5 Simple Ways to Motivate Your Kids to Clean

Thank you O-Cedar for sponsoring today’s post on how to motivate kids to clean!

Let me count the ways I have told my child to clean her daily mess. I have become a broken record. Sometimes I catch myself sounding like my own mom and that’s when a flood of memories pour through my brain.

So this is what my mom meant when she said, “Just wait until you become a parent. You will understand!”

Here I am repeating the same lines my own mother delivered many years ago.

Since making the decision to become a work-at-home mom I have found it increasingly difficult to keep the house spotless. Add a newborn baby to the mix and it’s a struggle to keep the house clean.

Sometimes I can literally see a trail of items similar to the breadcrumb trail Hansel and Gretal left. Instead of food, it’s an never ending trail of toys, shoes, and outfits that she may have worn for a hot minute.

I don’t remember it being this difficult to keep the house spotless when I worked outside of the house. Perhaps it’s because we weren’t home as much. Or, maybe it’s because I had the means to hire help. (That was a hard service to cut from the budget, but sacrifices had to be made). RIP Maid Service.

Several studies have shown that a cluttered home can lead to depression and anxiety. That’s reason enough to (try) to keep the house clean because parenting is stressful enough.

How can we as moms keep the clean house without feeling overwhelmed and stressed?

Cleaning with small children in the house can feel like it’s a losing battle.

I am sharing a few simple and easy ways to get your kids to clean up no matter their age.

Simple Ways to Get Kids to Clean

Define expectations but be realistic

Be specific when asking kids to clean. Telling a young child to “clean their room” might be too vague. Instead, be detailed on tasks such as put your shoes in the basket and make your bed.

Put it in Writing

A Chore Chart is a great way to keep cleaning organized and on track for everyone in the family. When the days get away from us a list of cleaning tasks can be helpful to stay organized.

Show Praise

You bet your bottom I made my daughter fell like she won a gold medal in cleaning when she mopped our kitchen for the first time. The smile on her face was priceless and she was motivated to clean some more.

Kids need to know they are on the right track by praise and recognition. As adults, we appreciate when our efforts are recognized. That is no different for kids. Make sure they know how appreciative you are when they complete a task.

Plan a Yard Sale

Explain to your child that you are hosting a yard sale and any toys. This tip might be tricky if your child isn’t fond of giving away her toys. Mine seems to always want to suddenly play with a toy she hasn’t picked up in months when she sees me donating it so here lately I have been sneaking items out. However, when you explain that they could earn money to buy other items they seem to agree. We also donate items to others when I don’t have the effort to coordinate a yard sale or sell it online. This teaches kids to be kind and giving while getting rid of the clutter that will result in a tidier home.

Make Cleaning Fun

Sounds impossible but I promise it isn’t. Sometimes I trick my child into cleaning by seeing how fast she can pick her toys up. Then, the next time we try to see if she can beat that time. Sneaky or smart? I say both!

I realize that once she gets older she might not fall for that trick anymore so we will have to find other ways to make cleaning fun.

Creating incentives can help motivate children to clean. Rewards could be an increase in allowance, watching a favorite movie or a special outing. If you are brave perhaps an extended bedtime.

Purchase items at Walmart that make cleaning easier and more fun such as the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System. The second I brought it out, my daughter was obsessed with pumping the water out of the mop into the bucket with the foot pedal. This allows for hands-free wringing which is very convenient.

Because the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop is lightweight with an adjustable handle she was able to clean our kitchen floors.

Mission Accomplished!

Granted, she was under close supervision from myself and her brother, but at least we were able to clean as a family and set a foundation for future opportunities.

Thanks to the splash guard on the bucket all the water stays in the bucket, no splashing. Which translates into less mess for me to clean up.

Also, the deep-cleaning microfiber removes and absorbs tough dirt and grime that my adorable yet messy Labradoodle tracks into the house. Too bad he can’t join in on the cleaning.