Top 10 Most Hated Household Tasks
Most of us don’t jump up and down at the thought of doing chores. Cleaning is such a disliked task that a recent study commissioned by Ajax found that almost one third (31%) of Australians have gone three weeks or longer without cleaning their home!
Ever wondered if your most hated household tasks match up with everyone else’s? In this article, we list the top 10 most hated household tasks, as well as some tips on how you can make them easier.
1. Cleaning the bathroom
Did you know that the germiest spot in your bathroom isn’t actually your toilet? In a study done by NSF International, researchers swabbed multiple bathrooms and found that the object that contained the highest concentration of germs was in fact the toothbrush holder! While 27% of toilet seats contained mould and yeast, about 64% of toothbrush holders did.
Bathroom cleaning might be one of the most hated household tasks, but it’s also one of the most important. Bathrooms are a hotbed of germs, which is why it’s essential that all bathroom surfaces and objects (yes, even toothbrush holders) get a deep and thorough clean at least once a week at the very least.
To make bathroom cleaning as easy and painless as possible, we recommend sticking to a strict weekly routine. That way, you’ll prevent grime from really building up to the point that it becomes difficult to clean. Keeping your bathroom free from clutter will also reduce the time needed to clean the space, which will allow you to get in and out of there as quickly as possible.
2. Cleaning the toilet
You’d be hard pressed to find someone who gets really excited about cleaning a toilet. However, it’s also one of those weekly household chores that should never be skipped. Our toilets are breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses, and in the age of COVID-19, it’s become more essential than ever to protect your home from germs.
Your toilet should be cleaned and disinfected at least once a week, but if you have multiple people living in the house or young children, we’d definitely recommend bumping up the regularity to a couple of times a week. And always make sure you remember to clean and disinfect the handles as well as the bowl!
One of our best tips for keeping a squeaky clean toilet is to allow your disinfectant to sit in the toilet bowl for a couple of minutes before you begin scrubbing. This will really help to cut through all the germs and grime and produce maximum shine.
3. Cleaning the oven
Depending on how often you use it, your oven can also be a hotbed of built up grime and grease. That’s why you should aim to give your oven a good wipe down at least one a week, and a deep clean every 1-3 months.
We get it – cleaning an oven isn’t exactly a glamorous job. Having to crouch down and find your way into those hard-to-reach corners is uncomfortable and awkward at best. To make things easier for yourself, try to clean messes and spills as they occur to prevent build up. That way, you won’t have a huge mess on your hands at the end of each week.
4. Cleaning windows
Cleaning windows can be a monumental task. There’s nothing worse than spending hours outside cleaning your windows only to go to find streaks everywhere the second you go back inside. Cleaning windows requires a big time commitment, which is why many of us avoid it altogether.
Luckily, there are a few tricks you can try to get that streak-free shine every time. And, if all else fails, you can always call a professional window cleaner to do the job for you.
5. Washing dishes
Regularly washing your dishes and keeping a clean kitchen sink is one of the best things you can do to keep your home healthy. Dirty dishes can carry E. coli and salmonella, among a whole array of other nasty germs.
The invention of dishwashers has done wonders for cutting down the time we spend at our kitchen sink. But not everyone has one, and not everything can or should be washed in a dishwasher, which is why washing dishes continues to be one of the most dreaded household chores across the board. When washing dishes, always start with the least dirty dishes and finish with the most dirty dishes. This will make for a much more efficient washing system that doesn’t require you to change out the dishwashing water every few minutes.
6. Mopping floors
Mopping the floor can be extremely tiring and tedious. But given the fact that we literally walk all over our floors on a daily basis, it’s absolutely essential that we mop our high-traffic rooms at least once a week (think kitchens, bathrooms, and dining rooms). Rooms that aren’t in frequent use can be mopped every fortnight, or even once a month, granted that they’re regularly vacuumed.
A common mistake people make when mopping their floors is forgetting to vacuum beforehand. If you don’t vacuum the area before mopping, your surfaces could just turn into a sticky, dusty mess. Avoid spreading dust and dirt into the floors by always taking the time to vacuum and clear the area prior to mopping.
7. Cleaning the fridge
The fridge is often the most neglected part of the house when it comes to cleaning. Like ovens, fridges are inconvenient to clean and require awkward manoeuvring to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Most cleaning specialists recommend that you do a deep and thorough clean of your fridge every 3-4 months. However, you should try and wipe down the trays and drawers once a week to avoid unwanted smells and odours.
When cleaning your fridge, try to use a natural, unscented cleaning solution. Food absorbs odours, so it’s probably best to leave the Pine O Cleen in the cabinet. A baking soda and water solution works wonders, and best of all, it’s 100% natural and really cheap!
8. Ironing clothes
Although it’s not absolutely essential, ironing your clothes goes a long way in improving your garments’ longevity as well as making them look better. Given how fiddly and tedious ironing can be, it comes as no surprise that it’s one of the most hated household tasks.
When it comes to irons, you do get what you pay for. A rickety, old iron is going to make the chore ten times more difficult than it needs to be. The best way to make ironing easier is to invest in a high-quality steam iron. If you can’t justify spending money on an item that you despise using, then it might be better to consider outsourcing all your ironing to a laundry company instead. These days, there are even pick-up and delivery laundry services out there, which makes things even easier.
9. Cleaning the gutters
Keeping your gutters clean and free of debris will help to keep your house bushfire-safe and storm-safe. Cleaning the gutters should be on everyone’s to-do list at least twice a year – once in early summer and once after autumn. Although it’s essential, it’s also quite a time-consuming and messy task, which is why it goes ignored in many households.
The good news is that if you don’t want to clean your own gutters and risk a fall off a ladder, there’s plenty of help around. Get in touch with your local gardener to book an appointment.
10. Gardening
Gardening is one of those tasks that you either love or you hate. Some people see it as a chore, and others see it as a hobby. Keeping your garden clean and well-maintained does wonders for boosting curb appeal, and also for keeping pests at bay.
If you hate gardening, you don’t have to force yourself to fall in love with it! Consider outsourcing your gardening maintenance and cleaning tasks to a professional gardener, who will be able to do the job much more efficiently and effectively, and most importantly – with love!
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Let’s face it, nobody wants to spend their precious downtime vacuuming and cleaning. Outsourcing your household tasks to qualified professionals will help to free up your time so you can spend more time on the things you value the most. If you’re looking to get some help around the house this year, get in touch with us at Jim’s Cleaning in Australia or New Zealand to see how we can help. Call Jim’s Group on 131 546 (AU) or 0800 454 654 (NZ) today for an obligation-free quote.
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– How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances and Sink?
– Quick Tips to Declutter Your Home.
– Outsource Your Spring Cleaning
– 5 Household Tasks to Tick Off Before Summer Begins.
