How to Create a Cleaning Routine for the Whole Family

Establishing a solid morning routine, which is absolutely essential for homeschooling, starts from the moment they wake up. Asking your kids to simply tidy their beds, like pulling up the covers and straightening the pillows, is a great way to instill a lifelong habit. Since it’s literally the first thing they’ll do each morning, it’ll make them feel more productive and help show them that cleaning doesn’t always take an entire day. Easy as 1, 2, 3.

More kids at home means more snacking…which means more crumbs left behind. Rather than relying on traditional chemical cleaners, opt for Veo Active-Probiotics Surface Cleaner, which uses live probiotics that go deep into cracks and crevices for a microscopic, deep-clean that breaks down dirt and grime. What exactly does that mean? Veo cleaner leaves behind beneficial probiotic bacteria that work to keep surfaces clean up to three days after use. Trust us, you’ll want to stock up.

In an effort to keep your home and family clean, give your children frequent reminders to wash their hands so that it becomes routine and a regular part of their day. At minimum, hands should be washed after using the bathroom, after touching pets, after playing outside and after coughing, sneezing or using a tissue. Not only will washing your hands (remember use warm, soapy water and scrub for at least 20 seconds) help prevent the spread of germs, but it will also teach your kids basic personal hygiene habits that are important to learn while growing up.

Think about all the places your shoes touch while walking around in a single day: the grocery store, the bathroom, the playground, the bus, the sidewalks…should we keep going? The point is, the bottoms of shoes are covered with nasty bacteria that doesn’t—and shouldn’t—have an open invitation to your home. The easiest way to prevent all that unwanted grime from entering is to stop it right at the front door. Invest in a stylish shoe rack or tray to keep beside your door and kindly ask any guests to remove their shoes at the door (within reason, of course).

Getting your kids to do even basic chores can be pretty overwhelming. Try setting two to three ground rules when it comes to all things cleaning so that it’s easier for everyone to remember what has to be done every day. Think putting toys back after playing with them, not leaving random stuff on the floor or putting dishes in the dishwasher rather than leaving them in the sink. These rules may seem simple but because there are only a few, they’re easier to follow and easy to remember, so Charlie will have no excuse as to why he didn’t put back those race cars.

Speaking of chores…make them into a game so they stop feeling like an annoying task. If you’re having a hard time getting your children to follow through on basic tasks, come up with a points system that awards them with something they enjoy, whether it be extra screen time or a scoop of ice cream for dessert. At the end of each week, let your kids choose how they “spend” their points and then start fresh for the following. Don’t forget to keep track!

Can we all agree that laundry is one of those chores that no one ever wants to do, no matter the age? Get some help by asking the younger ones to pitch in with the easier tasks like sorting colors from whites. And to make the process better for you, ask them to put their clothes in a designated hamper every night rather than tossing them on the floor or a chair. That way you can collect what you need from each room without enlisting the help of a search party.

Before turning in for the night, ask your family to do one last sweep to see if there’s anything that can easily be put away or hung back up. If you see something that takes more than five minutes to do, then leave it for tomorrow but at least you’ll rest easy knowing there isn’t a mound of unfolded blankets on the living room couch.