16 Phrasal Verbs Related to Housework

16 Phrasal Verbs Related to Housework (with Meanings & Examples)

Housework is full of phrasal verbs — and native speakers use them constantly when talking about cleaning, organising, repairs, and everyday maintenance. Instead of learning them in isolation, it’s far more effective to learn them by task. Let’s look at 16 common phrasal verbs related to housework, grouped by use and illustrated with natural examples.

Cleaning and Tidying

Clean up

Meaning: to make a place tidy by removing dirt or mess.

• We need to clean up the living room before the guests arrive.
• Can you help me clean up after dinner?

Sweep up

Meaning: to remove dust or dirt using a broom.

• I’ll sweep up the leaves on the patio.
• The children spilled crumbs everywhere, so I need to sweep them up.

Wipe down

Meaning: to clean a surface using a cloth or sponge.

• Don’t forget to wipe down the kitchen counters.
• She wiped down the shelves before putting the books back.

Throw out

Meaning: to get rid of something you no longer want.

• Please throw out the expired milk.
• He finally threw out those old magazines.

Wash up

Meaning: to wash dishes or clean your hands and face.

• I’ll wash up the plates after lunch.
• He washed up before sitting down to eat.

Organising and Storage

Put away

Meaning: to return something to its proper place.

• The kids need to put away their toys.
• Put the dishes away before they pile up.

Pack up

Meaning: to gather things and prepare them for storage or moving.

• Let’s pack up the decorations after the party.
• They packed up the house before the movers arrived.

Sort out

Meaning: to organise items or deal with a problem.

• I need to sort out the laundry by colour.
• She sorted out the cupboard and threw away old food.

Repairs and Improvements

Fix up

Meaning: to repair or improve something, often making it look better.

• They fixed up the spare room before renting it out.
• He fixed up the old table instead of buying a new one.

Touch up

Meaning: to make small improvements or repairs.

• I need to touch up the paint near the door.
• The carpenter touched up the edges of the shelves.

Put together

Meaning: to assemble something from separate parts.

• We put together the new wardrobe last night.
• She put the furniture together without instructions.

Daily Maintenance

Turn on / turn off

Meaning: to start or stop a device or appliance.

• Remember to turn off the lights before bed.
• I’ll turn on the heating — it’s freezing.

Warm up

Meaning: to make something warmer.

• I’ll warm up the soup for dinner.
• The room warmed up quickly once the heater was on.

Cool down

Meaning: to become cooler or less hot.

• Let the oven cool down before cleaning it.
• The room will cool down once we open the windows.

Set up

Meaning: to arrange or prepare something for use.

• She set up the table for dinner.
• I need to set up the Wi-Fi before working from home.

When learning phrasal verbs related to housework, think in actions, not translations.

Picture yourself:

• cleaning up
• putting things away
• fixing something up

That mental image makes the phrasal verb stick — and helps you use it naturally in speaking and writing.

Do the quiz to perfect your knowledge

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