Buzz
Ditch the traditional cleaning tools and get your home organized with the help of your iPad!
LWA/Photographer's Choice/Getty ImagesIf you own an iPad, you're likely aware of the thousands of apps available that can turn your device into a versatile tool, from a sketchpad to a personal cinema. While it's commonly used for entertainment, your iPad can also assist with home organization, helping you tackle daily tasks, maintain lists, and manage activities.
When searching for the most effective iPad apps, users look for tools that are reliable, easy to use, and efficient. We all desire apps that can simplify our daily routines, but who has the time to sift through endless options? Look no further—our list of the top iPad apps for home organization will help you tidy your home, declutter your bookshelf, and more.
Hosting a dinner party but too busy to shop? Use the app on the next page to whip up gourmet meals using ingredients you already have in your kitchen!
10: Epicurious
The title "Epicurious" merges two concepts: "epicure," a person who enjoys fine food and wine, and "curious," someone always eager to explore new things.
9: iRewardChart
Getting kids involved in household chores isn’t always easy.
Kraig Scarbinsky/Digital Vision/ThinkstockFor parents with kids, finding inventive ways to get them to help around the house, from doing the dishes to tidying their rooms, can be a real challenge. While traditional methods like posters and smiley-face stickers might be outdated, iRewardChart is an innovative and kid-friendly iPad app. It motivates children to complete household chores by offering fun rewards, such as "one hour of television" or a "$5.00 allowance." Parents can track their children's progress, giving praise or rewards for a job well done, like a chocolate chip cookie or a well-deserved compliment.
8: Grocery IQ
We've all been there: you make a thorough grocery list but still forget essentials like toilet paper. With the Grocery IQ iPad app, your shopping experience becomes more efficient and stress-free. Simply add items to your list, and use the app's massive database to quickly build your shopping list. You can also add specifics such as quantity, size, and price, while the app organizes your list by store aisle to help you avoid aimlessly wandering the supermarket.
Grocery IQ can also help you save money! The app includes an integrated, frequently updated coupon book, letting you print coupons at home or upload them directly to a store loyalty card.
Research shows that the longer you're in the grocery store, the more money you're likely to spend. Shoppers tend to spend between 50 cents and $1 extra for every additional minute spent in the store after the first 30 minutes.
7: Remember the Milk
Forget about the traditional way of tying a ribbon around your finger. With this clever iPad app, you can keep reminders in a modern way!Remember the Milk is a handy iPad app that helps you stay on top of your daily tasks. Carry your to-do list everywhere, organize appointments, deadlines, and household chores with ease. Use the color-coded system to prioritize important tasks, and create custom tags to quickly locate specific notes related to your to-do list. This app can send reminders via email, text, or instant message for upcoming deadlines—just make sure the app knows your time zone to avoid missing any crucial reminders!
6: BillMinder
If you're prone to forgetting rent payments or missing due dates for your utility bills, BillMinder is here to help. Keep track of all your bills, organized by due date, so you never incur a late fee again. BillMinder sends automatic reminders when deadlines are near, and its AutoPay feature allows you to set up automated payments with passcode protection. You can even monitor your spending habits using BillMinder's charts and graphs, then apply that data to create a monthly budget that helps you save money.
Create two separate budget lists—one for essentials and the other for non-essentials. By keeping these categories distinct, you can easily identify areas to cut back on if needed, helping you save more money.
5: Zinio
Your favorite magazines are going digital, and now you can read them conveniently on your iPad!Zinio is a digital magazine e-store and reader that allows you to easily read, store, and organize thousands of popular magazine titles. With Zinio, you can download and read both purchased subscriptions and single issues. The app offers interactive graphics, animations, and videos that traditional print publications and e-readers can't match. Zinio also archives past issues by author, date, or title, eliminating the clutter of paper magazines. Enjoy a better reading experience and contribute to a paperless, eco-friendly lifestyle. Plus, it syncs your digital library across multiple devices like the iPhone, so you’re always just a tap away from your next read.
4: Penultimate
When you don’t have a pen and paper nearby, Penultimate is the perfect iPad app for sketching, drawing, and writing with the simple swipe of your finger. Jot a quick reminder to pick up the kids from practice and watch your notes transform into legible text, unique to the app. You can also create a map with directions for a friend, or write a quick note to call someone later. Planning a room redesign? Sketch out the new layout before moving any furniture. Choose from graph, lined, or plain paper backgrounds, and if you make an error, just use the eraser tool to fix it—just like you would with a pencil on paper.
The oldest known drawings can be found in the Chauvet Cave, France. These prehistoric artworks, which depict mammoths, bears, horses, lions, rhinoceroses, and other animals, are estimated to be over 30,000 years old.
3: HomeRoutines
Housework may not be glamorous, but it's a necessary part of life.Keep your home in tip-top shape with the HomeRoutines iPad app. Build a personalized routine checklist for the tasks that maintain your home's cleanliness, such as taking out the trash, mopping floors, and changing bed sheets. HomeRoutines will notify you when it’s time to get things done. The app's checklists reset automatically, and it also features a to-do list for smaller tasks like dusting the ceiling fan or cleaning the cat's litter box. You’ll earn a shiny gold star for every completed task, and your home won't be the only thing sparkling with this helpful app!
2: Kindle
A towering stack of books, magazines, and newspapers can quickly take over a living room. Instead of battling cramped shelves, simply download the Kindle app on your iPad! With this app, you can store your entire library on a user-friendly, full-color interface, giving you the ability to carry all your reading materials wherever you go. Access over 950,000 books, and preview the first chapter of most titles for free before committing to a purchase. Organize your digital library by title or author, create bookmarks, jot down notes, and highlight passages with ease.
Unfamiliar with the word obstreperous? No worries! Kindle's built-in dictionary can help you find the meaning of any word. You can also dive deeper using Google and Wikipedia links. Plus, Amazon's Whispersync technology keeps your bookmarks, notes, and the last page you read synchronized across all devices, ensuring you’ll never lose your spot again—no matter which device you're on!
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. holds more than 700,000 volumes, including the first book ever printed in North America, "The Bay Psalm Book," which was published in 1640.
1: TaskRabbit
That's right—this app will actually hire someone to handle all those chores you don't have time for!There are days when it feels like there simply aren't enough hours to get everything done. If you've ever wished for a personal assistant to handle some of your daily tasks, the TaskRabbit app is here to make that wish come true! Post any task or errand you need help with—whether it's picking up the dry cleaning, raking leaves, or donating furniture to a local charity—on the TaskRabbit platform. If you're too busy to type, you can voice-record your request and upload photos at your convenience. Add your name and the price you're willing to pay, and one of TaskRabbit's thousands of pre-screened, background-checked workers will take care of it for you. TaskRabbit is available in select cities across the country, so be sure to check if the service is available in your area before planning to use the app.
