Keeping a Household Running
Running a household is not only about comfort but also about responsibility. Every member of the family is expected to do chores, and while these tasks are sometimes repetitive, they are essential for maintaining order and hygiene. A home where responsibilities are shared usually feels more balanced and cooperative.
Some duties are part of everyday life and cannot be ignored. For instance, people regularly refill soap or paper towels, feed the pets, and water the plants. These actions may appear small, yet they ensure that daily routines continue smoothly. In addition, cleanliness requires constant attention: family members often tidy up, sweep the floor, dust the furniture, or shake out the rug to remove dust and dirt. Laundry is another never-ending task; after washing, clothes must be hung up to dry, folded, and sometimes carefully ironed to look presentable.
Meals also create their own cycle of responsibilities. Before eating, someone needs to set the table, arranging plates and cutlery. Modern households frequently rely on dishwashers, so part of the routine is to load the dishwasher and later unload it so the kitchen remains organised.
Other tasks occur less often but demand attention when the time comes. Households must occasionally replace light bulbs, unclog the drain, or change the sheets in the bedrooms. Outdoor responsibilities are equally important: during warm months, families must mow the lawn, while in autumn they often rake the leaves. Nowadays, many households also make an effort to be environmentally conscious by sorting the rubbish into glass, plastic, and paper. Without doubt, one universal responsibility never disappears — the need to put the rubbish out, which keeps the home clean and sanitary.
Although chores may sometimes feel exhausting or even repetitive, they also build useful habits. Sharing household work fairly teaches cooperation, time management, and respect for the living space. In the long run, the ability to carry out these tasks efficiently becomes part of what it means to be a responsible and independent adult.
Key Vocabulary:
change the sheets — to replace dirty bed sheets with clean ones; nomainīt gultasveļu
do chores — to do a job or piece of work that is often boring or unpleasant but needs to be done regularly; veikt sīkus mājas darbus
do the ironing — to make clothes smooth using a hot iron; gludināt drēbes
dust the furniture — to remove dust from surfaces like shelves and tables; slaucīt putekļus no mēbelēm
feed the pets — to give food to dogs, cats, or other animals; barot mājdzīvniekus
fold the laundry — to neatly fold clean, dry clothes; locīt apģērbu
hang the clothes — to put wet clothes on a line or rack to dry; pakarināt apģērbu, lai tas izžūtu
load the dishwasher — to put dirty dishes into the dishwasher; salikt netīros traukus trauku mazgājamajā mašīnā
mow the lawn — to cut the grass in the garden; pļaut zālienu
put the rubbish out — to remove garbage from the house and put it outside; iznest atkritumus
rake the leaves — to collect fallen leaves from the yard or garden using a rake; grābt lapas
refill soap — to replace empty bathroom or kitchen supplies; atkārtoti piepildīt kādu tukšu saimniecības trauku (piemēram, šķidro ziepju trauku)
replace a light bulb — to change a broken or old light bulb; nomainīt elektrības spuldzi
set the table — to arrange plates, cups, and cutlery before a meal; klāt galdu
shake out the rug — to take a small rug outside and shake it to remove dirt or dust; purināt paklāju
sort the rubbish — to separate glass, plastic, paper, etc. before throwing them away; šķirot atkritumus
sweep the floor — to clean the floor using a broom; slaucīt grīdu
tidy up — to make a space clean by putting things in the right place; uzkopt, sakārtot telpas
unclog the drain — to remove blockages from sinks or bathroom drains; attīrīt kanalizācijas cauruli
unload the dishwasher — to take out clean dishes and put them back in the cupboards; izņemt traukus no trauku mazgājamās mašīnas pēc tam, kad tie ir izmazgāti
water the plants — to give water to flowers or houseplants; apliet istabas augus
Practice: now that you have learned the key vocabulary, it is time to use it in practice. Answer the discussion-type questions, which will help you develop the ability to give longer answers and practise summarising and concluding — just as in an English exam or real conversation. For each question, an answer prompt is available to guide you. Revise how to summarise your speech. You covered in the previous theoretical chapter: Challenges and Opportunities of Living Abroad
Discussion-Type Questions
1. To what extent do you agree that every family member should share household chores equally?
"One strong reason is that sharing chores teaches responsibility and fairness. Another factor to consider is that it prevents conflict, because everyone feels they contribute equally to the household. For instance, when children help sweep the floor, tidy up, or set the table, they learn useful life skills, while parents feel less pressure. All in all, equal participation in chores creates both a practical and emotional balance in the home."
"One strong reason is that sharing chores teaches responsibility and fairness. Another factor to consider is that it prevents conflict, because everyone feels they contribute equally to the household. For instance, when children help sweep the floor, tidy up, or set the table, they learn useful life skills, while parents feel less pressure. All in all, equal participation in chores creates both a practical and emotional balance in the home."
2. Which household chores do you find the most demanding or tiring?
"I find tasks like mowing the lawn or unclogging the drain the most exhausting, because they require physical effort and sometimes special skills. Another demanding chore is ironing, since it takes a lot of time and concentration. In contrast, simpler tasks like refilling soap or dusting the furniture don’t take much energy. To sum up, the bottom line is that while some chores are quick and easy, others require both strength and patience, which makes them far more tiring."
"I find tasks like mowing the lawn or unclogging the drain the most exhausting, because they require physical effort and sometimes special skills. Another demanding chore is ironing, since it takes a lot of time and concentration. In contrast, simpler tasks like refilling soap or dusting the furniture don’t take much energy. To sum up, the bottom line is that while some chores are quick and easy, others require both strength and patience, which makes them far more tiring."
3. How has technology changed the way we do household chores?
"It cannot be denied that machines like dishwashers or vacuum cleaners make chores quicker and less exhausting. Another factor to consider is that technology allows people to manage their time better — for example, loading the dishwasher takes minutes, so families can devote more time to leisure or work. However, it is also important to note that some chores, such as folding laundry or tidying up, still require human effort. Overall, technology has reduced the effort needed for chores, but it has not eliminated responsibility entirely."
"It cannot be denied that machines like dishwashers or vacuum cleaners make chores quicker and less exhausting. Another factor to consider is that technology allows people to manage their time better — for example, loading the dishwasher takes minutes, so families can devote more time to leisure or work. However, it is also important to note that some chores, such as folding laundry or tidying up, still require human effort. Overall, technology has reduced the effort needed for chores, but it has not eliminated responsibility entirely."
4. Do you think children should get paid for doing household chores?
"It is often claimed that giving money for chores motivates children to help at home. One strong reason is that payment teaches them the value of work and money management. Another factor to consider is that it can encourage consistency — for instance, children may be more willing to fold the laundry or take out the trash if they know they will be rewarded. However, it is also important to note that chores should not be seen only as “jobs for money,” but as part of contributing to family life. All in all, while payment can be motivating, the bottom line is that children should also learn to help out of responsibility, not just for rewards."
"It is often claimed that giving money for chores motivates children to help at home. One strong reason is that payment teaches them the value of work and money management. Another factor to consider is that it can encourage consistency — for instance, children may be more willing to fold the laundry or take out the trash if they know they will be rewarded. However, it is also important to note that chores should not be seen only as “jobs for money,” but as part of contributing to family life. All in all, while payment can be motivating, the bottom line is that children should also learn to help out of responsibility, not just for rewards."