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With a little creative thinking, however, you can use the mighty chore list for much, much more.
-- Can you say "repair work?"
Do you get tired of feeling like there's a constant stream of fix-it jobs in your home? By putting some order into that task it won't seem so overwhelming anymore.
Put a printable chore list in each main area of your home. For example, post one in the kitchen, the garage and each bathroom. When a family member notes something that needs to repaired, they simply jot it on the chore list. Just think of it.
* Leaky faucets.
* Squeaky doors.
* Broken knobs.
* Peeling wallpaper.
* Stuck dispensers.
* Burned out light bulbs.
You name it. Then once a week (or whenever you like), you can gather the chore lists and take care of all the fix-it items all at once. Obviously this doesn't work for emergency repairs and you may have to train your family on the difference between the two. However, this method is a much more efficient idea of keeping up with all those little honey-do projects than the normal hit-and-miss way of doing things.
Plus, you can run a repair training shop during your once a week fix-it time and train other family members on how to do those little repairs every home needs. (That way you don't get treated like the handy-person, you're simply the repair coordinator. Sounds good, doesn't it?)
-- Caring for our pets.
Everyone who loves a pet knows there is plenty to do to keep the furry (or feathered) ones happy and healthy. Why not use a chore list to keep on top of your pet's needs?
Keep track of chores you need to accomplish in caring for your pet, such as grooming, walking, and cleaning living spaces. Keep track of food and medication schedules easily, too, as well as maintaining an up-to-date shopping list for your pet. Do all of that on one chore list, neatly divided into sections that work for you. Post in an area convenient to working with your pet and you'll be far more likely to use the list consistently.
You can also use such a chore list to keep track of behavior issues concerning your pet. When your veterinarian asks you specifics about your pet and its health, you'll have the information you need at your fingertips.
The trick in effectively using these ideas is to choose the blank printable chore lists you can find anywhere on the web. Print out plenty of copies and customize the chore lists to fit your exact needs. Saving several weeks or months of these types of chore lists will give you a history of house repairs, pet needs, or whatever you are keeping track of.
Printable chore lists have always been a handy tool for a family, but with a little imagination, you can use them in a variety of places in your home and streamline multiple household tasks in the process.
While it's easy enough to jot down the basics of household management on a list and check them off as they get completed, how many chores that need to be done in your home never get accomplished just because they don't seem to fit neatly on a weekly list?
I'll guess there are more than one or two. And those are the tasks that are incredibly easy to put off, month after month.
Chores such as
* clean behind the refrigerator.
* sweep the garage floor.
* wipe the baseboards.
* clean the mini-blinds.
* dust the overhead fan blades.
* vacuum under the beds.
* rearrange the junk drawer.
* wipe the tops of window and door frames.
* vacuum the drapes.
* vacuum the sofas.
* clean out cobwebs.
* dust the bookshelves.
* clean the oven.
* clean sliding door tracks.
* sort old pictures.
* clean out the freezer.
* inventory the pantry.
* do touch-up painting on walls and doors.
* de-fuzz bathroom vent fans.
* lubricate squeaky doors.
* toss out old files.
* shred old documents.
* get rid of old paint and other hazardous materials.
* unclog the dryer filter.
* clean the gutters.
* clean the chimney.
* wash out the refrigerator.
* deep-clean the carpets.
* repaint the bathroom ceiling.
* organize a closet.
* wash windows.
* fix screens.
* sanitize the dishwasher.
* clean the range exhaust fan.
I'm sure you can think of items to add to this list yourself. These are the household chores that we often never get done, or at least much less often than we want to. By using a printable chore list for these infrequent chores, you can stay on top of them much easier.
Start by making your own list of irregular chores. (Keep this list in a handy place as you'll want to add to it as seasonal chores pop up that you haven't thought of.) Walk around your home with this list and look for these types of chores. As you go from room to room you will find more tasks to add to your list. Work on this list for two or three days to give you a chance to think of as many of these types of chores as possible. Don't forget your garage, yard, outside of house, and autos, too!
Next separate these household chores into categories such as
* monthly.
* seasonal or yearly.
Write these chores down on your printable chore list. Actually, it's a good idea to use several chores lists, one for each category. Once you have all your irregular chores written down and organized on your chore lists, put them in a folder or inside plastic sleeves as they are your master lists and you want to keep them in good shape.
At the beginning of each month, take a look at your master lists and jot down what is needed to be done from each of them. Place that information on your calendar or other prominent place. Even schedule in those chores, if that works best for you.
Bottom line? You will get more of these out-of-the-ordinary chores done on a regular basis by using simple tools like printable chore charts in creative ways.