Chores occupy a complicated place in our lives. They may not be the most fun part of our days and, in some cases, can be the bane of our existence, especially when they pile up to meet us at the end of a particularly hectic week. After juggling a 9-5, kids, and any other number of responsibilities, the last thing many of us have energy for is a sink full of dirty dishes or baskets full of over-ripe laundry.

Despite how much we may dislike it, though, it is a necessary evil because the only thing worse than being up to your elbows in dishes or wading through ankle-deep piles of dirty socks is the mental toll having a consistently messy home can have on your mental health. In the year 2024, we are making mental health and self-care a non-negotiable priority, and that sometimes means doing things we don’t want to for the betterment of our emotional stability.

How can we upgrade our laundry routines?

Since it has to be done, making it a more tolerable part of our daily or weekly routines is key. If you’re enrolled in the University of TikTok, then you are likely familiar with the concept of romanticizing your life. This refers to the concept of making even the most mundane of tasks a special moment. This can be done in many ways, one being adding some aesthetic flare to the items and materials you use to complete these mundane or otherwise lackluster tasks. One of the best chores to illustrate this with is laundry since there is so much room to beautify your laundry setup. Here are five tips to help you do just that.

Decant your detergents.

One way to add some organizational fun to your laundry room is to put your detergents, fabric softeners and any other laundry products into reusable glass bottles that will make your laundry unit look like something out of an HGTV special.

Invest in at least one specialty detergent product.

Indulgence is one way to get on the fast track toward romanticizing your daily tasks. By investing in a specialty or luxury detergent, doing your laundry will become something you look forward to instead of dread.

Add some wallpaper.

One of the best parts of having a laundry room or nook is that it strikes the perfect balance between a public and private space in the home in the sense that not many people have to see it and it is by no means a focal point of most homes. This also makes it the perfect test dummy spot for new wallpapers you want to test out since it’s a low-risk high-reward situation. Plus it adds a little bit of flare to an otherwise bland area.

Customize your shelving to your unique needs.

One of the worst parts of doing laundry is all of the fussiness. Getting a shelving setup that matches your unique needs is a great way to make the process a bit more pleasant. If you are renting or have a living setup that prevents you from putting nails in the wall, foldable shelving units are a great way to add some extra organization.

Remember hampers matter.

It can be easy to just throw all of your dirty clothes into one big, often overflowing, basket. By getting a more organized system, like a hamper with dividers for different colors or separate baskets for towels versus gym clothes, you make the entire process more streamlined, and in turn, make it easier overall.