| rimary housekeeper has an important job in | | | | after cooking a meal. These stressors are unique to |
| maintaining a safe and inviting atmosphere in the | | | | your family, and should be on your basic housework |
| home. A housework checklist, whether it is written | | | | checklist. |
| down or simply kept by memory, is an important tool | | | | Remember to prioritize while you are focusing on the |
| in keeping track of what is necessary for the basic | | | | basics of simple and clean. Focus first on the basics: |
| functioning of a household and for what is uniquely | | | | dishes, laundry, and garbage. Rinse dishes immediately |
| comforting and relaxing for each family. This checklist | | | | after they are used. Load them into a dishwasher if |
| can be essential for the physical and mental wellbeing | | | | one is available—or soak them in hot, soapy |
| of the entire family during difficult times. | | | | water until the water cools, rinse them, and let them |
| We all function better during stress if we can | | | | air dry. Be sure to keep towels, bedding, underwear, |
| maintain or re-establish a clean, comfortable, | | | | pajamas, and comfortable, casual clothing clean, |
| consistent base. We all want to depend on the ability | | | | folded, and put away. If your laundry room is already |
| to wash in clean water with soap, and to dry our | | | | set up with a basic detergent that is safe for most |
| hands on a clean towel. We expect to be able to sit | | | | fabrics and if you have an effective, easy-to-use |
| down on a comfortable chair or to lie down on a | | | | spot remover, you will be able to keep up with this |
| clean bed. If our clothes are clean and we can eat a | | | | task. Remember, folding clothes can be |
| nourishing meal, it is easier for us to cope with | | | | therapeutic—and even small children can fold |
| life’s challenges. But, because the primary | | | | towels and underwear. A shared task will help even |
| housekeeper may need to expend all of his or her | | | | the youngest member feel valuable to the family, |
| energies on the crisis or problem, it may not be | | | | especially when the adults may be preoccupied. At |
| possible for them to give their houses a thorough | | | | set times during the day, for instance after meals |
| cleaning during a stressful time. Whether the stress is | | | | and at bedtime, pick up the trash to be thrown |
| caring for a new baby, meeting difficult deadlines at | | | | away. This is another task that can be shared. |
| work, caring for a family member after an accident, | | | | Next, branch out to doing things that help keep your |
| surgery, or during an extended illness—or if life | | | | family well, like stocking up on and preparing healthy |
| has been disrupted by a long-term power failure, a | | | | snacks. Also, make sure everyone gets enough rest, |
| fire, or a natural disaster—we and our families | | | | including the very young. |
| still have basic needs to be met. Keeping a clean | | | | One important task can help fight the spread of |
| house in stressful times can be a challenge. These are | | | | infectious disease--wiping off the bathroom fixtures |
| the times to focus on the basics and to keep things | | | | with a sanitizing solution once a day. In a pinch, pour |
| simple and clean. | | | | a little alcohol on a folded length of toilet tissue and |
| If you have a basic housework checklist, and if you | | | | wipe off the chrome fixtures in the bathroom, |
| concentrate on the chores that will make the most | | | | including the toilet handle and the faucets and water |
| difference to you and your family, you can let the | | | | knobs.. The sinks and counters can be wiped down |
| rest of those chores go until life settles back down. | | | | as well. Then, flush the tissue. Some products make |
| If everybody has clean clothes, if there are clean | | | | this task extremely easy and quick. For instance, try |
| dishes to cook with and eat from, if the garbage is | | | | the disposable clothes that are treated with |
| collected and removed from the living areas, | | | | disinfectant. If there is time after these basics, focus |
| everyone will feel a little better. Everybody has | | | | on chores that will have the greatest psychological |
| different household stressors. Some people can let | | | | effect on you and your family, whether that is |
| everything else go for a while as long as their | | | | making the bed, keeping cold drinking water in the |
| bathroom is clean. Other people are uncomfortable if | | | | refrigerator, or making the house smell like chocolate |
| their beds are not made. Still others “have to | | | | chip cookies. Everything else will keep until a better |
| have” their kitchen floor washed immediately | | | | day. |