
No matter your age, a fact of life is that chores are no fun. But with smart home technology, here’s how I better manage my chore load to spend more time with family and other things I actually enjoy.
1 Taking Care of Pets
We all love our furry friends, but keeping dogs and cats happy and healthy does require some work on a daily basis. But thankfully, there are a host of smart home products for your pets that can make the chores a bit easier.
One of the best options are automatic feeders for either your dog or cat. When it hits feeding time, the device will automatically dispense the amount of feed you choose. Many will also use a companion app to provide feeding records. And there’s no need to worry about a power outage as there is usually some type of battery backup to keep the food flowing.
If you have a cat, cleaning the litter box is a chore no one ever volunteers to do. A self-cleaning litter box can make that stinky chore much more manageable. Each time after a cat uses the litter box, it will automatically sift out the waste, leaving just clean litter. You just empty the waste bag after a few weeks of use. Say goodbye to bad smells.
2 Keeping My Floors Clean
Anyone with pets and kids at home knows how hard it is to keep your floors clean. Whether it’s the usual dirt or dust, or just stubborn stains from something else, the vacuum and mop are likely always ready to go.
Instead of spending hours trying to clean up, you can instead use a robot vacuum/mop combo to take care of the dirty work—literally. After a bit of setup, most modern combinations will create a map of your home. You can then set a schedule to specifically tackle trouble spots around the home, like the kitchen.
All of the dirt and debris is deposited in a bag in the dock that can be emptied every few months. They are perfect to use in homes with both hard flooring and carpet.
Just a few years ago, combo devices were prohibitively expensive and had a number of flaws like sometimes getting stuck on cords or running over dog waste. But the technology has gotten even better and the price continues to go down. One of my favorites is the Eufy X10 Pro Omni that I reviewed. It’s a super-strong vacuum and powerful mop. While I still have a traditional vacuum and mop, the robot takes care of 90 percent of my floor cleaning duties.
3 Mowing the Lawn
Another sweaty and messy chore is mowing the lawn. But just like indoors, robotic technology can also help lighten the load.
There are a number of ways to use robot mowers. Some require that you bury a special perimeter wire around the yard so that the mower won’t wander off. Others use precise GPS technology to keep an eye on the exact location. Instead of bagging lawn clippings, robot models will mulch the grass back onto your lawn. They are powered by a rechargeable battery and return to a home base when they need to be charged.
Unlike robot vacuums, robot mowers are not as far along technologically. You’ll pay more than $1,000 at minimum to try one out. But if you have the cash to spend, it can help free up time instead of having to sweat it out keeping the lawn in top shape.
4 Preparing Meals
When dinner time comes, instead of spending money on takeout, smart technology can make cooking easier. You can use smart kitchen devices for different tasks in the kitchen.
One of the most handy ways to use smart technology for cooking includes a smart air fryer and pressure cooker that can take some of the burden off of constantly checking to see if the food is done. You’ll just have an app to keep track of how things are progressing.
With other items, like a smart coffee maker and smart blender, you can use an app or smart home assistant like Alexa to get things started from anywhere in the home.
5 Protecting My Home
Keeping your home and family safe is another great area where smart technology can help. A few decades ago, you’d need an expensive alarm system with a high monthly subscription that could only be installed by a monitoring company. Smart home security has come a long way.
Now, you can add protection starting from the exterior of your home with security cameras that can keep a constant watch on what’s happening. Doorbell cameras can help keep an eye on the front door and help protect from porch piracy. When motion (or even something like a package) is detected, you can receive a notification on your smartphone.
And protection doesn’t stop there. With a smart lock, you can unlock your front with your smartphone or smart speaker and see who else is coming in and out.
Smart security can also extend indoors. The traditional security system has gotten much smarter with motion detectors, contact sensors, and cameras. Systems are also more controllable through a smartphone.
Many smart security systems can also use traditional monitoring for a small monthly fee. Even if you’re not interested in a full-fledged security system, indoor security cameras can also help you keep an eye on what’s happening when away from home.
6 Automating My Smart Home
When using multiple smart home products, you might run into another chore—trying to make the most of all the technology. A perfect way to do that is with a smart speaker. All three major smart home platforms—Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home—offer smart speakers that can tie in with compatible smart home products.
With just a little work creating different automations, you can then use a simple voice command to tie in different products. For example, a quick voice command before you go to bed can lock all of your doors, arm the security system, and dim the lights. The possibilities are almost endless, and a smart speaker helps make automation easy.
While smart home technology is far from perfect, it can help take over some of the most menial chores and give you back time for something more important.