I really like to clean. For the record there are plenty of other things that I don’t like to do. Like fold laundry and put it away. Pull weeds in my garden. Unload the dishwasher.
This past weekend I did a deep cleaning of our family room. I wasn’t expecting it to take quite as long as it did. Mostly because we clean in there every single day. Vacuum every night. Dust every couple days. But when I pulled the couch away from the wall, I was shocked by the amount of dust that was back there. Also small toys seems to have been back there procreating and plotting to take over our home.
What I did do was involve the kids in the cleaning this time. I had them help go through the bookcase and take out some books that we never use and can donate. They went through the small toy baskets and got rid of the broken matchbox cars, put toys back in their proper homes, and decided that some of the baby toys can also go to other homes.
I let them help wash the windows and dust all the bookcases. They replaced the CDs and DVDs into their proper cases and we got rid of the scratched ones that no longer work. They used the Magic Eraser to wash spots off the walls and baseboards. They removed the covers from the throw pillows for washing and vacuumed out the windowsills. They used the crevice tool to vacuum in between the couch cushions.
In short they saw all that was involved to really deep clean a room, something I thought happened magically until I had a house of my own.
And you know what? Having them help made the job easier and more fun, for me anyway. Over the past week I have noticed that they seem to have a vested interest in the upkeep too.
I love working/cleaning with my kids. Especially when my eight year old starts taking charge and telling me what to do!
Comment by The Lazy Organizer — April 30, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Having the kids help does make it go faster and makes it easier. When my oldest son helps me clean up the living room he tries to make sure it stays that way. It’s fun to watch him too.
Comment by Brandi — May 9, 2008 @ 2:19 am
I also clean with my kids. I used to clean while they were at school, but now I wait for them to come home and help. It helps that they no longer think there is a “cleaning fairy” that comes and and works all day, and they help more. I truly don’t enjoy cleaning, cooking etc… but for my family I do it!
Comment by Jenny — May 14, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
I recently just 3 months ago started making the kids each responsible for a general chore plus the clean up of their rooms and other daily task’s. Even the two year old helps and I have noticed a much cleaner home! If they have to clean it they are less likely to throw that toy on the floor.I then do a deep cleaning on Sunday. The kids hate Sunday after brunch.
I also have instigated a new rule. You have five minutes from the time I spot it to get it up or lose it for a month or forever depending on the item.I have a toy Jail in a extra closet in the hallway I keep locked. Up on a very high shelf are about two dozen toys and favorite items that were jailed for loitering. Its a bit of a game now. But the kids get a crack out of explaining that their toy(dinosaurs and baby dolls) loitered in my kitchen and got a month in jail from the judge. If you keep it fun or quirky things work much better.
Comment by Kym-berly — May 16, 2008 @ 10:13 pm