How to stop arguing about whose turn it is to tidy the house

Full article first published on Houzz

Joanna Tovia, Houzz contributor

Opposites attract, it’s true, but that doesn’t always make life easy. If one of you is a neat freak and the other, well, less so, resentment can soon start to simmer.

Before you know it, that wet towel on the bed, discarded socks next to the laundry basket, or ever-present clutter by the front door can tip you over the edge, leading to an overreaction that leaves your partner wondering why such a little thing should matter so much.

Fortunately, there are ways to stop your housekeeping peeves from reaching boiling point – but it may be a matter of meeting your other half somewhere in the middle.

Photo by Architect Prineas
Photo by Architect Prineas

Take talks over housework seriously

"It’s not surprising that housework is one of the top four or five things people argue about,” says Relationships Australia practice leader David Roberts.

With two partners often both working and busy – and some juggling parenting responsibilities on top – David says talking through housework expectations is vital for a harmonious household.

"Couples with different backgrounds can often have very different expectations, and so the ability to communicate well and without judgement in the discussion is really important,” he says.

"Poor communication, along with finances and infidelity, are among the top reasons for divorce, so open discussion and exploration are vital.”

Photo by Hunting For George
Photo by Hunting For George

Divvy up the responsibilities

One of the benefits of living with a potential life partner before marriage or a long-term commitment is getting a sense of how he or she lives, as the honeymoon phase mellows to a warm glow and you both start to relax and be your true selves. If you notice a marked difference in standards when it comes to cleaning and tidying up, now’s the time to decide how high a priority it is for you – and to have an honest conversation about how the chores will be assigned between the two of you into the future.

"Housework touches on what have historically been fairly entrenched gender roles, which are changing rapidly,” says David.

"Because these roles are changing, they need to be explored and negotiated with those involved. When this is done successfully and the agreements kept, this can further strengthen a relationship.”

Tip: Begin conversations with 'I feel' rather than 'you always' – attacking someone for their behaviour is rarely as effective as a calm conversation coming from a place of respect.

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Photo by Klopper and Davis Architects
Photo by Klopper and Davis Architects

Honour your differences

Sometimes, one person’s idea of clean is dramatically different from another’s. While one partner might feel more comfortable with a bit of clutter around, the other might not be able to relax unless the home is completely in order. Listening to your partner talk about how they prefer a space to look and feel when they’re home can help bridge the divide.

Tip:12 design and space hacks for your hallway

Talk through what ‘tidy’ means to each of you and which areas of the house you value as no-mess zones. You might love a tidy kitchen; your partner might love a dining table that’s completely free of clutter. Voicing what matters to you in a non-accusatory fashion raises awareness far more effectively than passive-aggressive sighs and eye rolls.

Photo by Designers In The City
Photo by Designers In The City

Identify the real issues

Acknowledging your own shortcomings isn’t always easy or pleasant, but it’s necessary if living with your significant other in relative peace is your goal. It can also be helpful to analyse the real reason why you might be upset about your partner making a mess, or failing to help out enough when it comes to general household chores. Is it the mess itself, or the lack of respect you feel as a result? Is the pile of bills you see when you walk through the door each day really about mess, or does it trigger a feeling of panic about your finances?

"Housework can be just the tip of the iceberg in what an argument is really about,” says David.

"Beneath the surface, there may be power imbalances, value differences, or general dissatisfaction with a relationship.”

Housework is very visible, and can represent how much someone cares about the home and the others who live there.

"Unless a couple has good communication skills and can really talk about their expectations in terms of roles, it will certainly exacerbate deeper issues,” he adds.

Tip: Get real about how reasonable your demands are. If you like the towels folded after a shower just so, when they would dry just as quickly slung over the rail in a more casual fashion, it might be time to let that one go – especially if your constant mention of it is starting to drive your partner nuts.

Photo by Form Design Ltd
Photo by Form Design Ltd

Strike a balance

There’s a difference between tidy and clean, and it comes down to hygiene. If your partner is more naturally messy than you are, consider meeting in the middle by relaxing your attitude to clutter on the condition your partner lifts his or her game when it comes to cleanliness.

Sparkling, germ-free kitchen worktops, for example, make sense to prevent illness in the family, so a no-bend rule about this is reasonable – if you make a mess, you clean it up straight away. The same goes in the bathroom.

Tip: Discuss which rooms should remain in a state of tidiness and which can get a little messy (more meeting in the middle is required if you’re the neat freak of the family). You might decide that shared rooms need to be tidy, but other rooms less so, for example. Or that the formal living room is to remain tidy, but the family room can be a little more relaxed.

Find storage items for your clutter

Photo by Brickworks Building Products
Photo by Brickworks Building Products

Don’t expect miracles

Expecting a dramatic turnaround in your partner after you’ve voiced your concerns is pretty unrealistic – implementing lasting habit changes isn’t easy for any of us, no matter how strong the motivation – so it pays to think laterally when solving the problem.

Could you outsource some of the household chores to a cleaner, or have them come a little more often? Could you assign each of the kids simple daily and weekly tasks to share the load? Even wiping down the table after meals and emptying the dishwasher can make a difference.

If it’s just the two of you, could you relax your rules around how often chores need to be done to reduce the burden on both of you?

Photo by Watershed Design
Photo by Watershed Design

Make do with less

Some houses are easier to keep clean than others and it often comes down to how much stuff there is. The less you have, the easier it is to dust and tidy up – and the less visual clutter a room has, the cleaner and tidier it appears.

Tip: Tackle one room at a time, sorting unwanted items into piles to throw away, donate or sell. Keep only things you still love; don’t get sucked into keeping gifts out of obligation, or because an item cost a lot.

Photo by Michelle Marsden Design
Photo by Michelle Marsden Design

Get things into perspective

Weigh up the frustration involved in repeatedly raising an issue that never seems to be done versus solving said issue yourself. If your partner keeps leaving his or her shoes by the front door when you’d rather they were put away, consider picking up the shoes, taking a breath and putting them away yourself – it will take all of five seconds and, if you can learn to do these little things cheerfully rather than with resentment, your stress levels will plummet (and one day, your partner may just start remembering to put those shoes away).

Tip: Practice gratitude. Focusing on the negatives rather than all the great things about your partner is a recipe for disaster – no one likes being scolded, resented or nagged, after all. If being positive doesn’t come naturally to you, start small – compliment or thank your loved one once a day to begin with, and build from there. You might be surprised how quickly you start to notice other wonderful things you may have missed – and see the same attitude shift start to take shape in your partner.

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