Are you always shouldering the burden of the clutter, the dishes, the goddamned toilet bowl? It’s time to put your foot down, and start delegating.

According to a new survey, families who clean together have stronger, happier relationships. We chatted with Dr. Karyn Gordon, a relationship and parenting therapist, to find out how to divvy up the labour (and not lash out at our cohabitors).

SDTC: What is the biggest issue when it comes to couples and chores?

KG: From my experience, I would say the biggest issue is the division of labour in the household. Many couples do not speak about dividing chores, rather they repeat what was done in their own households, which can create resentment. I recommend having an honest and open conversation about chores and dividing them according to preference.

A recent survey commissioned by Windex®, Scrubbing Bubbles® & Fantastik® asked Canadians about their relationships and cleaning habits as a family. The survey showed the correlation between how chores are evenly divided and a couple’s happiness. Of those Canadian couples surveyed who are happy in their relationships, 6/10 share the responsibility for household chores equally.

What are some strategies to get everyone else to do their share?

Canadians can benefit from engaging the whole family in household chores. The survey classified the top three methods of dividing chores as skill, unspoken agreement and personal preference and there are definitely strategies that ensure everyone is partaking in the household chores fairly! I recommend creating a list of chores and dividing them by weekly and daily tasks for the entire family to sign up for. It’s important to create rhythm and routine when it comes to chores in order to make the process seamless and easy.

Any tips to get the job done quickly so we can actually enjoy our lives?

If couples equally share the household chores, you’ll be done sooner rather than later and you’ll notice that the chores may be an enjoyable task! By spending as little as fifteen minutes together doing simple chores like wiping down the counters, unloading the dishwasher or folding laundry, you’ll feel more respected in your relationships. Try to get to the easy tasks right away, like putting away dishes after a meal. That way you can spend the entire evening after dinner together, rather than focusing on cleaning up.

Want to find out how strong your relationship really is? Visit here to find out if you and your partner are cleaning soulmates!