My friend and I swapped house-cleaning duties. It kept us motivated and saved us money on a house cleaner.

The author and her friend helped each other clean for a day. Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez My neighbor and I often help each other with cleaning during visits, which makes things easier. We planned to help each other with a dedicated deep-clean. Our plan fell through, but another friend was up for it, and it saved us time and money. My neighbor entered my house one afternoon, greeted by the laundry mound on the family room floor. As her three kids scurried off in different directions to find...