Household Chores and Cleaning Vocabulary

Essential vocabulary for household chores, cleaning, and domestic tasks in Spanish.

General Terms

las tareas domésticas (household chores) los quehaceres (chores) la limpieza (cleaning) limpiar (to clean) ordenar (to tidy up/organize) ayudar (to help)

Tengo que hacer los quehaceres. (I have to do the chores.)

Cleaning Tasks

limpiar (to clean) barrer (to sweep) trapear/fregar (to mop) pasar la aspiradora (to vacuum) sacudir (to dust) lavar (to wash) fregar (to scrub) desinfectar (to disinfect) pulir (to polish)

Limpio la casa los sábados. (I clean the house on Saturdays.)

Kitchen Chores

lavar los platos (to wash the dishes) secar los platos (to dry the dishes) cocinar (to cook) preparar la comida (to prepare food) poner la mesa (to set the table) quitar la mesa (to clear the table) limpiar la cocina (to clean the kitchen) sacar la basura (to take out the trash)

Lavo los platos después de cenar. (I wash the dishes after dinner.)

Laundry

lavar la ropa (to do laundry) tender la ropa (to hang clothes) secar la ropa (to dry clothes) planchar (to iron) doblar la ropa (to fold clothes) guardar la ropa (to put away clothes)

la lavadora (washing machine) la secadora (dryer) la plancha (iron) el detergente (detergent) el suavizante (fabric softener)

Lavo la ropa una vez por semana. (I do laundry once a week.)

Bedroom Chores

hacer la cama (to make the bed) cambiar las sábanas (to change the sheets) ordenar el cuarto (to tidy the room) colgar la ropa (to hang clothes)

las sábanas (sheets) la funda (pillowcase) la cobija/manta (blanket)

Bathroom Chores

limpiar el baño (to clean the bathroom) limpiar el inodoro (to clean the toilet) limpiar el espejo (to clean the mirror) limpiar la ducha (to clean the shower)

Living Areas

pasar la aspiradora (to vacuum) barrer (to sweep) trapear (to mop) sacudir los muebles (to dust the furniture) ordenar (to tidy up) organizar (to organize)

Cleaning Supplies

la escoba (broom) el trapeador/fregona (mop) la aspiradora (vacuum cleaner) el trapo (cloth/rag) la esponja (sponge) el cepillo (brush) el recogedor (dustpan) el cubo/balde (bucket)

Cleaning Products

el detergente (detergent) el jabón (soap) el desinfectante (disinfectant) el limpiador (cleaner) la lejía/cloro (bleach) el limpiavidrios (glass cleaner) el ambientador (air freshener)

Necesito comprar detergente. (I need to buy detergent.)

Outdoor Chores

cortar el césped (to mow the lawn) regar las plantas (to water the plants) barrer el patio (to sweep the patio) rastrillar las hojas (to rake leaves) lavar el coche (to wash the car)

la podadora (lawn mower) la manguera (hose) el rastrillo (rake)

Organizing

organizar (to organize) ordenar (to tidy up) clasificar (to sort) guardar (to put away) tirar (to throw away) donar (to donate) reciclar (to recycle)

Tengo que organizar mi closet. (I have to organize my closet.)

Maintenance

reparar (to repair/fix) arreglar (to fix) cambiar (to change) reemplazar (to replace) pintar (to paint)

cambiar el foco (to change the lightbulb) arreglar la llave (to fix the faucet)

Garbage and Recycling

la basura (trash/garbage) el reciclaje (recycling) sacar la basura (to take out the trash) separar la basura (to separate trash) el bote de basura (trash can) la bolsa de basura (trash bag)

Verbs for Chores

hacer (to do) limpiar (to clean) lavar (to wash) barrer (to sweep) trapear (to mop) planchar (to iron) cocinar (to cook) ordenar (to organize)

Tengo que hacer la limpieza. (I have to do the cleaning.)

Frequency

todos los días (every day) una vez por semana (once a week) dos veces al mes (twice a month) cada semana (every week) a diario (daily)

Limpio el baño una vez por semana. (I clean the bathroom once a week.)

Sharing Chores

repartir las tareas (to divide up the chores) turnarse (to take turns) ayudar (to help)

Nos turnamos para cocinar. (We take turns cooking.)

Common Phrases

Tengo que limpiar la casa. (I have to clean the house.) ¿Puedes ayudarme? (Can you help me?) Me toca lavar los platos. (It's my turn to wash the dishes.) Hay mucho que hacer. (There's a lot to do.)

Household Appliances

la lavadora (washing machine) la secadora (dryer) la aspiradora (vacuum cleaner) el lavavajillas (dishwasher) el horno (oven) el microondas (microwave)

Being Clean vs Dirty

limpio/a (clean) sucio/a (dirty) ordenado/a (tidy) desordenado/a (messy)

La casa está limpia. (The house is clean.) Mi cuarto está desordenado. (My room is messy.)

Practice