Keeping a clean home with kids and/or a husband can feel like an impossible task. No matter how much you nag, plead, or threaten, it seems like you’re always the one picking up dirty clothes, washing dishes, and scrubbing toilets.
But having a clean house is important – not just for your sanity, but for your family’s health and wellbeing. The good news is there are some clever tricks you can use to get the other members of your household to pitch in more often.
In this article, we’ll share 12 genius life hacks that will get your kids and/or husband to help clean up the house consistently without having to ask them repeatedly. From assigning specific chores, to making tasks fun, to offering rewards, these tips will help transform even the messiest family members into cleaning machines.
With a little creativity and patience, you’ll soon find you have extra sets of hands to lighten the household workload. So read on to learn simple yet effective ways to get your whole family involved in maintaining a tidy home.
First up is to create a chore chart that clearly assigns each person including yourself specific cleaning tasks that are their responsibility each week. Make sure to rotate chores periodically so no one feels stuck doing the same hated task like scrubbing the toilet every week.
Another great hack is to turn cleaning into a competition by setting a timer and seeing who can tidy up their assigned room the fastest. The winner gets a small prize like getting to choose dessert or an extra hour of iPad time. You can also get creative by playing music during cleaning time that everyone gets to take turns picking. Letting everyone listen to their favorite songs makes cleaning feel more like a dance party.
For the times when chores feel extra tedious, inject some fun into the process by turning it into a game. Broom hockey in the kitchen, basketball shootout contests with balled up socks into laundry baskets, or races to put toys away the fastest make getting the job done feel less painful. And providing plenty of labeled storage bins and baskets makes cleaning up quick and easy since there’s a designated spot for everything.
To really get into a groove, schedule monthly deep cleans as a team project and do something fun afterwards like going out for ice cream to celebrate your hard work. Offering small rewards for completed chores is another great motivator – let kids exchange a filled jar of poker chips earned for helping tidy up for prizes. You can also keep supplies like brooms, mops and cleaners easily accessible around the house so no one has an excuse not to help out.
When it’s chore time, set a timer and challenge each other to see how much you can tidy in short bursts like during TV commercial breaks. Or, create mini-challenges – the first one to empty the dishwasher or dust the entire living room wins bragging rights. And don’t forget to lead by example – kids and husbands will mimic what they see, so make sure you are chip in and not just standing by idly directing others. Model tidying up without being asked.
Lastly, it’s important to give lots of praise and compliments for each effort, even if it’s just a few things getting picked up. A high-five, thumbs up and a sincere “thank you!” goes a long way toward motivation and self-esteem. With these genius life hacks, you’ll be on your way to a clean house and increased family cooperation.
If Your Looking For A Safe, Natural, and Effective Way To Clean Your Home, Check Out These Homemade Cleaner Recipes Made With Amrita Pure OrganicLemon Essential Oil. Goodbye Chemicals!
8 DIY Recipes Using Lemon Essential Oil To Clean Your Entire Home
Here’s all you’ll need to make all 8 of these all-natural, non-toxic cleaners. You probably have most (if not all) of this already in your kitchen:
- Spray bottles — glass or certain types of plastic (PET and HDPE) work great
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Unscented liquid Castile soap
- Olive oil
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cornstarch
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Melaleuca Essential Oil
- Kills fungi, viruses & bacteria
- Relieves stress
- Stimulates immunity
- Microfiber cloth
- Jar
Mold & Mildew Cleaner
To make: to a spray bottle add 1 cup white vinegar, 15 drops lemon essential oil, and 15 drops melaleuca essential oil.
To use: shake to combine, spray on surface to be cleaned, wipe with microfiber cloth, spray again with cleaner and allow to air dry.
Soft Scrub
To make: to a glass bowl add 3 Tbsp. unscented liquid Castile soap, 1 cup baking soda, and 15 drops lemon essential oil.
To use: mix together into a paste, take a small amount on a damp microfiber cloth, and scrub the surface. If the stains are really tough, let the mixture sit for a few minutes. Store the remaining soft scrub mixture in a jar
Daily Shower Spray
To make: to a spray bottle add 2 cups distilled water, 2 Tbsp. unscented liquid Castile soap, and 10 drops lemon essential oil and 15 drops melaleuca essential oil.
To use: shake to combine, spray it on shower doors and tile every day after you shower and you should have to clean a whole lot less often.
Wood Floor Cleaner
To make: to a spray bottle add 2 cups distilled water, 2 Tbsp. white vinegar, and 10 drops lemon essential oil.
To use: shake to combine, squirt a little on the floor, and mop up with a damp mop.
Dusting Spray
To make: to a spray bottle add 1 cup distilled water, ¼ cup white vinegar, 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and 15 drops lemon essential oil.
To use: shake to combine, spray on surface to be cleaned, wipe clean with microfiber cloth.
Wood Polish
To make: to a spray bottle add ¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup olive oil, and 10 drops lemon essential oil.
To use: shake to combine, apply to a microfiber cloth, and wipe wood surface clean. Repeat every 2-3 months or as often as needed.
All-Purpose Cleaner (great for counters)
To make: to a spray bottle add ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 ½ cups distilled water, and 25 drops lemon essential oil.
To use: shake to combine, spray on surface, and wipe clean
Mirror & Window Cleaner
To make: to a spray bottle add ½ cup white vinegar, ½ cup rubbing alcohol, 1Tbsp cornstarch, and 10 drops lemon essential oil.
To use: shake and spray on windows, mirror, or glass. Wipe clean with a lint-free cloth.
In Conclusion:
Keeping a clean home with a family can sometimes seem like an uphill battle. No matter how often you plead and nag, the mess always seems to reappear thanks to messy kids and partners. But having a tidy living space is important for your mental health and provides a hygienic environment.
The good news is you don’t have to take on the household cleaning alone. With some creativity and patience, it’s possible to get the whole family consistently pitching in. By implementing genius life hacks like chore charts, gamifying tasks, offering rewards, and leading by example, you can turn everyone into cleaning machines.
While it may take time for new habits to form, stick with these tactics and continue encouraging each small effort. Establish a routine and make tidying up a regular part of your family’s schedule.
With regular praising and positive reinforcement, you’ll start to see results. Soon your children and husband will become more conscientious about picking up after themselves.
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