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Handiwork
February 19, 2026 at 03:16 PM
Initial version
Housework (sometimes referred to as Handiwork) is one of the 27 skills in inZOI. It governs a Zoi's ability to maintain their home through cleaning, repairing broken items, refurbishing deteriorating furniture, and crafting custom pieces. A higher Housework level means faster cleaning, more reliable repairs, and the ability to create furniture that can be sold for Meow.
Unlike many skills that focus on a single activity, Housework is broadly useful for everyday life. Broken electronics left unrepaired can cause fires, dirty rooms make Zois uncomfortable, and deteriorating furniture loses its visual appeal. Keeping up with home maintenance is not optional — it is a core part of managing a household. The Housework skill ties into the Neat Freak ambition (under Stay Healthy), which specifically requires developing cleaning proficiency.
Cleaning is the most common way to raise the Housework skill and is something your Zoi will encounter daily. Several cleaning activities contribute to skill progression:
Vacuuming: Interact with a vacuum cleaner or select the clean action from your Zoi's menu. Your Zoi will move through the property cleaning rooms, which sparkle when complete.
Washing Dishes: After meals, dirty dishes pile up in the sink. Washing them provides Housework experience and prevents the kitchen from becoming unsanitary.
Doing Laundry: Select the wash option on a washing machine to start a load. Laundry is a regular source of Housework experience since clothes get dirty frequently.
Cleaning Bathtubs and Showers: Bathroom fixtures accumulate grime over time and need periodic scrubbing.
Wiping Tables and Counters: Surfaces get dirty from food preparation and daily use. A quick wipe keeps the room's cleanliness score high.
Your Zois will often clean the house automatically based on their personality traits and needs. Zois who are naturally tidy will initiate cleaning on their own, while messier personalities may need manual direction. If a Zoi's comfort drops due to a dirty environment, they may refuse to perform other activities until the mess is addressed.
Higher-quality cleaning tools are faster and more effective. The Premium Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, which unlocks at Housework Level 3, cleans rooms more efficiently than the basic vacuum. Upgrading your tools is worthwhile as soon as they become available.
Electronics and appliances break down over time in inZOI. Computers, televisions, kitchen appliances, and plumbing fixtures can all malfunction. Leaving broken items unattended is risky — faulty electronics can cause fires if not repaired promptly.
To repair a broken item, click on it and select the "Repair" option. Your Zoi will attempt the fix, but repairs are not guaranteed to succeed. The success rate depends on your Housework skill level — a low-level Zoi may fail the repair and need to try again, while a high-level Zoi can fix almost anything on the first attempt. Failed repairs waste time but do not make the item worse.
Each successful repair provides Housework experience. Repairing items is one of the more efficient ways to raise the skill quickly since broken objects appear naturally during gameplay. Rather than dreading breakdowns, treat them as free training opportunities.
If you do not want to risk a failed repair or your Zoi's Housework level is too low, you can hire a professional technician through the Pocket Market for 100 Meow. The paid service has a 100% success rate — the technician always fixes the item on the first try. However, using the service means your Zoi does not gain any Housework experience from the repair.
For players who are focused on skill development, it is better to attempt repairs manually and save the paid service for emergencies, like when a broken appliance is about to cause a fire and your Zoi keeps failing the repair.
Furniture deteriorates with regular use in inZOI. Chairs, tables, beds, and other items gradually lose their condition over time, eventually appearing visibly worn down. Deteriorated furniture makes rooms look messy and can negatively affect your Zoi's comfort and mood.
The only way to restore deteriorating furniture is to refurbish it. Click on the piece of furniture and scroll down to the "Refurbish" interaction. Refurbishing costs a variable amount of Meow depending on the item and the extent of the damage. The interaction requires Housework Level 2 or higher.
Refurbishing provides Housework experience in addition to restoring the item. It is a worthwhile investment since replacing furniture with new items from the store costs significantly more than a simple refurbishment. Keep an eye on item condition indicators and refurbish early to prevent cumulative degradation.
As the Housework skill grows, your Zoi gains access to furniture crafting via two special items available in Build Mode:
Furniture Workbench: A dedicated crafting station where your Zoi can build custom tables, chairs, computer desks, and light fixtures from scratch. Place the workbench on your lot and interact with it to see available blueprints. Crafted furniture can be placed in your home or sold on the Pocket Market for Meow.
3D Printer: A high-tech crafting station that lets you create unique furniture and accessories from uploaded images. For best results, use images with plain backgrounds — JPEGs work well for fully 3D objects, while PNGs with transparent backgrounds are better for flat decorative items.
Crafted furniture provides dual benefits: it raises the Housework skill and produces items with real economic value. Selling custom furniture on the Pocket Market can be a profitable side business, especially at higher skill levels where the quality (and therefore price) of crafted items improves.
Housework experience is not limited to your Zoi's home. If your Zoi works at certain jobs, such as at a Deli or Burger Shop, performing cleaning tasks during shifts also contributes to the skill. This makes Housework one of the few skills that can progress passively while your Zoi is at work, without any extra effort from the player.
As the Housework skill progresses through its 10 levels, certain items and abilities become available:
Level 2: Unlock the Refurbish interaction for deteriorating furniture.
Level 3: Unlock the Premium Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for purchase in Build Mode. This upgraded vacuum cleans rooms faster and more thoroughly than the basic model.
Level 7: Unlock the Prestige Front Load Washing Machine. An improved appliance that handles laundry more efficiently.
Higher levels also improve the success rate of repairs, the quality of crafted furniture, and the overall speed of cleaning activities. A Level 10 Housework Zoi can maintain a large household with minimal effort and produce furniture valuable enough to serve as a primary income source.
Do not ignore broken electronics. A malfunctioning computer or stove can start a fire if left unrepaired, potentially destroying valuable items or even killing a Zoi.
Hire the 100-Meow repair service only in emergencies. Manual repairs build your skill, and the cost of the service adds up quickly if used frequently.
Invest in better cleaning tools as they unlock. The Premium Cordless Vacuum at Level 3 saves significant time on daily housekeeping.
Refurbish furniture early before damage accumulates. Prevention is cheaper than replacement.
The Furniture Workbench is a solid income source at higher levels. Craft items during downtime and sell them on the Pocket Market for steady Meow.
If your Zoi is uncomfortable, check whether the house is dirty first. Low cleanliness is one of the most common causes of the discomfort debuff, which prevents other activities from progressing effectively.
Combine Housework training with daily life rather than grinding it separately. Dishes, laundry, and minor repairs happen naturally — just make sure your Zoi is doing them manually rather than hiring services.
