that, I made note of how long it took me to do this: 12 minutes. Of my time. That I’ll never get back. I briefly considered these 12 minutes multiplied by thousands of “this is on you” instances required to get through each of my days and began to understand acutely why so many women are running against the clock from the moment we wake up.
What might not be so clear, because it wasn’t to me that night, is: Why was this on me?
Why domestic work falls to women
The answer came to me 12 minutes later when I returned to our bedroom after cleaning up the mess in the front yard, still wearing rubber gloves: Seth was not valuing my time equally to his.
In my day job, I’m a Harvard-trained lawyer and mediator who works with families. But at my own home, I realized, I wasn’t cutting a very good deal for myself. Like so many women — whether they work outside the home or not — I was picking up more than my fair share of the slack in the running of our household . In heterosexual partnerships, women still do the bulk of childcare and domestic work — the National Survey of Families and Households showed that as recently as 2010, married mothers like myself and many of my friends did about 1.9 times the housework of married fathers .
Rule #3: Start where you are now.
You cannot get to where you want to go without first understanding: Who am I? Who am I really in a relationship with? And what is my specific intention for engaging my partner in renegotiating the household workload? Ask yourself: Am I seeking more acknowledgment of everything I do for us? More efficiency so I can have more time for myself? Less resentment and a greater sense of fairness? When you have a clear sense of what you want, you’re more likely to get it. Start the conversation by laying it all out to your partner.
Rule #4: Establish your values and standards .
Take stock of your domestic ecosystem and choose what you want to do in service of the home based on what’s most valuable to you and your partner. Just because you’re in the habit of doing a task doesn’t mean it’s a task that absolutely needs to be done. Maybe you value cooking a homemade breakfast for your child each morning — or maybe, when you and your partner consider what’s most important to you, you decide you’d rather have a few minutes in bed to check in before you start the day, and fruit and yogurt to-go are perfectly fine. After you and your partner determine what “cards” — tasks that must be done because they hold value to your family — are in play, you must mutually agree on a reasonable standard for how those tasks are handled. It’s not enough for your spouse to say he’ll be in charge of the “baseball” card — he has to pack the sports bag with all the necessary gear and snacks, arrange for pick-up and drop-off from practice, make sure all the games are on the family calendar and then show up on the right field at the right time. The more you invest in unpacking the details, the more you will be rewarded.
It didn’t happen overnight, but starting with Rule #1, attitudes started to shift within our home. After the drunk guy’s jacket incident, my husband began to notice and appreciate that we both have the same number of minutes in a day. (The “All Time Is Created Equal” sign that I posted on the bathroom mirror did help to hammer home the point.) It hasn’t always been easy; a shift in thinking takes deliberate effort. Whenever Seth and I would revert to our old, familiar dialogue like, “I don’t have time… so, can you?” or “I don’t have time either, but I guess this is on me,” I’d attempt to reframe the conversation with words that honor and respect how we each choose to spend our finite time. I finally understood that how I’d spent those particular 12 minutes picking up the drunk guy’s jacket and beer bottle was really irrelevant. I wasn’t interested in keeping a minute-by-minute scorecard with my husband; I simply wanted both of us to begin to value our time equally — and to act accordingly.
From FAIR PLAY by Eve Rodsky, published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright (c) 2019 by by Unicorn Space, LLC.
- Introducing TIME’s Women of the Year 2023
- Biden Unlikely to Attend King Charles' Coronation
- TIME Turns 100
- Column: The Death of "Dilbert" and False Claims of White Victimhood
- For People with Eating Disorders, the Buzz About Ozempic Is a Nightmare
- The Parent Files: How Parenting Helped Marie Kondo Make Room For a Little Mess
- Your Houseplants Have Some Powerful Health Benefits
- Why You Should Report Your Rapid Test Results
- The 5 Best TV Shows Our Critic Watched in February
Contact us at [email protected] .
Invisible Farmer
'Occupation ~ Home Duties'
Jessie Pearn (nee Newton) was a woman ahead of her time. She took no notice of the traditional division between men's and women's jobs or the expectations of others. She was a very competent farmer in her own right and would have a go at any job that was required.
From the beginning Jessie was very much the rural girl at heart. With no brothers, the great depression, and a world war, she worked on her father's farm learning to milk cows when she was six years old. At the time she thought herself very clever, but 50 years on when she was still milking cows; she realized the eagerness of a child can very easily lead you onto a far different path than you had imagined.
Farm families were very self-sufficient. It was Jessie's task to separate the milk from the cream to churn butter, feed the skimmed milk to pigs, keep an assortment of poultry both for eggs and meat, tend a large vegetable garden along with the usual sewing, cooking and cleaning tasks.
When the threshing team arrived, it would require lots of extra work for farm women. The team of 14 men stayed on the property requiring three meals a day plus morning and afternoon tea. A steam engine was used to drive the threshing machine and it was Jessie's job to keep the thirsty engine in wood and water making several trips a day with the horse and sled carrying barrels of water from the well.
She met her future husband Jack at a farm dance and they married on the 20th April 1950. Despite undertaking all manual tasks on her parent's farm, the bride's Profession or Occupation is listed as Home Duties not Farmer or Farm Hand. The culture of the day did not recognize the role of the women in a farm business.
After her marriage, her 'home duties' continued. Town day was Tuesday to coincide with the Killafaddy livestock sales in Launceston. Initially with a car and trailer and later in a utility, she transported the lambs and pigs to the stock yards every week before heading into the city to do her shopping. Offers to back the trailer for her were politely met with a very firm 'no thank you'. She also sold her poultry, butter and eggs at the local market, for off-farm income.
Jessie led by example and took any sarcastic comments or mocking as small mindedness, providing a strong role model for her own daughters and an inspiration to women to work hard and 'have a go'.
Her love of farming and commitment to agriculture and her community never diminished and remained strong throughout her lifetime.
Following a short illness, Jessie passed away on the 20th December 2011. Her death certificate lists her occupation as farmer!
(Jessie's full story is featured in the Women on the March exhibition at Pearns Steam World, Westbury, Tasmania.)
Ultimate Household Chore List 2022: Keeping Every Room Fresh & Clean
Household chores aren't necessarily anyone's idea of fun. Still, getting them done is paramount to keeping your home clean, healthy, functional and all-around pleasant. Whether you have kids, live with roommates or reside only with a partner, a chores list can help things run more smoothly.
Your house chores list won't look exactly the same as the next person's, but this guide will go over some of the most common daily, weekly and monthly chores.
Here's the full list of household chores we'll cover:
Washing dishes
Loading/unloading the dishwasher
Cooking or preparing meals
Packing lunches
Sweeping or vacuuming the kitchen and eating area
Feeding pets and getting them fresh water
Walking the dog
Taking out the trash
Clearing the counters and putting things away
Making the bed
Vacuuming all rugs and carpets
Sweeping or vacuuming and mopping all hard floors
Dusting shelves and window sills
Cleaning the bathrooms
Scrubbing all sinks, drains and faucets
Changing out hand and kitchen towels
Changing out bedding
Doing laundry
Planning weekly meals
Grocery shopping
Watering plants
Rolling out the garbage and recycling bins
Mowing the lawn
Cleaning all windows and mirrors
Cleaning out the refrigerator
Tossing out expired pantry food
Cleaning out the oven and microwave
Changing the HVAC filter
Dusting the blinds or shutters
Vacuuming or steaming the curtains
Vacuuming furniture
Cleaning the walls
Dusting the baseboards
Organizing the closets
Bathing the pets
Washing the car
Vacuuming out the car
Weeding the garden
Read on for details, insights and tips for creating your own chore chart.
Benefits of a Household Chores List
Why make a home chores chart? In a perfect world, all tasks would get done in a timely manner without you having to ask or remind your family or housemates. But realistically, pulling it off takes a bit more planning and organization.
Making a list of chores to do around the house can ensure everyone does their fair share of work. Plus, it can take some of the mental burden (or emotional labor , if you will) off the person who typically does the remembering and reminding. Listing everything out and assigning tasks will help put housework on autopilot.
A chore chart can also help you make sure things get done on time. And when things are done on time, tasks won't pile up and become insurmountable. For instance, not folding and putting away clothes one week means you'll have twice as much to do the following week. But if you get it done every weekend, it won't feel so overwhelming. And in the end, a clean, orderly home is simply more enjoyable to be in.
What to Put On Your Chores Checklist
So, what tasks should you include on your household chores checklist? It depends. As mentioned, a chore list for adults with roommates will probably look a little different from a family chore chart or a list of household chores for couples. And of course, you probably have personal to-dos on top of the communal tasks that need to be done.
You can get an idea of what to put on your daily, weekly and monthly chart by checking out the lists below.
What Household Chores Should Be Done Daily?
There are a handful of things that need to get done daily, but that doesn't mean they’ll take much time or effort. Like brushing your teeth, completing a task every day may eventually feel more like a habit than doing a chore.
Your daily chore list might include:
Setting thes table
Checking the mail
As noted, some tasks are more personal, like putting your belongings away and making your bed, though there might be some grey area with couples and families with younger kids.
Want to make your personal chores list all the more satisfying? Learn How to Layer Your Bed Like a Stylist .
What Household Chores Should Be Done Weekly?
Weekly tasks are things that may not require daily attention but still need to be completed on a regular basis. While every home and household is different, the following list can help get your wheels turning when creating your own chart.
Your weekly chore list might include:
Scrubbing all sinks, drains, and faucets
Depending on your personal needs and preferences, you might do some of these tasks more than once a week, while others may be completed bi-weekly or even monthly.
What Household Chores Should Be Done Monthly?
Each month, you can tackle things that aren't as urgent or that may take a bit longer to complete, such as deep-cleaning and organizing. Still, getting them done is as important as your household's daily and weekly tasks.
Your monthly chores list might include:
Some tasks can be done every few months or even annually, such as cleaning out the garage or replenishing cleaning products, toilet paper and other household essentials. You might also have some seasonal outdoor projects, like cleaning the gutters, pressure-washing the driveway and washing the outside of the windows.
Read our article for the quintessential Bedroom Organizing Tips .
Laundry Chores
Laundry is among the more time-consuming and tedious household chores, but it still needs to get done on a regular basis. Depending on the size of your household and who lives with you, you might be able to break it up so that one person doesn't bear the entire burden. Here's what to consider.
Washing, Folding and Putting Away Clothes
Dirty clothes typically pile up the fastest, so it's vital they're not only washed but also folded and put away. If one person is in charge of washing and folding, you might have another person make sure everything's put back in the proper drawers or closets.
Read our blog to learn How to Wash, Dry and Care for Bathrobes , then check out our How to Wash Organic Cotton Clothing and Organic Clothing Guide for insight into finding and caring for the best high-quality garments for you and your family.
Washing Bedding
You should change out your bedding about once every seven to ten days, whether you do it by grabbing a fresh set from the linen closet or washing your sheets and duvet cover. Putting this on your weekend chores list makes the most sense for many households. However, some people like to switch out their pillowcase multiple times a week to minimize the amount of oil buildup and bacteria that touches their face.
For a deeper dive into this topic, see our article, How Often Should I Wash Cotton Sheets? And check out our guide on How to Wash and Properly Care for Bedding for step-by-step instructions.
Washing Bath Linens
Bath towels , hand towels, washcloths and other bath linens should be washed about every three or four uses — or at least once a week, if that's what your schedule allows. Since towels are heavy and bulky, tossing in a few wool dryer balls can help prevent twisting, speed up the tumbling time and even make them fluffier (and if you’re wondering, yes, wool dryer balls really work and are better than dryer sheets!)
Some people like using a fresh makeup towel every night for skincare purposes, in which case it might be worth getting a set of seven. That way, you can wash them once a week and keep a folded stack in your bathroom.
Here’s some helpful resources for keeping your towels fresh and clean:
How to Wash and Properly Care for Towels
Keeping Towels Fresh: How to Get a Smell Out of Your Towels
How to Fold & Style Towels Like a Hotel
Washing Other Household Linens
You probably have various other household linens that need weekly laundering. These may include tablecloths , cloth napkins, fabric placemats, dish towels, cloth rags and bath mats .
Items like rugs , shower curtains, throws and decorative pillow covers can be cleaned monthly or bi-monthly. Just make sure they're machine-washable before tossing them in your washing machine.
Check out our guides to learn How to Wash, Dry and Care for Bath Mats and Rugs .
Bedroom Chores
Household chores often include tasks that are more or less everyone's responsibility. So then, what should your bedroom chores list look like?On a daily basis, you can make your bed, tidy up your vanity, put dirty clothes in the laundry and bring any water glasses back to the kitchen.
Once a week, you can put your clean clothes away in drawers and on hangers, vacuum the floor, wash your bedding and dust all the hard surfaces. Bedroom tasks you can do less often include cleaning your comforter and bed pillows, organizing your drawers, doing closet inventory and donating unused items.
Read our blogs to learn How to Care for Down Bedding and discover Why Making Your Bed Matters .
Bathroom Chores
While cleaning the bathroom probably isn't the funnest thing on your chores list, it's definitely not something you want to skip. Whether it's a half bath, a powder room, a guest bathroom or an en-suite primary bath, cleaning this space regularly will ensure it smells fresh while keeping mold and mildew at bay.
In addition to washing the towels weekly, your list might include vacuuming and mopping the floors, cleaning the counters, scrubbing the tile, sanitizing the faucets, wiping down the tub, squeegeeing the shower walls and cleaning the mirror. You may want to launder your shower curtain and clean the liner once a month as well.
See our guide for a complete rundown of Bathroom Essentials and Functional Necessities every home needs.
Living Room Chores
Since the living room is a shared space and generally a high-traffic area, your living room chores list should cover both daily and weekly tasks. Your daily chart might include folding blankets, straightening throw pillows, putting toys away and placing the remotes back in their designated spot.
Once a week, you can tackle vacuuming the floors, fluffing up the furniture cushions, dusting all hard surfaces, wiping down the coffee table and end tables and watering plants.
For specific decor tips, see our guide on How to Style Throw Pillows Like a Designer , and check out these 23 Basket Storage Ideas .
Kitchen Chores
What about the kitchen? As with the living room, this high-traffic space is shared by everyone in your home. Since it's used multiple times per day for cooking and eating food, regular cleaning is crucial for preventing stinky smells, mold and pest infestations.
Sweeping and mopping the floors, wiping down the counters and disinfecting all high-touch surfaces are important to-dos. Beyond that, your chores list should focus on doing dishes, taking out the trash, recycling and cleaning out the fridge, pantry and cabinets. Here's what to consider.
Setting the kitchen table is probably a daily chore as you’re preparing for dinner. Here’s a thorough guide on the Best Stylish and Functional Kitchen Table Top Decor Ideas .
Doing Dishes
If you live with roommates and typically prepare your own meals, it might make the most sense for each person to be in charge of their own dishes. But if your home has a dishwasher, you may want to take turns with emptying duties.
For couples and families with kids who eat shared meals, divvying up the kitchen chores list can make things more fair and manageable. For example, if one person cooks dinner, someone else might clean up the dinnerware afterward, and another person might be in charge of emptying or loading the dishwasher.
Taking Out the Trash
As mentioned, household chores are particularly critical in the kitchen to prevent odors. Doing the dishes and wiping down the counters is part of the equation, but taking out the trash daily (or at least every couple of days) will help keep the space smelling fresh.
If your kitchen has a garbage disposal in the sink, be sure to run it after doing dishes. And if your family composts, make sure the bin is regularly emptied.
Recycling is key to keeping your home not only clean but also green . In addition to trash and potentially compost, your kitchen should have designated bins for paper products, plastic containers, aluminum cans and glass. (The rules on combining materials vary by region, so check with your local waste-management provider if you're not sure how to separate your recycling).
If you're like the growing number of modern households that receive a package daily, you'll want to have a system in place for cardboard boxes. To minimize clutter and stay on top of your recycling, be sure to break boxes down promptly and put them in the appropriate bin.
Parachute is committed to sustainability and green business practices. Ongoing efforts include a circular program for recycled down pillows , a pledge to be carbon-neutral , strategies to reduce packaging waste, Oeko-Tex and GOTSⓇ certification for our core products, and a goal to replace all virgin polyester with recycled polyester.
Some things are easier to get rid of than others. Here's How to Donate, Recycle and Reuse Old Bed Sheets and Towels .
Cleaning Out the Fridge
Cleaning out your fridge is an essential household chore for maintaining a fresh-smelling kitchen. Each time you buy groceries, do a quick scan of produce, meats, cheeses and other foods that are no longer good.
Once every month or so, check the dates on condiments and other less-perishable items and toss anything that's expired. To prevent your fridge from smelling like a lunch box, you're also wise to take everything out each month and wipe down all the shelves and drawers. Put fridge cleaning on your monthly or bi-monthly chores list.
Cleaning the Pantry and Cupboards
Spices, canned food, baking essentials, snacks and other dry goods typically don't go bad as quickly as refrigerated items. However, anything that's been opened — even if it's resealed or secured with a chip clip — will go stale a little quicker.
As with your fridge, it's a good idea to toss out expired pantry food each time you bring groceries home. Then on a monthly basis, you can do a more thorough inventory and wipe down the shelves while you're at it.
Keeping Your Closets and Cabinets Organized
On a similar note, keeping your closets and cabinets organized can actually help you keep your entire home clean. How so? When each item has a designated spot, it's easier to tidy up, and (bonus!) you're less likely to misplace things.
But it's not quite as simple as throwing stuff into a closet or cabinet. Ideally, the interior should be organized into zones with assigned shelves, bins or sections. This is where a label maker can really come in handy.
Also, you'll want to avoid overstuffing your storage areas. There are definitely some exceptions, but a good rule of thumb is to take something out of your home every time you bring a new item in. For instance, if you buy a new sweater, you might donate an old cardigan you no longer wear.
How Should You Organize Your Linen Closet ? Read on to find out.
When and Where to Deep-Clean
Deep cleaning is kind of like organizing in that it needs to be done but not necessarily very often. So, where does it fit into your chore schedule? This depends on how many people live in your home, whether you have kids or pets and the space in question. Generally speaking, you should prioritize high-traffic areas.
For example, kitchens and bathrooms can often use a thorough scrub-down every couple of weeks. Garages and attics, on the other hand, may only need to be deep-cleaned once a year. A home office might fall somewhere in between and require dusting every month or two.
Keeping a House Clean With Kids and/or Pets
Maintaining a clean and orderly home is easier said than done when you have kids, pets or both. However, creating a household chores list can make things feel less chaotic while preventing an accumulation of sticky residues, crumbs and fur.
Encouraging each child to do a chore can help them develop a sense of responsibility and feel good about contributing. That said, a family task list won't look the same as a chore chart for adults.
Consider the age of each child, and assign duties accordingly. Younger children can do simpler tasks, such as putting away their folded clothes, feeding the pets and cleaning up their toys. Older kids can do tasks like emptying the dishwasher, running a load of laundry, checking the mail, walking the dog or taking out the garbage.
Here’s some helpful resources for Washing & Caring for Baby Bedding and Towels to keep your little ones safe with non-toxic washing techniques.
Eco-Friendly Housewares for a Clean, Green Home
Cleaning can be enjoyable, but it's safe to say not everyone likes doing chores and housework. That's why making a list of what needs to be done, creating a schedule and assigning tasks to each member of the household can make things a bit more doable.
If you're looking for ways to make your lifestyle and home more eco-friendly , Parachute has you covered. From sustainably made bedding and organic linens to natural laundry essentials and artisan-made decor , you'll find something that speaks to you.
Browse the environmentally conscious collections today!
Fall Cleaning Guide: Clean Your Home for Fall
Simple Ways to Freshen Your Home for Spring
Spring Organization: An Expert Guide
How to Keep White Bed Sheets White
How to Wash, Dry and Properly Care for Percale Cotton Sheets
How to Wash, Dry and Properly Care for Sateen Sheets
How to Wash, Dry and Care for Linen Sheets
How to Wash, Dry and Care for Organic Cotton Sheets
Best Sustainable Fabrics for an Eco-Friendly Home
Best Oeko-Tex Towels, Sheets, Shower Curtains, & More
Best Organic Towels: What to Look For in Organic Bath Towels
Best Organic Bed Sheets: What to Look for in Sustainable Bedding
Best Organic Bathrobes: What to Look for in Natural & Sustainable Robes
What is a European Bedding Style? Scandinavian Double Duvet Styling Advice & More
Bathroom Interior Design Ideas: How to Style a Bathroom
No Win No Fee
What is considered home duties under tpd insurance.
Home Duties Definition:
The home duties definition applies for total and permanent disability policies specifically for homemakers . This definition provides coverage for individuals that perform unpaid domestic duties in a full time capacity. Duties include, but are not limited to;
- Management of the household
- Looking after dependent children
- Cooking and cleaning
Under this definition, a benefit is payable if you have become disabled and are unable to perform your daily household duties for up to six months and you are unlikely to be able to perform normal domestic duties or any occupation ever again. The period of time that you have been disabled until your benefit is payable will vary between insurance providers.
bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250]
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
On average, homeowners spend between 1 and 4% of their homes’ values in repair and maintenance costs annually. While many routine expenses feel manageable, major system or home appliance failures usually mean high price tags.
Have you ever considered buying a duty-free product, whether a souvenir, alcohol or perfume, but weren’t sure if it was really a good deal? Here’s a guideline to understanding duty-free prices.
A site manager plays an important role in construction and building projects and oversees the day-to-day operations of work while being responsible for the overall completion of the endeavor at hand, as noted by CareerStructure.
Home Duties definition ; Home Duties means you are wholly engaged in · time unpaid domestic duties in your own residence. ; Home Duties means the Life Insured
Define household duties. means all those duties that are inherent in the normal functioning of a household, such as cooking, cleaning, washing or ironing;
Tasks performed inside a household in order to ensure that the basic needs of its members are met, such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children or
Household duties definition: Duty is work that you have to do for your job . [...] | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples.
Consistent household tasks · Meal preparation · Doing dishes after each meal · Removing shoes when you enter the home · Putting items in shared
In addition to laundry, cleaning and cooking, women are the primary decision-makers when it comes to home decor in 62% of households. Although
I Created a System to Make Sure My Husband and I Divide Household Duties Fairly. Here's How It Works. Getty Images/Maskot.
Despite undertaking all manual tasks on her parent's farm, the bride's Profession or Occupation is listed as Home Duties not Farmer or Farm
Here's the full list of household chores we'll cover: · Washing dishes · Loading/unloading the dishwasher · Cooking or preparing meals · Packing lunches · Sweeping
Home duties definition applies to TPD policies specifically homemakers, Individuals that perform unpaid domestic duties in a full-time capacity.
What is another word for domestic duties? ; running of the home · sewing ; spring-cleaning · scrubbing ; vacuuming · administration ; mopping · laundering ; cooking