Maintaining a clean and organised home with kids may seem impossible, but it’s achievable with the right strategies. Children bring joy, energy, and, of course, a fair share of mess. However, with thoughtful planning and teamwork, your home can remain tidy without turning cleaning into a full-time job.
Here are 20+ practical tips to help you keep a clean house even with young ones running around.
1. Declutter Consistently
One of the most effective ways to maintain a clean home with kids is to reduce clutter. Regularly evaluate what you need and what can be donated, recycled, or discarded. When new items, like toys or clothes, enter the home, aim to remove a similar number of old items. This approach prevents overcrowding and ensures every item has a designated place.
2. Schedule Cleaning Times
Instead of cleaning all day, every day, create a cleaning schedule. Daily cleaning tasks, like tidying up after meals or quick 10-minute sweeps of key areas, keep your home in order. Larger, more intensive cleaning can be scheduled weekly or biweekly, depending on your family’s needs. Involve the kids during these cleaning sessions to teach them responsibility and teamwork.
3. Build Small Cleaning Habits
Small daily habits make a big difference. Simple actions like making the bed in the morning, wiping down kitchen counters after cooking, and immediately putting away used items help maintain cleanliness. Children should also be encouraged to adopt these habits, such as putting their toys away after playtime.
4. Separate Tidying from Cleaning
Tidying and cleaning are different tasks. Tying involves restoring things where they belong while cleaning removes dirt and grime. Schedule time for both tasks separately. Tidy up first so you’re not cleaning around clutter, and then tackle cleaning tasks like vacuuming, dusting, or mopping.
5. Assign a Home for Every Item
When every item has a specific home, it’s easier for kids (and adults) to put things away. Label storage boxes and drawers so everyone knows where things belong. If you can’t find a home for an item, consider whether it’s necessary to keep it.
6. Maintain a Donation Bin
Designate a donation bin for outgrown clothes, unused toys, and household items. When the bin is full, donate the contents. This strategy prevents clutter from taking over your home and instils a habit of generosity in your kids.
7. Get the Kids Involved
Kids are more likely to maintain cleanliness if they participate in the process. Assign tasks that correspond with the child’s age, including washing down surfaces, folding clothes, or putting away toys. Younger children can help with simpler tasks, while older ones can take on more responsibility. Teaching children these skills benefits your household and prepares them for independent living.
8. Use Age-Appropriate Chores
Children of all ages can help maintain a clean home. Here are some age-appropriate chores for kids:
- 2-3 years old: Put away toys, put clothes in the hamper, and help with simple tasks like matching socks.
- 4-6 years old: Make their bed, clear dishes after meals, and help set the dinner table.
- 7-9 years old: Sweep floors, sort laundry, load the dishwasher, and remove trash.
- 10+ years old: Vacuum, mop floors, wash dishes, and assist with cooking and laundry.
9. Motivate with Rewards and Incentives
While kids need to learn the value of teamwork, a little incentive goes a long way. Family movie nights, special outings, or an extra bedtime story can reward maintaining a clean home. Avoid bribery and instead frame it as a shared family effort where everyone benefits.
10. Minimise Clothes and Streamline Laundry
Too many clothes mean more laundry and more clutter. Minimise children’s wardrobes to 8-10 daily wear sets per season. This system reduces laundry loads and keeps drawers more manageable. Also, stick to a laundry schedule—for example, washing all clothes on a specific day each week—to prevent laundry from piling up.
11. Use Simple Storage Systems
Avoid overcomplicated storage systems that children can’t maintain. Opt for simple, open storage bins for toys, books, and clothes. Colour-coded or labelled storage is helpful, but keep it straightforward to avoid confusion.
12. Clean As You Go
Cleaning up messes as soon as they happen prevents bigger clean-ups later. Encourage children to wipe spills, put away toys, and return items after use. This habit helps maintain a consistently clean space.
13. Prioritise Key Cleaning Areas
Focus on daily cleaning high-traffic areas like the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. Keeping these areas tidy creates a sense of calm and order. If time is short, prioritise cleaning these spaces over lesser-used areas.
14. Choose Child-Friendly Cleaning Products
Use non-toxic, child-safe cleaning products that kids can safely handle. This approach allows children to participate in cleaning tasks like wiping surfaces, washing windows, and cleaning bathroom sinks.
15. Encourage “One In, One Out” Rule
One old item should be removed for every new item (toy, clothes, gadgets) brought into the home. This strategy keeps the clutter at bay and teaches children the value of moderation and gratitude.
16. Make Cleaning Fun
Turn cleaning into a game by playing music, using timers, or creating mini-challenges. Challenge kids to see who can clean up the most toys in 5 minutes or reward them for completing specific tasks.
17. Have a Family Cleaning Day
Dedicate one day each week to a family-wide cleaning session. Everyone works together to clean, tidy, and organise the house. This shared responsibility promotes teamwork and reduces the burden on one person.
18. Keep Cleaning Supplies Accessible
Store cleaning supplies in places where kids can access them safely. Child-friendly cleaning kits with wipes, sponges, and spray bottles filled with water and mild soap allow children to clean independently.
19. Set the “No Shoes Inside” Rule
Shoes track dirt, mud, and germs into your home. Establish a rule that shoes must be removed at the door and stored in a shoe rack or cubby. This simple step reduces the dirt and debris you need to clean.
20. Limit Daily Toy Use
Limit the number of toys they can play with instead of allowing kids to pull out every toy. Once they’ve played with one set, they must put away one set before taking out another. This reduces clutter and simplifies the cleanup process.
21. Create a Daily Tidy Routine
End each day with a quick 10-minute tidy-up session. Set a timer, have everyone put away toys, straighten rooms, and prepare for the next day. This nightly routine prevents clutter from building up.
22. Lead by Example
Children learn by watching, so if they see parents maintaining cleanliness and order, they’re more likely to follow suit. Model good cleaning habits and explain why keeping a tidy space is important.
Final Thoughts
A clean and organised home with kids is possible with patience, consistency, and teamwork. By following these 20+ tips, you’ll create a space that’s not only clean but also functional, stress-free, and enjoyable for the whole family. Involving children in the process equips them with essential life skills and promotes family unity. So, take a deep breath, rally the troops, and turn house cleaning into a family affair.
