While I'm not a fan of retro ideas about housework falling to women, I have happily embraced one remnant from days of household cleaning past: the apron. While most everyone associates aprons with kitchen work and baking projects, I've found them to be incredibly helpful when cleaning the house. I used to change clothes before tackling a big housecleaning job, but now I just tie on a cute apron, like this Flirty Everyday Housewife Apron ($29) from Etsy seller Momomadeit.


To see another place around the home where I find aprons an essential accessory, as well as many more cute aprons from Etsy sellers, read more.

Another spot I've recently started wearing an apron is in the garden. One advantage to an apron is that it's a lot less clothing to throw in the washer after you're done cleaning or gardening. I wore a dress for planting my garden this weekend, and thanks to my gardening gloves and apron, I didn't have a speck of dirt on me! I admit, it was an experiment initially, but it's one that's become a gardening and cleaning habit. Seriously, anything to prevent my laundry pile from growing makes me that much happier.