What is Reddit's opinion of Chore Checklist?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Probably very odd, but I used chore checklist since my first Android in 2011 which help remind me what chores i need to do at home. My house is so much more acceptable for visitors.

The app is ugly and outdated, but it gets the job done. I cannot find similar dedicated and minimalistic apps in other modern to-do list apps, and I have tried a lot.

I use two apps, mainly.

Chore Checklist is the one I use for scheduling chores.

On a more fun note, Unfuck Your Habitat is a great one because it has a timer. It really puts a time limit on things and helps keep me on task. I like that it gives me random tasks, which helps when I'm overwhelmed by trying to make a decision on what to do.

Chore Checklist - For around 5 (or maybe more) years, I use it as my to-do list for chores, exercise and computer maintenance, i.e. all the recurring tasks. It is UGLY even though the developer is still active. I like this app because of its simplicity and functionality. I am not satisfied with those big todo-list apps (e.g. any.do). They make everything look nice and have tons of function, but at the same time it becomes bloated and slow. I especially hate to-do list which cannot adjust the font size of the list (either in-app or in widget), as I prefer seeing more items at first glance.

Simpletask - As for my one-off todo list, I prefer the todo.txt format because I prefer speed over full/bloated functions. The todo.txt format has all a todo list need, including priority, tags and deadline. The best todo.txt app I can find is Simpletask.

Chore Checklist - I use it as my to-do list for chores, exercise and computer maintenance, i.e. all the recurring tasks. It is UGLY even though the developer is still active. I like this app because of its simplicity and functionality. I am not satisfied with those big todo-list apps. They make everything look nice and have tons of function, but at the same time it becomes bloated and slow. I especially hate to-do list which cannot adjust the font size of the list (either in-app or in widget), as I prefer seeing more items at first glance.

Simpletask - As for my one-off todo list, I prefer the todo.txt format because I prefer speed over full/bloated functions. The best todo.txt app I can find is Simpletask.

Have you considered a good old-fashioned roommate chore chart?

We also have a list of smart phone apps designed to help you set cleaning goals and remind you to tidy up regularly,

<strong>Chorma</strong> - iPhone only. This app is designed to help you split chores with the other person or persons living in the home. If you live with somebody, definitely check it out.

<strong>Cozi</strong> - iPhone and Android. Although it's primarily marketed to families, Cozi's features are great for chore-planning with roommates, too.

HomeRoutines - iPhone only. Android users should check out Chore Checklist (iPhone and Android). These two apps are very routine-focused, and can help you with getting into the habit of cleaning.

<strong>Done</strong> - iPhone only. Designed specifically to help you build habits. It helps you set goals, track your progress, and then motivates you with streaks/chains.

Spotless - iPhone and Android. Enables users to set up multiple home areas (such as the kitchen, living or bathroom, for example) and create task lists for each one. You can then tick off each task as they go along and create deadlines for when tasks need to be completed.

<strong>Clean My House</strong> - Android only. This app will remind you each morning what needs to be that done that day to help you gradually tick off your to-do list. Great for people who love making lists but prefer the nudge from daily notification reminders.

<strong>Tody</strong> - iPhone and Android. VERY comprehensive approach to cleaning. Android equivalent would be Chore List.

Good for you! I read somewhere that it takes doing a thing a minimum of twelve times, at the same time every day, to create a habit. It might help you to know that the best housekeepers spend between fifteen and thirty minutes a day keeping their homes tidy. So consider scheduling a time of day every day to spend ten or fifteen minutes tidying up .

We have a list of smart phone apps designed to help you set cleaning goals and remind you to tidy up regularly:

• HomeRoutines - iPhone only. Android users should check out Chore Checklist (iPhoneand Android). These two apps are very routine-focused, and can help you with getting into the habit of cleaning.
  
• Done - iPhone only. Designed specifically to help you build habits. It helps you set goals, track your progress, and then motivates you with streaks/chains.
• Spotless - iPhone and Android. Enables users to set up multiple home areas (such as the kitchen, living or bathroom, for example) and create task lists for each one. You can then tick off each task as they go along and create deadlines for when tasks need to be completed.
• Clean My House - Android only. This app will remind you each morning what needs to be that done that day to help you gradually tick off your to-do list. Great for people who love making lists but prefer the nudge from daily notification reminders.
• <strong>Tody</strong> - iPhone and Android. VERY comprehensive approach to cleaning. Android equivalent would be Chore List.
• Chorma - iPhone only. This app is designed to help you split chores with the other person or persons living in the home. If you live with somebody, definitely check it outt.

This Simple Housekeeping Schedule can launch you into a regular whole house routine when you're ready, as can this one (PDF available for download on this page).

This one will help

Welcome to the sub!

Let's try to take your issues one at a time:

> My husband is just... not that good at cleaning. He never learned the skills for seeing a mess or cleaning it up very well. His family is well off, and his mother has undiagnosed OCD...I am bothered by filth way before he is. He also feels overwhelming guilt when getting rid of stuff, especially if someone gave it to him.

Sounds like there's two things going on here. Your husband's clutter blindness, and his sentimental attachment to things.

Clutter blindness is defined as a person's literal inability to see his clutter in front of him. The person may perceive that there is a pile of newspapers, dishes, or other items collecting in an area, but her mind minimizes or just flat-out ignores the mess. It sounds like your husband never learned how to see anything but the most outrageous messes, because his mom made sure he never had to.

Your husband has to commit to re-training his brain to actual "see" the clutter. Take a look at this post and the comments, &quot;On Clutter Blindness: What It Is, and Some Ideas on How to Fight it&quot;, for potential solutions that might worth looking at for your husband.

The sentimental thing is a tough cookie to crack, and something a lot of people--hoarder or not--struggle with. Unclutter.com has an article from a few years ago addressing how to deal with sentimental items. Click this link to see a post sharing the most relevant points from the article.

One your husband starts to come to grips with his clutter blindness and sentimentality, he can then focus on learning how to houseclean. You can check this post for online resources. You'll also find a ton of housecleaning training videos on YouTube; they're mostly geared towards hotel housekeepers, but can still be very useful. I also like this one showing someone's housekeeping routine.

Sometimes someone totally new to cleaning needs to know the steps to clean. The single best resource that I've found for that is the book Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell. This is not a book of "housecleaning tips", but a full-blown method of how to clean. As in:

• Buy these cleaning products. Here's what each cleaning product does, and why it's important for you to use them.
• Buy this apron. The purpose of this apron is to help you carry certain cleaning products as you go through your house cleaning. You will put these cleaning products in these pockets, and be wearing this apron as you go through the house to clean.
• Buy this bucket. The purpose of this bucket is to help you carry the rest of the cleaning products as you go through the house cleaning, and to be able to mop. You will carry this bucket as you go through the house to clean.
• Put on the apron and bucket. Put the cleaning products in the appropriate places. Go to this room first. Get out Product A and Product B, and start cleaning by doing X.

...and so forth. It's broken down in clear steps and explanations, which is something I know many people living with autism need.

> I can't move things that are more than 10 lbs without my joints dislocating, and have to sit regularly if I don't want to become bed-bound for the rest of the day...But, when I gather a box of stuff to get rid of, my husband usually ends of shoving it in a corner and there it stays.

What kind of stuff are you getting rid of? If it's stuff that can be donated, there are plenty of places that’ll come to your house and pick up your donations. Check out DonationTown.org for a list.

More than anything, though, you need to sit down with your husband and make sure that he understands that when you put together a box, the box has to leave the house that same day. Otherwise, it's just him procrastinating, which in turn completely negates your efforts to clean and is incredibly demotivating for you.

> Are there apps I can use to remind me to do chores regularly like cleaning the bathroom?

Yes:

• Chorma - iPhone only, but for Android the closest equivalent I could find is Fairshare. I especially encourage you to look at these apps because they are specifically designed to split chores with the other person or persons living in the home. Could be useful for you and your husband.
• Tody - iPhone only. For the most comprehensive cleaning, this is what you want.
• House Cleaning List - Android; does largely the same thing as Tody
• HomeRoutines - AFAIK, this app is iPhone only. Android users should check out Chore Checklist (which is also available for iPhone) ahd Flyhelper. These two are very routine-focused, and may dovetail nicely with your schedule.

> How do you encourage an autistic spouse to clean, when he is also worn out from being a part time student, and needs to spend most of his home time de-stressing from his pretty horrid job?

What I would suggest is that you adopt (and modify as you see fit) UfYH's 20/10 cleaning strategy. He spends 20 minutes cleaning, then takes a 10 minute break. The idea is to break down the cleaning project into small, manageable tasks. It also allows him to prioritize his need to de-stress--after all, he's not spending all of his time cleaning, just 20 minutes. Set a timer, or use the UfYH app, to time the 20 minutes.

Have your husband focus on one small area, a relatively easy spot like one dresser drawer. As he grows more comfortable, he can build on his success and move to a slightly larger task – perhaps a desk and eventually a closet.

I stress the need to start small because large cleaning tasks can be overwhelming. Remember, you didn't get into this mess overnight, and you're not going to get out of it overnight. It will take time, and in order for your husband to establish new habits when it comes to seeing clutter and learning to clean, it will probably take even more time that you'd like.

But the goal isn't just de-cluttering and cleaning. It's getting your husband to retrain his brain so he can continue to de-clutter and clean. I read somewhere that most folks have to do something twelve time before it becomes a habit. Your husband may need all that and more before he comes around to this new way of thinking.

Anyway, you might also consider printing out a simple housekeeping schedule--something like this one or this one--and putting it where he's sure to see it. Sometimes visual prompts can be helpful in establishing a routine for de-cluttering/cleaning.

(cont'd below)

I suggest you work on creating the habit of tidying up.

I read somewhere that it takes doing a thing a minimum of twelve times, at the same time every day, to create a habit. It might help you to know that the best housekeepers spend between fifteen and thirty minutes a day keeping their homes tidy. So considering scheduling a time of day every day to spend ten or fifteen minutes tidying up your room.

These smart phone apps are designed to help you set cleaning goals and remind you to tidy up regularly:

• <strong>HomeRoutines</strong> - AFAICT, this app is iPhone only. Android users should check ou*t* <strong>Chore Checklist</strong> (which is also available for iPhone). These two apps are very routine-focused, and can help you with getting into the habit of cleaning.
• <strong>Done</strong> - iPhone only. Designed specifically to help you build habits. It helps you set goals, track your progress, and then motivates you with streaks/chains.
• Spotless - iPhone and Android. Enables users to set up multiple home areas (such as the kitchen, living or bathroom, for example) and create task lists for each one. You can then tick off each task as they go along and create deadlines for when tasks need to be completed.
• Clean My House - Android only. This app will remind you each morning what needs to be that done that day to help you gradually tick off your to-do list. Great for people who love making lists but prefer the nudge from daily notification reminders.
• <strong>Tody</strong> - iPhone and Android. VERY comprehensive approach to cleaning. Android equivalent would be Chore List.
• <strong>Chorma</strong> - iPhone only. This app is designed to help you split chores with the other person or persons living in the home. If you live with somebody, definitely check it out.

While this Simple Housekeeping Schedule is geared towards an entire home, it can give you an idea of how and when to take care of your room.