5 Tips for Getting Your Kids Involved in Bathroom Clean Up

School’s out for the summer, which means the kids are home all day long and making even more messes than ever before. Although getting kids to help out with chores can seem like a chore in and of itself, it doesn’t have to be. With a few careful product selections and some creativity, children of all ages can help with bathroom clean up.

1) Choose Your Cleaning Products Carefully: Since most cleaning products are filled with harmful ingredients it’s important to make sure the products that you’re using are safe. The easiest and most cost-effective way to ensure the safety of each ingredient is to make a cleaning solution yourself. You can use straight vinegar in a spray bottle for easy cleaning or whip up a mixture of water, castile soap, baking soda, and tea tree and/or sweet orange essential oils. Easy peasy!

2) Make it a Game: The safest and easiest way to get your kids involved in clean-up is to teach them to keep the bathroom clutter-free. The key to a lasting clutter-free bathroom is to make it fun and what is more fun than pretending to be a teeny tiny squirrel stashing away their “nuts” for winter? Give each of your children a designated “nest” (drawer or bin under the sink) and let them go to work collecting and hiding their “nuts” for later use. Teaching your children to put away their things ensures your bathroom stays clutter-free and also means you have one less step to complete when it comes time for a deep clean.

3) Create a Cleaning Checklist: Of course, creating a checklist for your three-year-old isn’t going to get you anywhere, but for school-aged children, a cleaning checklist can give them a sense of accomplishment and responsibility. If you’re just introducing chores for the first time, start small. You don’t want them to feel overwhelmed and lose interest. Try starting with four or five easy tasks such as wiping down the countertops, scrubbing the toothpaste off the sink, and restocking the toilet paper rolls. It’s important to make sure that the chores are age-appropriate and safe. While older children can help with cleaning the toilets and emptying the wastebasket, younger children should stick to safer tasks like restocking supplies and wiping things down with a homemade cleaning solution.

4) Show-and-Tell: Anyone with children will tell you that cleaning when the kids are out of the house is the most efficient way to get things done. That being said, kids learn best by watching and doing, so it can be beneficial to include them from time to time. It’s important to show them that everyone gets involved in cleaning rather than offloading it solely on them. By showing your children that you also squeegee the shower or put down the toilet seat after each use, they’ll see that it’s a family duty rather than their own personal chore.

5) Switch it Up: Just like adults, kids get tired of doing the same chores over and over again. Try switching up their chores every few weeks to keep them interested and expand their bathroom cleaning repertoire (your future self will thank you). Another fun way to mix it up is to write different chores on popsicle sticks and get your kids to pick three each week. The more creative and fun you make it, the more likely your little ones will think it’s something to look forward to rather than dread.

Although kids might not get the job done exactly the way we would do it, getting them involved in cleaning early will only benefit you down the road. Creating a game out of everyday chores will make them more enjoyable for your kids and yourself. Test out your creativity this weekend and see how many bathroom tasks your kids can help you cross off your list!