While we often overlook them, the daily tasks required to keep our homes livable can lead to some surprising assumptions among partners. Many of us have set ideas about how chores should be handled, believing that our significant others share the same mindset. However, that’s not always the case! The editors at The Kitchen were taken aback to discover their differing views on dishwashing, regardless of whether they owned a dishwasher or not. Some believed that the cook gets a free pass from cleaning up, while others thought it was a joint effort. Then, there were those who tackled both cooking and cleaning as part of the same routine.
I’ve always held the view that the chef shouldn’t have to worry about post-dinner cleanup, with some flexibility for exhaustion levels or kid-related chaos. But when my partner, who does the majority of the cooking, makes something like pea soup or beef stew (yikes!), I think it’s completely fair for him to handle all the cleanup, just like I do when I’m baking.
Now, there’s an unspoken rule about dealing with dishes: I believe the sink should be a temporary stop for dirty items, and they should be cleaned and put away after soaking. My partner, however, may not even have a guideline on this and might be waiting for some mythical dish elf to swoop in and save the day. (Let’s give a shoutout to the dish elf!)
When we lived in an apartment, we had a golden rule about taking out the trash: whoever tied up the bag and replaced it was off the hook for hauling it to the garbage room. Now that we’re in a house, my partner takes on the task of emptying the trash, but I only found out years later that he thought the original rule still applied! One day, I complained about the overflowing bag, and he casually mentioned he thought it was still my job to replace it since he was the one taking it out. Who would’ve guessed? (He did!)
Laundry is another classic example. I started doing my own laundry around the age of 12, and when I lived with roommates, we all took care of our own, even at the laundromat. I assumed that this practice would carry over when we moved in together, but it turns out that I had to spell it out for him! I care deeply about getting my clothes back, so I insist on keeping our laundry separate. Just last week, he accidentally mixed some of my items with his, and he was taken aback by how fiercely I was on a mission to recover my missing pieces. I mean, I only have about four favorite shirts right now, so I need access to all of them!
Key Takeaway
Here’s the takeaway on household rules: they’re not one-size-fits-all, so communication is key. If you’re finding yourself grumbling every time you tackle a chore and it happens frequently, your partner likely has a different set of expectations. (And naturally, yours are the correct ones, so be ready to defend them!)
For more insights on fertility and home insemination, check out this excellent resource from Science Daily or dive into our other blog posts for more tips!
Summary: Managing household chores can lead to unexpected differences in expectations between partners. Clear communication about what each person assumes about tasks like dishwashing, taking out the trash, and laundry is essential for harmony at home.