Let’s face it. No one looks forward to spring cleaning. The whole family made this mess, and it’s time for the whole family to get involved in cleaning it up. Fair is fair, right? It’s a great opportunity to teach your children responsibility and cleanliness for their future. Plus many hands make light work, so it will go faster and easier, plus you may even have a little fun at the same time!
Children Five and under
Little ones love to help out – it’s only when they get older that they realize cleaning isn’t as fun as playing video games or going to the mall! Arm them with age-appropriate tasks to make them part of the project.
- Starting around age three (or even younger, depending on your child), kids should be able to wipe windows (as far as they can reach, anyway) and baseboards.
- Give them a rag and a spray bottle of water. They don’t have to know it’s not a “real/chemical” cleaning agent. Appropriately scaled tools help as well. You can even shorten an old mop or broom handle to make it kid size and get them excited.
- Cleaning out closets, drawers, and cupboards is a big part of spring cleaning, and anything that assists you in paring down and tidying up is great. Young kids can be a great help here, too. Task them with putting all the giveaway shoes you’ve sorted in a box or trash bag or boxing up any errant items on a coat or storage closet floor for you to look through later.
- Your child can probably also handle – and have fun with – a mini vacuum that’s battery operated. Vacuuming along the floor in closets that have been cleaned out and in places they may be able to reach easier than adults will be helpful and also allow them to feel the pride of a job well done.
- Don’t hesitate to let them get under their bed and clean out clothes, toys, and stuffed animals that have gathered there. Laundry baskets or boxes for keeping, trashing, washing, and donating will help them get through the process in an organized manner.
Adolescents
Depending on the age of your kids, they can help with a multitude of tasks
- Hand your son or daughter the hand vacuum and let them go at the couch cushions. The dust, crumbs, and dog hair that’s collected there will have met its match.
- Challenge them to clean out and reorganize drawers and cabinets throughout the house.
- Kids this age may also be able to use other “real” cleaning products – but keep them non-toxic. Children shouldn’t be exposed to the chemicals in many commercial cleaners, so arm them with a non-product like Simple Green – or make your own cleaning product – and then let them loose on the bathrooms or kitchen.
- Dusting and polishing furniture is another task they can tackle.
- A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can be a great tool for a child to clean fingerprints and other stains off of walls, windows, baseboards, and appliances. Gloves will help keep their fingers safe.
Teenagers
Teens can handle just about any cleaning task; your biggest challenge may be overcoming their resistance (or attitude or laziness). Offering incentives like extra computer or phone time may help.
- They can clean and organize the garage.
- Shampoo the living room carpet.
- Restore order to a jumbled linen closet.
Keep everyone motivated
No matter who’s doing what, make it more tolerable. At some point, working on a parent’s ‘team’ loses its appeal. Encourage kids to take pride in their work, and they will if you truly let them own the job…and make it a big one.
- Playing your favorite music (or at least music you can all agree on) while you’re cleaning can make it more fun. Invite an impromptu dance party to keep it lively.
- You can also make it fun, or at least inspire the competitive nature of your kids, by adding in challenges and games. Set a timer and the child who has hung up more clothes or folded more of their giveaway clothes into boxes receives a small prize. Be sure to emphasize that all cleaning has to be done well so no corners are cut!
- When the chores are done, schedule a family treat. Whether it’s pizza for lunch or an evening film-fest, you’ll get better results (and sweeter attitudes) if there’s a payoff at the end of the day.
Keeping a clean house is important from comfort and your family’s physical and mental health to easier upkeep and maintenance as well as a higher market value when it comes time to sell. For more tips and tricks, call Helen today at 847.967.0022 or email [email protected].