Household Chores In English

Remove used sheets and put clean ones on the bed.

Tone and use: Everyday household language; change the sheets is also common. Describe replacing the bedding during a regular cleaning routine.

May not fit: If you only straighten the covers, say make the bed rather than change the sheets.

Straighten the sheets and covers so the bed looks neat.

Tone and use: Neutral and common. Talk about tidying the bed after waking up.

May not fit: If you are replacing the linens, say change the sheets.

Make a messy space tidy by removing or organizing things.

Tone and use: Everyday and flexible. Describe restoring order after things have been left around.

May not fit: For washing a particular surface, name the task, such as wipe the counter.

Lift objects from where they are and collect them.

Tone and use: Neutral; context determines whether it means collect or purchase. Describe collecting objects from the floor or another surface.

May not fit: If you mean buy something, mention the store or say pick up some groceries.

Place the toys into the container used to store them.

Tone and use: Plain, practical household language. Tell someone where to put objects while tidying a room.

May not fit: If you mean return an item to its usual place, put away may be more concise.

Clean a floor by brushing dirt or debris with a broom.

Tone and use: Neutral and common. Talk about cleaning hard floors with a broom.

May not fit: For carpet, vacuum it instead of sweeping it.

Gather dirt or debris by sweeping, often into a dustpan.

Tone and use: Everyday and practical. Describe collecting crumbs, dust, or small pieces from a floor.

May not fit: For wet spills, blot or wipe them up instead.

Remove the bag of rubbish from the home and put it in the outside bin or collection area.

Tone and use: Common U.S. household expression. Describe carrying household waste outside.

May not fit: In some varieties of English, take out the rubbish is more usual; follow local wording.

Fasten something by making a knot; here, close the top of a garbage bag.

Tone and use: Plain and conversational. Give or describe the step of fastening a bag or cord.

May not fit: If you mean attach two objects securely, specify what is being tied to what.

Remove dirt or small particles using a vacuum cleaner.

Tone and use: Everyday and practical. Describe cleaning up dust, crumbs, or pet hair with a vacuum.

May not fit: For liquid spills, check the appliance instructions; a regular vacuum may not be suitable.

Shift objects out of the way to make room for another task.

Tone and use: Neutral and conversational. Create access or space before cleaning, working, or arranging something.

May not fit: If you are putting items into storage, say put them away.

Clean a surface by rubbing it with a cloth or paper towel.

Tone and use: Common household language. Describe cleaning a counter, table, or other surface.

May not fit: For a light dusting only, say dust; wiping implies rubbing the surface.

Rub a surface to clean it or make it shine.

Tone and use: Neutral; can describe furniture, shoes, metal, and more. Talk about improving the shine or finish of an item.

May not fit: If you only remove loose dust, say dust or wipe it instead.

Difficult to access because of its position or distance.

Tone and use: Neutral and useful across everyday contexts. Describe a shelf, corner, or surface that is awkward to access.

May not fit: For a place that is physically inaccessible, use inaccessible or explain the obstacle.

Wash the dishes after a meal, by hand or sometimes as a general chore.

Tone and use: Common everyday phrase. Talk about washing plates, cups, and utensils.

May not fit: If you are only loading the machine, say load the dishwasher.

Pour water onto a plant so it has what it needs to grow.

Tone and use: Neutral and common. Describe routine care for a houseplant or garden.

May not fit: Do not water if the plant-care instructions call for a different method or less frequent watering.

Use a lot of physical effort to do something.

Tone and use: Informal; can sound encouraging or like a command. Describe working hard at a physical task.

May not fit: Avoid it if the person has an injury or when a gentler, safety-focused instruction is needed.

Wash and dry clothes, and sometimes handle related steps such as sorting and folding.

Tone and use: Everyday household language. Talk about washing clothes as a chore.

May not fit: If you mean only one step, say wash a load or fold the clothes.

Put the clothes into the washing machine so it is ready to run.

Tone and use: Conversational; load the washer is a concise alternative. Describe filling a washing machine with laundry.

May not fit: Do not overload the machine; for instructions, say load the washer according to its capacity.

Bend clean clothes into neat shapes for storage.

Tone and use: Neutral and common. Describe organizing clean laundry after drying.

May not fit: If you are hanging an item, say hang it up instead.

Use an iron to smooth creases from fabric; figuratively, iron out means resolve small problems.

Tone and use: Everyday phrase with a common figurative extension. Talk about pressing clothing or resolving details in a plan.

May not fit: For delicate fabric, check the care label before ironing.