Whether you’re a young parent wondering what skills your kids need to know or a soon-to-be college student about to face the wild world of adulting, this article is your new best friend.

Think of it as a quirky survival guide to all things home and self-care – the stuff they should teach in school, but usually don’t. From taming the mysterious yeast to finding your personal color palette (yes, it’s a thing!), we’re diving into ten essential homemaking skills that’ll make your life easier, more fun, and maybe even a little more fabulous. So, grab a cup of something tasty and let’s get started!

In the Kitchen

1. How to make bread (and use yeast)

It doesn’t even have to be artisanal sourdough! Knowing how to make a simple bread recipe is a helpful and cost-effective skill to have — but you have to know how to work with yeast. Yeast can be mysterious and finicky, but a few basic guardrails can easily keep you in line. 

The most common dilemma is expired yeast. To make sure your yeast is still “active” simply mix a small amount with warm water (100-110°F) and a sprinkle of sugar. If the mixture foams and bubbles your yeast is still good! Once your dough has been made you need to choose a warm environment for the dough to proof. Try on top of your fridge, inside the microwave, or in your oven with only the light on.

2. How to cook a basic weeknight meal

Everyone needs a signature recipe! A simple 5-ingredient meal that you can whip up in under 30 minutes is all you need to have a tasty and affordable weeknight dinner. Find one you love and practice it until you are confident! 

Try to find a recipe that can be made with only one or two pots and that reheats well for easy meal prep leftovers.

3. How to grocery shop

Grocery shopping can seem deceptively easy especially if your mother has a steel trap mind that allows her to shop without a written list. When grocery shopping, start with the sales, don’t shop hungry, and avoid impulse buys. A generally good rule of thumb is to plan to cook 4 different meals a week and eat the leftovers for the remaining 3 dinners. Fewer ingredients often translate to lower costs, so get creative with substitutions when you can!

Around the House

4. The 80/20 secret to home organizing

Keep clutter at bay with the 80/20 organization rule. In any given space that you are trying to tackle, first empty all the contents and inventory what you have. Next, get rid of anything you do not need so that you can have a visual sense of what needs to go back into the cabinet, drawer, or closet you are working on. You should only fill the space to 80% capacity. If you have more than will fit, find it a new home or get rid of it. Now you can create a system that works for the remaining items. 

By only filling 80% of the given space you save yourself from excess clutter and give yourself enough breathing room to accommodate the inevitable addition without having your current system fall back into disarray.

5. How to have the fluffiest towels

Everyone loves a warm fluffy towel from the dryer! Adding white vinegar to the wash cycle (in addition to your regular detergent) breaks down residue buildup and returns your towels to their original fluffy glory. Simply add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the fabric softener slot and run your usual cycle.

6. How to clean like a pro

Cleaning the house can feel like a never-ending chore. Cleaning one room at a time with a set timer of 15-30 minutes can make the task less daunting and more efficient! 

Professional cleaners will often use a “top to bottom, left to right” tactic to stay speedy and on track. Begin at the highest points like ceilings and bookshelves and work systematically around the room. Then move down to the next level, often countertop height, and move left to right through the room. Finally, sweep or vacuum the floor, and then your room is done! Knowing that you set aside a finite amount of time keeps you focused and beating the clock gives you an added sense of accomplishment when you finish.

7. Seasonal home maintenance

Home maintenance is a necessary part of caring for your home that we often miss in our first yeast of independence. Proper home maintenance can be as simple as changing air filters regularly or remembering to clean your dishwasher filter. 

Having a handy list based on your climate can be especially helpful for remembering the once-yearly tasks like draining your exterior spigots to avoid frozen pipes. Make a list of home maintenance tasks for the year and which month they need to be done in (pro tip: add them to your Google or online calendar!). On the first of the month (or first weekend) knock out the necessary task so that nothing falls through the cracks!

Personal Care

8. How to find your color pallet

It might feel like a luxury, but knowing what colors suit your natural complexion can help you naturally look more beautiful and put together with no additional effort at the moment. Learning how to choose clothing in colors that suit your complexion is a simple yet often forgotten art. 

Finding the right color palette can also simplify your wardrobe by allowing more freedom to mix and match pieces that already complement each other. Your color pallet is more than just clothes — every woman should know how to choose the right lipstick color. 

A general rule of thumb is to look at the veins on your wrist: if they are green, choose a warm tone (coral, for example), if they are purplish, go for a cool tone (like maroon), and if you have a mixture of both opt for a neutral lip tone (such as taupe).

9. Uphold a balanced self-care routine

A mother’s self-care routine can be hard to spot. Maybe it happened before you woke up as a child or after you went to bed for the night. Learning how to build healthy and effective habits of self-care in the middle of a busy life is an invaluable skill. 

Perhaps it means starting your day with scripture and ending it with a warm face wash. Fitting in simple rituals of self-care can help you be more patient and available to those around you while reminding yourself of your self-worth.

10. The power of an apron

It may seem outdated to some, but an apron is an invaluable homemaking asset. Not only will it keep your clothing fresh while you cook, clean, or chase after children, but an apron also serves as a “uniform” of sorts to help you distinguish between when you are “working” at home and when you are at rest.