Living with housemates is not all sunshine and rainbows. One minute you’re bonding over late-night toast or your favourite sitcom, and the next, you’re side-eyeing a mountain of dishes that no one remembers using.
That’s when tension can build quickly. However, it doesn’t have to end in a passive-aggressive standoff.
With a bit of coordination and maybe some colourful markers, your home can run like a well-oiled machine. Stick around because we’ll show you some effective ideas on how to do just that.
Table of Contents
Gather the Troops
You can’t build a chore chart based on assumptions. If you want this to work, start with a proper group chat, ideally when everyone’s relaxed and not rushing out the door. For example, you can do this over dinner and during a quiet weekend afternoon.
Use that time to talk about what each housemate likes or at least doesn’t mind doing. Ask questions, listen to them, take notes, and make sure everyone feels like they’re part of the plan, not just being handed a list. People are far more likely to follow a system they helped shape.
And don’t underestimate the room’s ambience by keeping things light, fair, and open. Trust us, a bit of honesty now will save you months of silent resentment and unpleasant conversations over mysteriously unwashed dishes.
Choose the Right Format
Start by thinking about how your household actually works. Are you all digital diehards or more of a sticky notes kind of crew? You’ve got options either way.
Tools like Trello or Google Sheets are great if everyone’s online most of the time. You can add updates in real-time, leave notes, and even set up automatic rotations or reminders.
On the other hand, if you prefer something you can physically point at while sipping coffee, stick a whiteboard in the kitchen and go old school.
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something everyone will actually use. If it’s confusing, clunky, or hidden in someone’s inbox, it won’t work. The goal is to build a system that’s easy, visible, and doesn’t require a project manager to run.
List It All Out
Before anyone picks up a mop or starts avoiding eye contact, you need a complete list of what actually has to be done around the house.
List everything, from the obvious daily tasks to the less glamorous deep clean-ups that only get noticed when something starts to smell. Once everything’s down, it will be much easier to break things up and spread them out.
Now, group tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly categories. Daily tasks include the basics, like doing the dishes, tidying common areas, feeding pets, and taking out the rubbish before it turns into a health hazard.
Weekly chores, on the other hand, might involve vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, grocery shopping, or mowing the lawn.
Finally, monthly tasks tend to be the ones everyone avoids until absolutely necessary—things like cleaning the oven, dusting the ceiling fans, or clearing out the gutters.
And while you’re at it, get everyone involved in building the list. If one person writes it solo, you can bet someone else will claim they didn’t agree to their chores.
Assign Chores Fairly
Nobody wants to feel like they’re doing everything while their housemate floats around like a guest star. If you want your system to stick, start by looking at everyone’s schedule and skills.
For example, if you have someone who genuinely enjoys cooking, let them handle dinner and cleanup.
You can also switch things up every now and then, so no one ends up in a lifelong relationship with the toilet brush.
Don’t forget to also leave some room for changes. Sometimes, it helps to play it by ear. If someone’s drowning in work or exams, for instance, shuffle the chart and check in later.
Set a Deadline
Even the best chore chart needs a timeline. Without it, tasks tend to linger until someone gives in or the mess starts getting side-eyes.
To keep things moving, check in periodically. If something is falling through the cracks or needs adjusting, it’s better to catch it early. However, you don’t have to turn it into a formal meeting. You can just have a quick conversation to see how it’s all going.
As we’ve explained, you can also lean on tech if your household is into that. Shared calendars, reminder apps, or recurring notifications can help everyone stay on track without constantly chasing each other up.
And don’t forget the big one: the end-of-lease cleanup. It’s a major hassle and usually involves more than a quick surface wipe. So, consider booking exit cleaning services, and make sure the cost is shared fairly. Planning ahead means less stress when it’s time to move out.
Manage Slip-Ups
Sometimes, your housemates will end up missing bin night, leaving the dishes soaking for too long, or pretending they didn’t see the hair monster in the shower drain.
If this happens, don’t just get into a shouting match with them. Instead, start by separating the person from the pattern. Life happens, so if they miss a chore once, it shouldn’t be the end of the world.
But if it becomes a habit, that’s when it’s time to talk about why they can’t stick to the schedule. In any case, you should stay polite and friendly. When people feel safe admitting what’s not working, you’ll be way more likely to find a fix.
You can even build a bit of wiggle room into your system, like backup days, a chore-swap option, or a rule where you can cover for them if they’re having a rough week.
Remember, you’re building trust, routine, and a home where people have each other’s backs, even when someone forgets to take the bins out for the third time that month.
Conclusion
Sure, chore charts won’t lead to world peace, but they might stop the silent war over whose turn it is to mop.
So, grab some snacks, sit with your housemates in the living room, and come up with a written plan that works for all parties.
This way, you’ll spend less time arguing and silently (or not so silently) resenting each other, and instead more time enjoying your shared home.
