How to Keep Your Home Tidy With Kids

A clean home filled with a loving family is a dream. Unfortunately, it’s challenging to maintain the household at times, especially when your little ones tend to run around and cause a little mischief at every corner

Your first course of action is to get the whole family on the same page about having a tidy home. Share the benefits, such as how it would help protect them from diseases or help them find the objects they need in a pinch. Once you get everyone aligned, it’s time to move on to the next steps.

1. Declutter Your Space

It’s easier to keep the home tidy when you have fewer belongings. There are fewer areas to catch dust and a limited amount of things to move around. It will also benefit your family, as some households may fight when there’s excessive clutter and zero control. 

You can start with the closets. Ask each household member to go through their clothes and place what they want to discard into a bin. Then, move to other parts of the house, like the kitchen pantry and bathroom. You can donate your haul to a charity. 

2. Assign Spaces for Your Belongings

All your things should belong in a specific space. It’s easy to sort out personal-use possessions like clothes and books, as you can store them in the owner’s room. For more common-use items, like TV remotes and kitchen utensils, have a little organizer to put them in.  

As you go about your day in your home, you may pick up and use these common-use items and be tempted to place them down wherever. You must discipline yourself to put them back into their respective spaces and encourage others to do the same. 

3. Give Your Kids Responsibility

Children should feel a little responsible for keeping their homes clean, and the best way to do that is to assign them chores. Only 28% of parents say their children do chores, even when the parents themselves may have had chores during their own childhoods.

Try to get your kid to lend you a helping hand. Mowing the lawn or taking the garbage out are simple enough tasks. You can also give them autonomy by letting them choose which household chores they feel comfortable with

4. Pay Attention to the Pets

Keeping the home tidy with pets can also be quite a task, no matter how adorable they may be. However, it’s important to keep things sanitary. Pet hair can be an eyesore, and dander can trigger rashes or hives and worsen asthma symptoms. 

Try to vacuum your furniture and floors as often as you can. If you have carpets, specialty rakes will be your best friend when collecting the lingering strands. You can also practice changing the sheets and sofa covers more often. 

5. Work on Everyday Habits

Daily cleaning is a great way to make household maintenance easier. Some tasks, like making the bed when waking up or wiping the dining table after meals, require minimal effort while making an impact. 

Another example is washing the dishes. It’s best to tackle them every day so you can have clean cutlery. To remove stuck-on food, let them soak for 15 to 30 minutes in warm water. Tend to them when you feel ready.

6. Pick a Regular Cleaning Day

Everyone has a busy week, with the parents going to work and the kids heading to school. This schedule leaves limited time and energy for cleaning. However, you can pick a day like Saturday or Sunday when everyone’s free to deep clean the house. 

You can even make it a fun challenge. Set a timer and have the whole family clean the living room and other areas until the clock finally rings. It’s a great way to bring everyone closer and learn the perks of collaboration. 

7. Reward Cleanliness

Once the house is cleaner, give everyone a treat. A good meal and some dessert are always well-received by the whole family. Just make sure to clean up afterward!

Parents can also create a plan solely for their kids. For example, if the kids are able to clean their rooms regularly, consider rewarding them with a toy or book they’ve always wanted. Just remember to use these gifts in moderation, as an organized and hygienic home is the best reward they can get for cleaning. 

Bonus: Prioritize Cleanliness Over Tidiness

Some parents can be hard on themselves and their kids when their house gets slightly out of shape. However, what’s important is that the family strives to keep the place as tidy and comfortable as possible. 

As small messes arise, know that it’s not the end of the world. Clean it up and take a deep breath. It is enough to simply keep the space as decluttered and neat as possible. 

Maintain Your Home Space

Most parents agree that keeping a tidy home while managing kids is a big undertaking. However, there are ways to organize and freshen up the household. Instill a few good habits within yourself and your kid

Author bio:

Cora Gold is a parenting writer and editor of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She has been featured on Scary Mommy, CafeMom and The Everymom. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn, Pinterest and X.