• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

How to NOT Fight With Your Spouse Over Housework

May 13, 2011 by Merry Maids Leave a Comment

Could hiring a cleaning company improve your relationship with your spouse? Among numerous studies about what topics trigger arguments for couples, housework is always a contributing factor. One in five Americans admits to fighting with their spouse over housework at least once a month.

In the book "Spousanomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage, and Dirty Dishes," a suggestion for frustrated couples is to focus on those cleaning chores which you are good at and divide the work that way. Many women suggest that if they cook their husband should help clean up. Others divide up the laundry and one spouse washes, the other folds the clean clothes and puts them away.

Housework doesn’t have to be a battle ground, or if it must be a battle ground, one way you can make cleaning more bearable is to have some fun with your spouse rather than making cleaning something you put off doing.

Challenge each other to a friendly competition.

Turn it into a team project. Create deadlines that each of you can meet and reward a finished project with a break or time off for a job well done. A friendly competition can make the task seem less daunting and overwhelming. You don’t have to clean the entire house at once. Remember, unless you have a friendly wager going with one of your teammates, this isn’t a race.

Tools for his tool box

One thing that men, in particular, are interested in are gadgets and tools. If you engage him with purchasing the cleaning tools, he may be more inclined to help you put them to use. The experts at Merry Maids recommend these essential cleaning tools:

1. A 50-foot, heavy-duty extension cord. This lets you plug in the vacuum cleaner once, instead of having to lug it around to different outlets.

2. A sturdy step ladder. Having a two- or three-foot step ladder lets you get to those hard to reach areas, like air vents near the ceiling, light fixtures and the highest shelves.

3. A cleaning caddy (tool box). A portable tool caddy lets you keep most of what you need right at hand. Stock it with a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner, oil soap for wood surfaces, nonabrasive cleanser, microfiber cloths for dusting, paper towels, sponges, latex gloves to protect your hands, and a squeegee for windows, mirrors and tub and shower doors. You may want to get a caddy for each floor of your home and stock them with appropriate cleaning supplies.

4. A sturdy carpenter’s apron. These handy canvas aprons have multiple pockets that can hold additional items, such as old toothbrushes for cleaning grout and hard-to-reach areas, a widget (a small tool with a blade for removing stubborn dirt), and dryer sheets for cleaning mini blinds and computer and TV monitors.

5. A steamer. Cleaning with steam lets you clean and deodorize multiple surfaces around the house. Johnson says that steam is quick and powerful, and since you’re only using water, you eliminate the need for using products. You can get a handheld steamer for smaller jobs, or an upright version for tackling floors. If you have hardwood floors, make sure the model you have is made for cleaning sealed floors.

For more cleaning tips and information on Merry Maids, please follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/merrymaids.  

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Around The House

About Merry Maids

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

After seeing and holding the newest member of our family … [Read More...] about 20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

Symptoms of Pregnancy If HCG Injection Is Taken

When Should You Give a Pacifier to a Baby

When Should You Give a Pacifier to a Baby?

Male Fertility Tips

Tips on Exercising While Pregnant

Tips on Exercising While Pregnant

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

cold sore and fever blister remedies

Cold Sore and Fever Blister Remedies

Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

How to Freeze Cooked & Smoked Ham

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.