Roomie Cafe for cleaning and chores
Fifteen minutes of cleaning, with friends doing theirs
Roomie Cafe is a free focus timer you share with friends. Set a short timer for one room, see who else is in a session right now and write what you got done when it ends.
- No webcam
- Nothing to book
- Free, no session limit
How it works
Pick one zone
The sink, the desk, the pile on the chair. Choose a focus area like Home and a short length. Fifteen minutes is plenty to start.
Clean while friends are on it
See who else is in a session right now. There is no camera, so nobody sees your flat.
Say what you did
One line when the timer ends, like dishes done and a bag for the charity shop. Friends can cheer you on.
Why chores go easier with someone around
Simple, familiar tasks tend to go faster when other people are present, an effect psychologists have measured since the 1960s. Cleaning is about as familiar as a task gets, which may be why so many people call a friend or put on a clean with me video before they start.
The hardest part is usually the first minute. A short timer with friends in view makes that minute easier, and once you are moving the rest of the room tends to follow.
Decluttering one drawer at a time
Clearing a whole home in one weekend rarely happens. One drawer or one shelf per session does.
Make a focus area called Decluttering and set a weekly goal. If you share a home, invite your housemates or partner into the same area, so the time you each put in adds up to one total.
What you get
Short sessions
Pick any length from 5 to 90 minutes. A quick tidy and a full clean both fit.
The timer on your Lock Screen
On iPhone, Live Activities keep the time left in view while your hands are busy.
Focus Shield on iPhone
Block the apps that turn a quick break into half an hour of scrolling while a session runs.
A shared home area
Housemates or partners share one focus area, see each other in a session and work toward one weekly goal.
Cleaning days on a calendar
Every session fills a square on your heat calendar, so you can see when the place last got attention.
Private when you want
Make your account private, and people have to ask before they can follow you.
Free on the web and on iOS
Everything you need is free, with no limit on sessions, on the web and on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Android is coming. Supporter is an optional subscription for people who want to fund what gets built next.
Questions about cleaning
Is there a free cleaning motivation app?
Roomie Cafe is free with no limit on sessions. Set a short timer, see who else is in a session right now and write one line about what you did when it ends.
Is there an app to clean with a friend?
On Roomie Cafe you and a friend each start a timer and see each other in a session, wherever you both live. Nobody needs to be on a call.
What is body doubling for cleaning?
Body doubling means doing a task while someone else is present, in the room, on a call or online. For chores, that company often makes it easier to start and to keep going.
How long should a cleaning session be?
Many people start with 15 to 20 minutes for one zone and stop there or start another. Roomie Cafe sessions run from 5 to 90 minutes.
Can housemates share a cleaning goal?
Yes. Invite them into a shared focus area for your home. Everyone's time adds up to one total, and you can set a goal for the week together.
Do I have to show my home on camera?
No. Roomie Cafe has no camera and no microphone. Others see your name, what you are working on and your timer.