Keeping a clean and tidy home can be a challenge, especially when you have kids. Between work, school runs, and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to find time to keep on top of everything. One way to make life a little easier is to create a cleaning and chore schedule for all the family. With everyone pitching in, keeping the house clean and tidy is less daunting.
Related: Age-appropriate chores for kids
Why should I use a schedule for household chores?
There are plenty of reasons to use a home chore schedule. For one, it takes the pressure off one person in the family doing all the work. If everyone knows that they have to do their fair share around the house, then it won't always be left to mom or dad to pick up the slack. This can be a huge weight off your shoulders, especially if you're working full-time as a parent.
A schedule can also help to teach kids about responsibility. By assigning them specific tasks to do each week, they'll start to understand that it's important to contribute to the running of the household. This can be a valuable life lesson that will serve them well as they grow up.
A schedule can keep the whole family on track. If everyone knows what needs to be done, then it'll be done on time. This can make your home a more pleasant place to be while saving you time and energy.
Different types of cleaning and chore schedules
There are different types of schedules, so decide which one works best for your family.
Weekly cleaning schedule example:
- Monday: Dusting and vacuuming
- Tuesday: Do laundry and wipe down surfaces
- Wednesday: Fold and pack laundry
- Thursday: Kitchen cleaning and dishes
- Friday: Clean the bathrooms
- Saturday: Take the trash out and organize the house
- Sunday: Day off!
This is a good option to make sure all major chores are taken care of on a regular basis. It can include tasks such as vacuuming, dusting, mopping floors, wiping down surfaces, tidying up clutter, doing the laundry, taking the garbage out, and cleaning toilets/bathrooms. Assign each person a specific day to do their chores, so everything gets done.
Monthly cleaning schedule example:
- Week 1: Clean the shower and bathroom
- Week 2: Clean out the fridge and deep-clean the oven
- Week 3: Cleaning the cushions and changing the bedding
- Week 4: Cleaning fittings
A monthly schedule is ideal if you want to focus on deep-cleaning tasks that don't need to be done as often. This can include descaling the shower, cleaning the oven and furniture, dusting light fittings, vacuuming under the furniture, cleaning out the fridge, and wiping down light switches and woodwork. By spreading these jobs out over a month, you won't have to do them all at once and everyone will still have time to do their other chores.
How to create a cleaning chore schedule
Creating a home chores schedule that works for your family is all about finding a system that suits you. Here are a few steps you can follow:
- Decide what chores need to be done: Make a list of all the cleaning and chores that need to be done around your home. Be sure to include everything, no matter how big or small.
- Decide how often these chores need to be done: Once you've got your list of chores, you'll need to decide how often they need to be done. This will depend on how many people live in your home, how tidy you like to keep things, and what rooms you use the most.
- Delegate chores across the family: Be sure to take into account each person's ability and the time they have available when delegating. For example, if you have young children, assign them tasks that don't require too much time or effort and are age-appropriate.
- Create a cleaning schedule that works for the whole family: Figure out when each person has time to do their tasks and then slot them into the schedule accordingly.
How do I delegate chores to my kids?
Dividing chores between your kids is a great way to teach responsibility while freeing up some time for you. It's important to make sure that the chores you assign are appropriate for their age and ability.
Younger children can help with tasks such as making their bed, dusting, putting away their toys, or setting the table. Older children can help with vacuuming, mopping floors, doing the laundry, or taking out the garbage.
Top tips when creating a cleaning & chore schedule
It can be difficult to know where to start making a home chores schedule, so here are some of our top tips:
- If you can’t fit all the tasks in, prioritize: Not every single chore needs to be done every week, so if you can’t fit them all in then prioritize the most important ones. For example, doing the laundry is more important than cleaning out the fridge.
- Think about how you can delegate tasks fairly: One way to do this is to give each person a task that they are responsible for each week.
- Be realistic with expectations: When creating a schedule for household chores, it’s important to be realistic. If you have young children then you might not be able to expect them to do as much as older children or adults.
- Use a chore app to help kids keep track of their chores: There are lots of great chore apps out there that are a great way to motivate kids and help them stay on track.
- Consider using allowance money as a reward for completing chores: If you’re struggling to get your kids to do their chores, then consider using allowance as a reward. This can be a great motivator and can teach your children the value of money and hard work.
- Don’t be too strict with timings: If someone is busy with school or work, they might not be able to do their chores at the same time as everyone else. Be flexible and willing to adapt. It’s important to be lenient and understand that sometimes life just gets in the way.
Creating a cleaning and chore schedule that works for your family is all about being organized, flexible, and fair. By following these tips, you should be able to create a system that everyone can stick to. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can take the stress out of cleaning and make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Reward your kids with pocket money for chores through GoHenry
Giving your kids allowance as a reward for doing their chores is a great way to keep them motivated. But rather than just handing over cash now and again, a kids debit card & chore app like GoHenry helps your kids learn to earn, save and spend their money wisely. With GoHenry, you can assign and keep track of chores with the paid tasks feature.
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How many chores should a child have?
Chore chart ideas for teenagers
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