Monday, February 06, 2012

When it comes to household chores, men and women don't always see eye to eye.

The second annual Scrubbing Bubbles Dirty Work Index survey found that 58 percent of women say it's their job to clean, and a quarter (25 percent) of all women feel as if they are the cleaning leader in their homes. How couples deal with household chores either strengthens the partnership or creates a divide.
In addition, more than half of women confided that they want more help around the house from their partner or spouse, but 38 percent don't trust them to meet their standards of cleanliness.

Today's families often have hectic schedules, making it even more important to approach household chores as a team. John Gray, best-selling author of "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus," offers this advice for creating the best atmosphere at home:
• Define the roles. It's important to identify all the household chores and discuss who will have ownership of each.
• Discuss expectations. Since the survey showed that women don't trust men to meet their standards of clean, Gray recommends that women actually show men how they want the house cleaned and that couples discuss what clean means to each of them.
• Look for time-saving cleaning tools. Stock your home with cleaning products that are easy to use and efficient. For example, use Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner and Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner. These products make the tough tasks easier so anyone in the family can help clean.
• Remember to say thank you. Whether or not the bathroom shines the way you want, don't forget to say thank you for the effort.

One simple tool you can use to minimize friction over chores? A checklist. For each room of the house, write down what tasks need to be completed and review it with your clean team so everyone knows exactly what's expected. These sample checklists for bathroom chores can help you get started.

Source: Scrubbing Bubbles

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com