top of page

Household chores for married couples

Updated: Jan 9

72 household chore hacks and a household chore list for couples



Cleaning in the kitchen


Cleaning hacks for kitchen appliances


  • Use a mixture of water and dish soap to clean greasy stovetops.

  • Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean coffee makers.

  • Shine up stainless steel appliances with olive oil.

  • Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean and deodorize the refrigerator.

  • Clean your dishwasher by running a cycle with vinegar and baking soda.

  • Place a bowl of vinegar in the microwave and heat for a few minutes to easily wipe away stains.

  • Place a bowl of lemon juice in your microwave and set the microwave for 2 minutes or until the lemon juice comes to a boil then clean the inside of the microwave.

Cleaning hacks for countertops and sinks


  • Baking soda can remove tough stains from countertops and sinks.

  • Polish stainless steel appliances with baby oil to remove fingerprints.

  • Clean stainless steel sinks with a mixture of baking soda and water.

  • Detox the garbage disposal by cutting lemons into quarters, and while you have the water running, put the lemon pieces one by one into the disposal.

Cleaning hacks for dishes


  • Scrub cutting boards with salt and lemon to remove stains and odors.

  • Lemon juice can clean and deodorize cutting boards.

  • Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean and disinfect wooden cutting boards.

  • Use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean silverware and remove tarnish.

  • Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean and disinfect kitchen sponges.

  • Remove burnt-on food from pots and pans by boiling water with baking soda and vinegar.

  • Clean cast iron pans using coarse salt and half a potato.

  • Remove coffee and tea stains from mugs by scrubbing with baking soda.

  • Remove sticky labels from jars and bottles by rubbing with cooking oil.

Cleaning hacks for around the house


Remove stains and smells from carpet and furniture


  • Use a damp cloth with rubbing alcohol to remove permanent marker stains.

  • Remove carpet stains with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.

  • Remove stubborn carpet stains with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap.

  • Shoe polish can hide the scratches in leather furniture (use appropriate colors and rub off any excess).

  • Use your hairdryer to remove water rings from wooden surfaces and refresh them with olive oil.

  • Remove water rings from wooden furniture by rubbing with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and olive oil.

  • Vacuum a room horizontally and then vertically to get all of the trapped dirt.

  • Remove carpet stains with vodka.

  • Put baking soda on the couch for 20 minutes and then vacuum it up.

  • Remove pet hair using rubber gloves by wetting them lightly then rub your hands over the pet hair.

  • Dab a little white toothpaste (not gel) directly on the coffee ring stain and rub it in with a clean cloth.

  • Remove pet hair with duct tape.

How to clean floors, baseboards, and fixtures


  • Rub a damp dryer sheet on baseboards to remove dust and repel future dirt.

  • Use a lint roller to clean lampshades.

  • Remove rust stains from metal surfaces with a paste of baking soda and water.

  • Clean off shoe scuff marks from vinyl flooring with a clean, dry tennis ball.

Clean windows, walls, and mirrors


  • Use vinegar and water to clean windows and mirrors.

  • Clean dirty blinds by using a mixture of vinegar and water on a sock or glove.

  • Dust window blinds with old socks.

  • Remove crayon marks from walls by using a blow dryer and a cloth.

  • Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean and shine hardwood floors.

Other household cleaning hacks


  • Rub a slice of bread over broken glass to pick up small shards.

  • Remove rust stains from metal surfaces with a paste of baking soda and water.

  • Clean and deodorize the garbage can by sprinkling baking soda at the bottom.

  • Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean and shine glass tabletops.

  • Use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean and disinfect pet litter boxes.

  • Clean and freshen up smelly gym bags by placing a fabric softener sheet inside.

  • Clean and sanitize computer keyboards and mice with disinfectant wipes.

  • Use some Coca Cola to clean oil stains off your garage floors.

  • Broken glass can be picked up by pressing a piece of bread on it. (or wet washcloth)

  • Dust a ceiling fan by putting a pillowcase over ceiling fan blades, one at a time, then wipe.

  • Dust electronics with coffee filters.

  • Soak a rag with any cleaning agent you have and wrap it around a butter knife to clean vents.

  • Remove splinters using a small piece of duct tape.

How to clean the bathroom


  • Use an old toothbrush to clean grout in between tiles.

  • Soak shower heads in vinegar to remove mineral deposits.

  • Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to clean grout in the bathroom.

  • Remove the ring inside the toilet with dryer sheets.

  • Use a dryer sheet to remove soap scum from shower doors.

  • Remove stubborn bathtub stains by scrubbing with a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

  • Buff water spots from mirrors, bathroom/kitchen fixtures and shower doors with dryer sheets.

  • Always sweep or vacuum the bathroom floors before applying any wet soap based products.

  • Clean toilets by dropping two tablets of Alka-Seltzer into the toilet bowl and after 20 minutes it should only take a few swipes from the toilet brush to clean.

Hacks for laundry


  • Remove grease stains from clothing by applying dish soap before washing.

  • Clean and freshen up mattresses by sprinkling baking soda and vacuuming it off.

  • Remove grease stains from clothing by applying cornstarch before washing.

  • Remove ink stains from fabric by applying rubbing alcohol before washing.

  • Clean and deodorize smelly shoes by placing dryer sheets inside overnight.

  • Remove oil stains from clothing by applying baby powder before washing.

  • Use a razor to remove paint from clothes.

  • Dry clothes fast with a clean towel in the dryer.

  • Lift sticky stains with ice cubes.

Household chores list




Note: You can convert the Sheets version of the chores list to Excel.


More ideas


Find more ideas to team up with your spouse to manage the home:

 

Learn More


Couples who learn more, save more, and spend more on what is important to them.


For engaged and recently married couples who want to manage money and the home as a team.


Self paced online courses for couples designed by national financial therapy and financial planning experts


Winning ideas from experts to manage money and the home as a team. 2023 Plutus Award Finalist: Best Couples or Family Content


🔔 Click here to listen and subscribe to the Modern Husbands Podcast on Apple.

🔔 Click here to listen and subscribe to the Modern Husbands Podcast on Spotify.


Winning ideas to manage money and the home as a team delivered to your inbox every two weeks. You'll even receive a few free gifts!

bottom of page