Making Your Time Do Double Duty: 14 Tips

Too much to do and not enough time to do it? Chances are you can add a simple housekeeping task to whatever you’re doing at home so that every moment does double duty. Try these 14 ideas for starters.

While...

1 microwaving dinner. Wipe down kitchen walls and baseboards; manage microwave spills while waiting for your piping-hot meal to cool off a bit -- spills are a snap to wipe up before they settle and harden.

2 making coffee. Declutter your countertops; organize the kitchen shelves that house cups and glasses; sweep out stray crumbs from the food cabinet; scrub the kitchen sink clean of a day’s worth of dirt.

3 opening mail. Station yourself near a trash can or recycling bin (or both) where you can toss junk mail and envelopes; sort bills on the spot and file them for payment later.

4 cooking. Wash utensils and dishes and put them away as you go; wipe down cooktop spills as soon as they happen; arrange pots and pans for easy access; straighten up the spice rack.

5 taking out the trash. Organize the recycling bin - glass, metal and paper; brush away leaves and debris from the trash-storage area; pick up litter from the curb; check on outdoor plants and make a mental note of gardening to-dos.

6 waiting out TV commercials. Dash into the kitchen - but not for a handful of potato chips. This is the perfect time to wipe the remnants of dinner from the countertops, finish loading the dishwasher, organize the utility drawer, or do a quick sweeping of the kitchen floor.

7 waiting in the doctor’s office. Pay bills and balance your checkbook; hammer out a quick text to a friend you haven’t heard from in a while; address holiday car envelopes; review your calendar and respond to invitations.

8 waiting for the kettle to boil. Check your e-mail and write replies; visit your favorite websites, feed the dog or cat; change the cat’s litter box, water your plants and police flower pots for dead leaves or blossoms.

9 waiting for the kids to get dressed. Put away the breakfast dishes, wash the coffeepot, empty the trash, warm up the car.

10 talking on the phone. Organize the linen closet; fold and sort clothes; unload the dishwasher; dust the living room and dining room; water and groom houseplants.

11 allowing the oven cleaner to work. Clean the grime from the windowsills; clip coupons; declutter the kitchen table; weed through stacks of old newspapers, catalogs and magazines and toss discards into recycling bin.

12 waiting for repair people. Sweep and mop the kitchen floor; straighten up all the books, pictures, and various knickknacks displayed on shelves; dust all surfaces in the living room, dining room, and hallway; organize cluttered kitchen cabinets; polish the mirrors.

13 putting away groceries. Check the refrigerator for any leftovers that have been hanging around too long and toss them; arrange food in like categories; wipe down the refrigerator doors and clean out the vegetable bins; rotate older pantry items to the front.

14 taking a shower. Sprinkle cleanser on the tub or shower floor and push a sponge around with your foot while you’re waiting for your conditioner to soak in; while soaking in the tub use an old toothbrush to scrub tile grout.