How to Maintain a Clean House for Your Family

A clean and tidy house should be a priority to anyone hoping to feel peaceful and cozy at home, and this is best achieved if every member of the family understands his role and does his part.

Families need to remember that children as well as the parents should be reponsible for maintaining a clean house. From the age of two or three children start to mimic their parents by putting their slippers under the bed, and putting away their things. This is a good place to start from to teach them to be proud of their house. Tell your children that you and your husband or wife both work and that you would like to maintain a clean house so that everything does not have to be saved up for one day of the week.

Chores for Children

Draw up a list of chores for the children when they come home from school and post it on the fridge where they can't miss it. The roster should include, for starters, putting something away as soon as they have used it. When it comes to eating, children should be taught to clean up food spills and crumbs on the floor immediately, and to wipe up as soon as they are done eating.
Children should learn to clean up after themselves in the shower, mop the floor, and keep the hand basin and the toilet clean. They should also be expected to take off their uniforms after school and hang them up. Perhaps twice a week the girls can do the dusting and polishing of the furniture, and the boys can take out the garbage and rake up the leaves. Perhaps more obvious, children should be in the habit of picking up all toys and any clothes lying about before going to bed.

Parents' Responsibilities

With the children doing their parts, parents should have a relatively managable list of tasks for keeping a clean house. It is understandable, though, that they will not clean as well as you, and which is why a thorough cleaning is necessary once a week. Start with a thorough vacuuming of all the rooms once a week and dusting of all the high picture frames on the walls. The toilets, bath and shower require more intense cleaing as well.
If the children are doing their part and also have homework to do and need time for play, make sure that they have sandwiches or something to eat after school. Always remember to thank your children and your spouse for being helpful parts of the family!