Table of Contents
- Parenting Manga “Conquering the “Housework with No Name”!
- Let’s conquer “Housework with No Name.” Devices and Techniques to Avoid Tiredness by Professionals
Parenting Manga “Conquering the “Housework with No Name”!
Profile
Eiichi
After working for a design company in Tokyo, he became a freelance illustrator. He is a hard-working father who creates animation, manga, and illustrations, including winning the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival’s International Short Film Showcase Division Excellence in Animation Award.
Let’s conquer “Housework with No Name.” Devices and Techniques to Avoid Tiredness by Professionals
(Related article: Let’s spread the word about “Housework with No Name! Catchphrase Decided – “Housework with No Name” Gets a Name)
Five tips for attacking the “chore with no name” that you want your family to notice.
1. “Complete” the flow of household chores
“Unnamed chores” are often unobtrusive chores that are attached to the main chore. For example, if you are only doing the main chore of “washing dishes,” it may be difficult to notice accessory chores such as “washing sponges” or “wiping around the sink. If you have family members who are not aware of detailed chores, it is a good idea to ask them to copy the flow of chores they usually do once completely. For example, with laundry, it will be easier to notice that there are detailed chores such as “sorting,” “taking in,” and “putting away,” in addition to washing and drying.
2. Make a list
When housework is broken down into smaller tasks, there are more than 100 chores. If you make a list and share it with your family, you can “visualize” the “nameless chores. Then, it is a good idea to reduce the total amount of chores by cutting back on those that are not necessary. For example, if the family does not mind leaving the sink area wet after washing dishes, it is fine to reduce the number of chores. If you feel that you are overloaded, you can improve your household chores by introducing home appliances.
©2025 Honma Asako
3. patrolling.
Having someone patrol the house to make sure that the toilet paper, hand soap, etc. used by everyone in the family is not about to run out will make people aware of the humble chore of replacing and refilling. If you have small children in the family, we recommend that you give them a unique title such as “Patrol Captain.
4. communicate with each other
Since “chores with no names” go unnoticed by family members if someone does them secretly, communicating them to each other is important to let them know that “chores with no names” exist. Let them know what you have done and show your appreciation to each other. If it is difficult to say “thank you,” try giving a thumbs-up gesture to show “good job” or clapping to show your appreciation.
5. exchange chores that you are not good at.
One way to do this is to write down any chores that you usually find tedious and unpleasant, and exchange them with your family members. Even if it is a chore that you dislike, it may not be so hard for the other person to do. It is good if the exchange is successful, and even if it is not, it will lighten your heart a little if they realize how hard it was for you.
Devices and Techniques for Conquering “Housework with No Name”
Call for “Housework with No Name” Voices and Ideas Naming Honorable Mention Award Winners Edition
slimy woman
A sad chore that happens in the bath, where you notice slimy spots on the back of bottles and joints, and clean them naked.
Hanging all bathroom accessories is a good way to prevent sogginess. I attach a magnetic bar to the wall and hang shampoo and other items there. Recently, many houses have magnetic bathroom walls, and there are a variety of bathroom accessories, such as wash basins that can be attached with magnets. In addition, mold, which is one of the causes of sliminess, decreases its fertility at temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, so slowly pouring hot water of 50 degrees Celsius or higher over the bath is an effective way to prevent mold in the bath.
Hanging towel hangers with S-shaped hooks is also recommended.
meal preparation
Household chores of cleaning up food debris on and under tables, chairs, etc. after eating a meal.
Keep floor wipes and sanitizing sheets nearby for easy “on-the-spot” cleaning. To prevent stains, place newspaper or “masker tape” under the chairs for convenient disposal when small children spill baby food or other items.
Masker tape” is a combination of masking tape and curing sheet.
(*It is recommended to test the mascara tape in an inconspicuous place before use and replace it after each meal, as it may leave adhesive marks. Also, be careful that children do not pull it off or put it in their mouths)
Also, those who need to dust the floor on a daily basis may want to consider a vacuum cleaner that can wipe the floor with water. Stick-type and robot vacuums are available, and they are useful because they can wipe up spills all at once with water.
Stick vacuum cleaner that can be wiped with water
eating cheap delicious food
Household chores that cook with leftover vegetables and uneaten food left over from cooking and that are close to their expiration date or are cooked with too little food.
By arranging the leftovers on a single plate, it can be transformed into a stylish “cafe-meshi” style meal. Leftover vegetables can be used for okonomiyaki, miso soup, or other dishes that can be enjoyed with a wide variety of ingredients, from the standard to the unusual.
One-plate “cafe-meshi” style with leftovers
We also recommend using AI. You can take pictures of surplus ingredients and upload the images to a generative AI application to get menu suggestions.
AI eliminates menu planning problems.
catcher change
Household chores to replace nets that catch debris debris in drains.
When I replace the drainer net, I put dish detergent on the net and clean the sink before putting the net on. I think there are many positive aspects to this, such as the fact that I no longer need a sponge for washing the sink, and the fact that it is combined with cleaning makes an unpleasant chore seem a little more enjoyable.
Sinks are always sparkling clean when net replacement and cleaning are combined.
dumping and washing
Household chores to sort out whether to wash regular or fashionable clothes by looking at the laundry label.
To ensure that everyone in the family separates their own laundry, we have three baskets with tags and separate them into “dry,” “do not dry,” and “fashionable clothes. Once each person puts it in there, all they have to do is wash it. If it shrinks or the color fades, that is the responsibility of the person who put it in.
Each person is responsible for sorting his/her own laundry.
■”Household chores with no name” that should be noticed, ranking section ■”Household chores with no name” that should be noticed, ranking section
Cleaning of sinks and other drains and water features
Cleaning sinks and other drains and water features is the first chore that is appreciated when done, even though it is less difficult. The busier the person who is usually too busy to participate in housework, the more you should take the initiative to do it. Another strategy is to dare to remove the cover from the bathroom drain, since the cover is covered and dirt is difficult to see. It is a good idea to make a rule that dirt should be visible and each person should remove hair, etc. by himself/herself after each use.
If you know your hair is piling up, you will voluntarily “have to clean it up”!
Set bags after taking out trash
You can choose to throw away watery or dirty items only in the kitchen trash can and not set trash bags in the other trash cans. Use a towel bar or similar device to hang trash bags together over the kitchen trash cans to make it easier to set them up after taking out the trash and to make it easier for the family member in charge of taking out the trash to notice them.
The key is to keep trash bags in plain sight.
Let’s face the whole family as “stalwarts”!
The key to conquering the “chore with no name” is not only technique, but also the stance you take in how you deal with it. If you think that you are a sub, it is hard for them to notice the details of your chores, and this can cause them stress. It is important to be aware that you are a member of the team and that everyone in the family is a “starter” when it comes to housework, even if your playing time (the time you can spend on housework) is short.
Asako Honma
Intellectual Housework Producer
Based on her experience of struggling to balance work and housework, she invented “Intellectual Housework,” a housework method that saves time and unnecessary effort. She has organized the “Intellectual Housework Association” to solve the problems of many people who lament that they do not have enough time or that housework is too much work. In addition to seminars and lectures, he has appeared in numerous media outlets. He is the author of many books, including the recent “60-sai kara no tiring housework” (Seishun Shuppansha).
