When I first began my minimalist journey, I set a goal for myself to declutter my household appliances. But as I got rid of more and more things, I found myself faced with a challenge: how to tackle household chores without relying on the traditional appliances I once considered essential. The chores kept piling up until I finally learned all of the things I know now about getting chores done as a minimalist.
1. Slow Things Down
As most of us do, I went to the internet for advice when I wasn’t sure where to get started. I looked up ‘how to do chores as a minimalist’ and found countless articles on how to do less chores and save time doing them. Although these articles were helpful, they weren’t what I was looking for.
What I learned over time was that I could get all of my chores done without owning many of the bulky appliances I used to have if I just slowed things down.
I wash all of my clothes by hand and hang them up to dry instead of using a washing machine and dryer. I also use a broom instead of a vacuum since it is much lighter and takes up less space. Washing dishes by hand is an easy way to cut out the need for a dishwasher. Doing these things won’t save you time but they will save you space and money.
2. Embrace Multipurpose Items
Using multipurpose cleaning products is another great way to save space in your home. My go to soap is Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile soap. This natural soap is made from organic and fair trade ingredients and doesn’t contain synthetic preservatives, detergents or harmful foaming agents. It has a whopping 18 uses making it a minimalist’s dream.
By diluting the soap using the guide on Dr .Bronner’s website, you can use it to hand wash your delicates, mop, clean your windows and scrub your toilets. This soap has plenty of other uses that go beyond accomplishing household tasks. You can read all about these other uses in that guide.
Another one of my go to cleaning products is Thieves Household Cleaner. This household cleaner is naturally antibacterial and infused with essential oils that will leave your home smelling clean and delightful. I love using it to clean my kitchen counters, sinks, mop my floors and spray my mirrors and windows.
3. Swap With Neighbors & Friends
If there is an appliance that you really need but don’t own, borrowing it from a neighbor or friend is a great option. I have offered to do my friends’ laundry in exchange for using their washing machine. Offering to mow your neighbor’s lawn if they let you borrow their lawn mower is usually a hit. It’s not common practice anymore, but exchanging goods for services has been part of the human experience for centuries. Embracing this practice can save you a ton of money and strengthen your relationships too!
4. Take Advantage of Services
If you don’t have a friend or neighbor to ask, looking to see what services are available to you in your community is a great option. They can get pretty pricey but so long as you use them sparingly, they can be a life saver.
Hiring a maid service to deep clean your home every few months can be very helpful if you don’t own heavy duty cleaning supplies. Going to a laundromat to wash linens, towels, and other large items that aren’t easy to wash by hand can spare you the need for a laundry setup in your home.
In Conclusion
As a minimalist, you are choosing to live with less stuff in exchange for freedom. Sometimes owning less can be inconvenient, especially when it comes to doing housework. Finding ways to maximize the things that you do own, slowing your chores down and reaching out to friends and family members are just some ways to make caring for your space a little easier.
Neal Payne says
I would like to receive your new posts via email. How do I subscribe? Very interesting content. Thank you so much.
barefootminimalists says
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Subscribed! Interesting, easy to read content. Keep posting, Barefoot Minimalists!
I am glad you enjoyed the post, thanks for reading!